UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

 

 x            QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2008

 

OR

 

 o               TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from            to          

 

Commission File Number: 001-16159

 

WATSON WYATT WORLDWIDE, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

52-2211537

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

901 N. Glebe Road

 

 

Arlington, VA

 

22203

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(zip code)

 

(703) 258-8000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

 

Yes x    No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer x

 

Accelerated filer o

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer o

 

Smaller reporting company o

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

 

Yes o    No x

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of April 30, 2008.

 

Class

 

Outstanding at April 30, 2008

Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value per share

 

42,665,164 shares

 

 



 

WATSON WYATT WORLDWIDE, INC.
INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

 

For the Three and Nine Months Ended March 31, 2008

 

PART I.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations—Three and Nine Months Ended March 31, 2008 and 2007

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets—March 31, 2008 and June 30, 2007

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows—Nine Months Ended March 31, 2008 and 2007

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity—Nine Months Ended March 31, 2008

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

5

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

22

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

42

 

 

 

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

 

42

 

 

 

 

PART II.

OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

 

43

 

 

 

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

 

43

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

43

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

44

 

 

 

 

Item 4.

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

44

 

 

 

 

Item 5.

Other Information

 

44

 

 

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

 

45

 

 

 

 

Signatures

 

 

46

 

 

 

 

Certifications

 

 

 

 



 

WATSON WYATT WORLDWIDE, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Thousands of U.S. Dollars, Except Per Share Data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

Nine months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

$

457,525

 

$

395,598

 

$

1,306,244

 

$

1,098,027

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs of providing services:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries and employee benefits

 

254,147

 

211,807

 

722,583

 

598,447

 

Professional and subcontracted services

 

20,334

 

26,494

 

75,154

 

72,659

 

Occupancy, communications and other

 

54,955

 

49,375

 

148,187

 

136,008

 

General and administrative expenses

 

45,390

 

40,445

 

131,486

 

118,005

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

18,265

 

15,123

 

53,225

 

41,797

 

 

 

393,091

 

343,244

 

1,130,635

 

966,916

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from operations

 

64,434

 

52,354

 

175,609

 

131,111

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from affiliates

 

(29

)

(4,490

)

(603

)

(5,357

)

Interest expense

 

(1,353

)

(304

)

(5,580

)

(1,336

)

Interest income

 

1,585

 

889

 

4,356

 

3,101

 

Other non-operating income

 

179

 

37

 

454

 

141

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

64,816

 

48,486

 

174,236

 

127,660

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for income taxes

 

22,270

 

14,652

 

60,465

 

43,018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

42,546

 

$

33,834

 

$

113,771

 

$

84,642

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income - Basic

 

$

1.01

 

$

0.80

 

$

2.69

 

$

1.99

 

Net income - Diluted

 

$

0.96

 

$

0.76

 

$

2.56

 

$

1.90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares of common stock, basic (000)

 

42,064

 

42,488

 

42,230

 

42,430

 

Weighted average shares of common stock, diluted (000)

 

44,333

 

44,586

 

44,515

 

44,562

 

 

See accompanying notes to the

condensed consolidated financial statements

 

1



 

WATSON WYATT WORLDWIDE, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Thousands of U.S. Dollars, Except Share Data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

March 31,

 

June 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

157,816

 

$

248,186

 

Receivables from clients:

 

 

 

 

 

Billed, net of allowances of $10,721 and $6,216

 

254,842

 

227,130

 

Unbilled, at estimated net realizable value

 

133,440

 

109,697

 

 

 

388,282

 

336,827

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other current assets

 

83,241

 

51,749

 

Total current assets

 

629,339

 

636,762

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed assets, net

 

178,123

 

172,147

 

Deferred income taxes

 

61,994

 

66,751

 

Goodwill

 

636,157

 

382,936

 

Intangible assets, net

 

231,877

 

211,715

 

Other assets

 

68,134

 

59,398

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Assets

 

$

1,805,624

 

$

1,529,709

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities, including discretionary compensation

 

$

328,202

 

$

303,346

 

Income taxes payable and deferred

 

5,796

 

7,062

 

Total current liabilities

 

333,998

 

310,408

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revolving credit facility

 

110,500

 

105,000

 

Accrued retirement benefits

 

214,815

 

198,677

 

Deferred rent and accrued lease losses

 

29,307

 

32,686

 

Contingency stock payable

 

110,329

 

 

Other noncurrent liabilities

 

103,628

 

95,419

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

 

902,577

 

742,190

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred Stock - No par value:
1,000,000 shares authorized;
none issued and outstanding

 

 

 

Class A Common Stock - $.01 par value:
99,000,000 shares authorized;
42,763,451 and 42,763,451 issued and
41,864,101 and 42,299,792 outstanding

 

428

 

428

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

402,049

 

395,521

 

Treasury stock, at cost - 899,350 and 463,659 shares

 

(44,488

)

(22,251

)

Retained earnings

 

436,561

 

336,101

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

108,497

 

77,720

 

Total Stockholders’ Equity

 

903,047

 

787,519

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

$

1,805,624

 

$

1,529,709

 

 

See accompanying notes to the

condensed consolidated financial statements

 

2



 

WATSON WYATT WORLDWIDE, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Thousands of U.S. Dollars)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Nine months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from (used in) operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

113,771

 

$

84,642

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in)/from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for doubtful receivables from clients

 

11,295

 

17,172

 

Depreciation

 

40,943

 

34,512

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

12,282

 

7,285

 

Provision for deferred income taxes

 

9,453

 

2,145

 

Loss from affiliates

 

603

 

5,357

 

Other, net

 

6,730

 

454

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of business acquisitions

 

 

 

 

 

Receivables from clients

 

(43,785

)

(68,865

)

Other current assets

 

(19,818

)

(13,362

)

Other assets

 

(3,689

)

599

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

27,242

 

(9,198

)

Income taxes payable and deferred

 

(478

)

(7,743

)

Accrued retirement benefits

 

(8,118

)

(3,889

)

Deferred rent and accrued lease losses

 

(3,379

)

667

 

Other noncurrent liabilities

 

(5,244

)

6,045

 

Cash flows from (used in) operating activities:

 

137,808

 

55,821

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from (used in) investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Business acquisitions

 

(134,934

)

(46,534

)

Purchases of fixed assets

 

(24,698

)

(29,244

)

Capitalized software costs

 

(16,903

)

(16,010

)

Investments in affiliates

 

(3,316

)

 

Increase in restricted cash

 

(2,265

)

 

Contingent proceeds from divestitures

 

454

 

141

 

Cash flows from (used in) investing activities:

 

(181,662

)

(91,647

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from/(used in) financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Borrowings (repayments) under Credit Facility

 

5,500

 

(30,000

)

Dividends paid

 

(9,499

)

(9,527

)

Repurchases of common stock

 

(53,980

)

(33,420

)

Issuances of common stock and excess tax benefit

 

9,445

 

9,989

 

Cash flows from (used in) financing activities:

 

(48,534

)

(62,958

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rates on cash

 

2,018

 

2,615

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

(90,370

)

(96,169

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

248,186

 

165,345

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

157,816

 

$

69,176

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosures:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid for interest

 

$

5,498

 

$

1,612

 

Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds

 

$

55,191

 

$

45,928

 

 

See accompanying notes to the

condensed consolidated financial statements

 

3



 

WATSON WYATT WORLDWIDE, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

 (Thousands of U.S. Dollars)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Class A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding

 

Class A

 

Additional

 

Treasury

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

(number of shares,

 

Common

 

Paid-in

 

Stock,

 

Retained

 

Comprehensive

 

 

 

 

 

in thousands)

 

Stock

 

Capital

 

at Cost

 

Earnings

 

Income

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2007

 

42,299

 

$

428

 

$

395,521

 

$

(22,251

)

$

336,101

 

$

77,720

 

$

787,519

 

Adoption of FIN 48 - tax liability adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

(3,813

)

 

(3,813

)

FAS 158 adjustment - pension liability adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,564

 

1,564

 

Comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

113,771

 

 

113,771

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

29,213

 

29,213

 

Total comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

142,984

 

Cash dividends declared

 

 

 

 

 

(9,498

)

 

(9,498

)

Repurchases of common stock

 

(1,101

)

 

 

(53,980

)

 

 

(53,980

)

Issuance of common stock - WisdomNet acquisition

 

7

 

 

17

 

360

 

 

 

377

 

Issuances of common stock and excess tax benefit

 

659

 

 

6,511

 

31,383

 

 

 

37,894

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2008

 

41,864

 

$

428

 

$

402,049

 

$

(44,488

)

$

436,561

 

$

108,497

 

$

903,047

 

 

See accompanying notes to the

condensed consolidated financial statements

 

4



 

WATSON WYATT WORLDWIDE, INC.

 

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts are in thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

Note 1 – Basis of Presentation.

 

The accompanying unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements of Watson Wyatt Worldwide, Inc. and our subsidiaries (collectively referred to as “we,” “Watson Wyatt,” “Watson Wyatt Worldwide” or the “company”) are presented in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and therefore do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. In the opinion of management, these condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which are necessary for a fair presentation of the condensed consolidated financial statements and results for the interim periods.  All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The condensed consolidated financial statements should be read together with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007, which is filed with the SEC and may be accessed via EDGAR on the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov.  The year-end balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements.

 

Our fiscal year 2008 began July 1, 2007 and ends June 30, 2008.

 

The results of operations for the nine months ended March 31, 2008 are not necessarily indicative of the results that can be expected for the entire fiscal year ending June 30, 2008.  The results reflect certain estimates and assumptions made by management including estimated bonuses and anticipated tax liabilities that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes.  Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation.

 

Note 2 – Business Acquisitions.

 

The company’s acquisition strategy identifies potential acquisitions that strengthen our geographic delivery of services to clients or enhance practices in various parts of the world. Acquisition candidates are evaluated on their cultural consistency with Watson Wyatt values within the company’s strategy. When those conditions are met, the company values potential acquisitions with the intent of being accretive to earnings.

 

Assets acquired and liabilities assumed as a result of our acquisitions are recorded at their respective fair values as of the business combination date.  The determination of estimated fair value requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions.

 

Acquisitions that we have completed recently include the following:

 

Dr. Dr. Heissmann GmbH

 

On July 20, 2007, the company acquired the outstanding stock of Dr. Dr. Heissmann GmbH (“Heissmann”) for approximately $136 million (€99 million in cash plus approximately $2.0 million in transaction costs).  Heissmann was a leading actuarial, benefits, and human resources consulting firm based in Germany with subsidiaries in Ireland, Netherlands, Austria, and France.  As of July 20, 2007, Heissmann employed approximately 360 associates.  Annual revenue, including subsidiaries, was approximately $70 million (€52 million) for their fiscal year ended March 31, 2007.  The financial results of Heissmann have been consolidated into the company’s financial statements effective July 1, 2007.

 

5



 

The company has determined the following preliminary fair values for the assets purchased and liabilities assumed in the Heissmann acquisition:

 

 

 

July 1, 2007

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Total purchase price

 

 

 

$

135,821

 

Less net assets acquired:

 

 

 

 

 

Customer related intangibles

 

$

27,070

 

 

 

Non-compete agreements

 

541

 

 

 

Trade-name intangible

 

271

 

 

 

Core/developed technology intangibles

 

1,218

 

 

 

Cash

 

12,824

 

 

 

Client receivables and unbilled revenue

 

18,966

 

 

 

Fixed assets

 

4,607

 

 

 

Other assets

 

5,747

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

(43,278

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets acquired

 

 

 

27,966

 

Goodwill

 

 

 

$

107,855

 

 

The allocation of the purchase price resulted in the allocation of $107.9 million to goodwill, which has been assigned to our segments as follows:

 

 

 

Goodwill

 

Benefits Group

 

$

103,541

 

Human Capital Group

 

2,157

 

Investment Consulting Group

 

2,157

 

Allocation of goodwill to business segments

 

$

107,855

 

 

Goodwill associated with this transaction is not deductible for tax purposes.

 

WisdomNet

 

On July 2, 2007, the company acquired the net assets of WisdomNet for $6.9 million in cash and stock, including the payoff of $0.5 million of debt.  WisdomNet is a Denver-based talent management software and consulting firm that was founded in 2001.  WisdomNet offered a proprietary line of business software products, including an end-to-end solution for managing organizations’ talent management processes.  The acquisition of WisdomNet strengthens our existing talent management business and provides strategic software that will be used to service our clients on an ongoing basis. As of the date of the acquisition, WisdomNet employed 15 associates.

 

Watson Wyatt Netherlands

 

On February 1, 2007, Watson Wyatt B.V., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the company, acquired the net assets of Watson Wyatt Netherlands (WWN), its long-time alliance partner in the Netherlands.  The financial results of WWN have been consolidated into the company’s financial statements since February 1, 2007.

 

6



 

In connection with this acquisition, payment of up to an additional €8.0 million worth of Class A shares (approximately 242,000 shares) after January 31, 2008 was contingent upon achievement by the acquired business of certain financial performance goals during the twelve month period ended January 31, 2008.  The financial performance goals were met during the third quarter of fiscal year 2008 and the company’s balance sheet reflects the accrued liability along with a corresponding increase in goodwill. These shares have been included in fully diluted earnings per share since July 1, 2007.

 

Watson Wyatt LLP

 

On July 31, 2005, the company acquired substantially all of the assets and assumed most liabilities of Watson Wyatt LLP (“WWLLP”) (the “WWLLP business combination”), a leading United Kingdom-based actuarial, benefits and human resources consulting partnership. The financial results of WWLLP have been consolidated into the company’s financial statements since August 1, 2005.

 

In addition to the initial purchase price, the terms of the purchase agreement called for an additional 1,950,000 shares to be paid to the former partners of WWLLP, contingent upon the achievement by the acquired business of certain agreed-upon financial performance goals.  The agreed-upon financial performance goals were met at the end of fiscal year 2007 and the company’s balance sheet reflects the accrued liability along with a corresponding increase in goodwill.  The contingent shares were issued to the former partners of WWLLP subsequent to the end of the third quarter, on April 15, 2008.

 

Note 3 – Segment Information.

 

We have five reportable operating segments or practice areas as follows:

 

 

(1)

Benefits Group

 

(2)

Human Capital Group

 

(3)

Technology and Administration Solutions Group

 

(4)

Investment Consulting Group

 

(5)

Insurance and Financial Services Group

 

Management evaluates the performance of its segments and allocates resources to them based on net operating income.

 

The table below presents specified information about reported segments as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2008:

 

 

 

Benefits
Group

 

Human
Capital 
Group

 

Technology
and
Administration
Solutions
Group

 

Investment
Consulting
Group

 

Insurance
and
Financial
Services
Group

 

Total

 

Revenue (net of reimbursable expenses)

 

$

267,940

 

$

49,058

 

$

45,008

 

$

43,457

 

$

30,799

 

$

436,262

 

Net operating income

 

89,135

 

9,460

 

10,180

 

15,947

 

1,411

 

126,133

 

Receivables

 

281,316

 

48,395

 

17,072

 

29,829

 

26,581

 

403,193

 

 

7



 

The table below presents specified information about reported segments as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2007:

 

 

 

Benefits
Group

 

Human
Capital
Group

 

Technology
and
Administration
Solutions
Group

 

Investment
Consulting
Group

 

Insurance
and
Financial
Services
Group

 

Total

 

Revenue (net of reimbursable expenses)

 

$

220,708

 

$

41,153

 

$

39,329

 

$

34,294

 

$

30,288

 

$

365,772

 

Net operating income

 

66,696

 

5,929

 

8,229

 

11,680

 

6,400

 

98,934

 

Receivables

 

235,167

 

46,030

 

18,986

 

28,275

 

33,530

 

361,988

 

 

The table below presents specified information about reported segments as of and for the nine months ended March 31, 2008:

 

 

 

Benefits
Group

 

Human 
Capital
Group

 

Technology
and
Administration
Solutions
Group

 

Investment
Consulting
Group

 

Insurance
and
Financial
Services
Group

 

Total

 

Revenue (net of reimbursable expenses)

 

$

738,605

 

$

145,222

 

$

135,055

 

$

125,763

 

$

89,131

 

$

1,233,776

 

Net operating income

 

210,068

 

27,585

 

34,990

 

44,681

 

2,565

 

319,889

 

Receivables

 

281,316

 

48,395

 

17,072

 

29,829

 

26,581

 

403,193

 

 

The table below presents specified information about reported segments as of and for the nine months ended March 31, 2007:

 

 

 

Benefits
Group

 

Human
Capital
Group

 

Technology
and
Administration
Solutions
Group

 

Investment
Consulting
Group

 

Insurance
and
Financial
Services
Group

 

Total

 

Revenue (net of reimbursable expenses)

 

$

602,772

 

$

126,269

 

$

118,034

 

$

94,219

 

$

83,656

 

$

1,024,950

 

Net operating income

 

159,541

 

19,305

 

27,314

 

28,364

 

14,730

 

249,254

 

Receivables

 

235,167

 

46,030

 

18,986

 

28,275

 

33,530

 

361,988

 

 

Information about interest income and tax expense is not presented as a segment expense because such items are not considered a responsibility of the segments’ operating management.

 

8



 

Reconciliations of the information reported by segment to the historical consolidated amounts follow for the three and nine month periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2007:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

Nine Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total segment revenue

 

$

436,262

 

$

365,772

 

$

1,233,776

 

$

1,024,950

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reimbursable expenses and other not included in total segment revenue

 

11,039

 

19,418

 

39,286

 

42,382

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All other segments

 

10,224

 

10,408

 

33,182

 

30,695

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated fees

 

$

457,525

 

$

395,598

 

$

1,306,244

 

$

1,098,027

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Operating Income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total segment net operating income

 

$

126,133

 

$

98,934

 

$

319,889

 

$

249,254

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from affiliates

 

(29

)

(4,490

)

(603

)

(5,357

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Differences in allocation methods(1)

 

(3,930

)

(875

)

(8,964

)

(8,137

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discretionary compensation

 

(50,483

)

(39,604

)

(144,363

)

(105,984

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All other segments

 

(490

)

(1,340

)

6,121

 

(5,096

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other, net

 

(6,385

)

(4,139

)

2,156

 

2,980

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated pretax income

 

$

64,816

 

$

48,486

 

$

174,236

 

$

127,660

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Receivables:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total segment receivables - billed and unbilled(2)

 

$

403,193

 

$

361,988

 

$

403,193

 

$

361,988

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All other segments

 

6,434

 

6,557

 

6,434

 

6,557

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net valuation differences

 

(21,345

)

(5,755

)

(21,345

)

(5,755

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total billed and unbilled receivables

 

388,282

 

362,790

 

388,282

 

362,790

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets not reported by segment (3)

 

1,417,342

 

953,616

 

1,417,342

 

953,616

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated assets

 

$

1,805,624

 

$

1,316,406

 

$

1,805,624

 

$

1,316,406

 

 


(1) General and administrative, pension, and medical costs are allocated to our segments based on budgeted expenses determined at the beginning of the fiscal year as management believes that these costs are largely uncontrollable to the segment.  To the extent that the actual expense base upon which allocations are made differs from the forecast/budget amount, a reconciling item will be created between internally allocated expenses and the actual expense that we report for U.S. GAAP purposes.

 

(2) Total segment receivables, which reflects the receivable balances used by management to make business decisions, are included for management reporting purposes net of deferred revenues - cash collections and invoices generated in excess of revenue recognized in the segment revenues.

 

(3) Assets not reported by segment for management reporting purposes include goodwill and intangible assets of $868.0 million.

 

9



 

Note 4 – Share-based Compensation.

 

The company has four share-based compensation plans, which are described below.  These compensation plans include the 2001 Deferred Stock Unit Plan for Selected Employees, the Amended Compensation Plan for Outside Directors, the 2001 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan.  All four plans have been approved by stockholders.

 

2001 Deferred Stock Unit Plan for Selected Employees
 

Deferred Stock Units - The 2001 Deferred Stock Unit Plan for Selected Employees is intended to provide selected associates of the company with additional incentives by permitting the company to grant them an equity interest in the company in the form of restricted stock units, in lieu of a portion of their annual fiscal year end bonus.  Shares under this plan are awarded during the first quarter of each fiscal year.  During the first quarter of fiscal year 2008, 349,118 shares of common stock were awarded at an average market price of $47.63 for a total fair value of $16.6 million.  During the first quarter of fiscal year 2007, 300,552 shares of common stock were awarded at a market price of $40.48 for a total fair value of $12.2 million.

 

SBI Program  - The Performance Share Bonus Incentive Program (the “SBI Program”), as approved by the company’s Board of Directors pursuant to the company’s 2001 Deferred Stock Unit Plan for Selected Employees, is a long-term stock bonus arrangement for senior executives of the company and its affiliates. The SBI program is designed to strengthen incentives and align behaviors to grow the business in a way that is consistent with the strategic goals of the company.

 

Incentives under the SBI Program are provided through grants of deferred stock units pursuant to the company’s 2001 Deferred Stock Unit Plan for Selected Employees.  Grants of deferred stock units are based on the value of the cash portion of the eligible participant’s fiscal year end bonus target and a multiplier, which is then converted into a target number of deferred stock units based upon the company’s stock price as of the fiscal year end prior to grant.  Participants may vest between zero and 170% of the target number of deferred stock units based on the extent to which financial performance metrics are achieved over a three fiscal year period.  The financial and strategic performance metrics are established at the beginning of each performance period.  For the performance periods covering fiscal year 2006 through 2008, 2007 through 2009 and 2008 through 2010, the vesting criteria are based upon growth in earnings per share and revenue.  During the first quarter of fiscal year 2008, 129,636 shares were awarded to certain senior executive officers under the SBI 2005 plan, which represented vesting at 170% of the target number of deferred stock units.  The receipt of 80,452 of these shares was deferred in conjunction with the company’s Senior Officer Deferred Compensation Program.

 

Amended Compensation Plan for Outside Directors
 

The Amended Compensation Plan for Outside Directors (the “Outside Director’s Plan”) provides for the cash and stock compensation of outside Directors.  Under the Outside Director’s Plan, outside Directors are initially paid in shares of the company’s common stock, or in a combination of cash and shares, quarterly for services provided during the preceding quarter.  In addition, outside Directors receive shares with a grant date market value of $90,000 at the end of each fiscal year for services performed during the preceding fiscal year. Approximately $0.3 million of compensation expense was recorded relative to this plan during the nine months of both fiscal year 2008 and fiscal year 2007.

 

10



 

2001 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

 

The Employee Stock Purchase Plan enables employees to purchase shares of the company’s stock.  No compensation expense was recognized as a result of this plan during the first nine months of fiscal years 2008 or 2007.

 

2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan
 

The company issued non-qualified stock options under the 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Stock Option Plan”) in conjunction with its initial public offering in fiscal year 2001.  No options have been granted under the Stock Option Plan since March 2002 and the company does not currently intend to issue further stock options under the Stock Option Plan.

 

Note 5 – Retirement Benefits.

 

Defined Benefit Plans

 

We sponsor both qualified and non-qualified, non-contributory defined benefit pension plans covering substantially all of our associates.  Under our plans in North America, benefits are based on the number of years of service and the associate’s compensation during the five highest paid consecutive years of service.  Beginning January 2008, we have made changes to our plan in the U.K. related to years of service used in calculating benefits for associates.  Benefits earned prior to January 2008 are based on the number of years of service and the associate’s compensation during the three years before leaving the plan and benefits earned after January 2008 are based on the number of years of service and the associates’ average compensation during the associate’s term of service since that date. The non-qualified plan, included only in North America, provides for pension benefits that would be covered under the qualified plan but are limited by the Internal Revenue Code.  The non-qualified plan has no assets and therefore is an unfunded arrangement.  The benefit liability is reflected on the balance sheet.  The measurement date for each of the plans is June 30.

 

11



 

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost for Defined Benefit Pension Plans

 

The following table sets forth the components of net periodic benefit cost for the company’s defined benefit pension plans for North America and the U.K. for the three and nine month periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2007:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

North
America

 

U.K.

 

North
America

 

U.K.

 

Service Cost

 

$

7,451

 

$

2,686

 

$

6,350

 

$

3,257

 

Interest Cost

 

11,208

 

5,184

 

10,013

 

4,148

 

Expected Return on Plan Assets

 

(13,827

)

(5,821

)

(11,755

)

(4,018

)

Amortization of Transition Obligation

 

(17

)

 

(10

)

 

Amortization of Net Loss/(Gain)

 

1,507

 

(709

)

2,161

 

(218

)

Amortization of Prior Service Cost

 

(649

)

4

 

(735

)

 

Net Periodic Benefit Cost

 

$

5,673

 

$

1,344

 

$

6,024

 

$

3,169

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

North
America

 

U.K.

 

North
America

 

U.K.

 

Service Cost

 

$

22,333

 

$

8,170

 

$

19,064

 

$

9,708

 

Interest Cost

 

33,600

 

15,765

 

30,058

 

12,365

 

Expected Return on Plan Assets

 

(41,456

)

(17,703

)

(35,289

)

(11,978

)

Amortization of Transition Obligation

 

(49

)

 

(29

)

 

Amortization of Net Loss/(Gain)

 

4,571

 

(2,156

)

6,489

 

(649

)

Amortization of Prior Service Cost

 

(1,946

)

12

 

(2,204

)

 

Net Periodic Benefit Cost

 

$

17,053

 

$

4,088

 

$

18,089

 

$

9,446

 

 

The fiscal year 2008 net periodic benefit cost is based, in part, on the following rate assumptions as of June 30, 2007 for the North America and U.K. plans:

 

 

 

North America

 

U.K.

 

Discount rate

 

6.25

%

5.80

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expected long-term rate of return on assets

 

8.75

%

5.69

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rate of increase in compensation levels

 

3.84

%

4.95

%

 

Employer Contributions

 

The company made $16.2 million in contributions to North American plans during the nine months of fiscal year 2008.  We anticipate that $0.3 million will be contributed by the company to the North American pension plans over the remainder of the fiscal year.

 

12



 

The company made $14.6 million in contributions to the U.K. plans during the nine months of fiscal year 2008 and anticipates making $6.9 million in contributions over the remainder of the fiscal year.

 

Defined Contribution Plans

 

In the U.S., we sponsor a savings plan that provides benefits to substantially all U.S. associates with a match to employee contributions at a rate of 50 percent of the first 6 percent up to $60,000 of associates’ eligible compensation.  The company may also make an annual profit sharing contribution to the plan in an amount that is dependant upon the company’s financial performance during the fiscal year.

 

In the U.K., we sponsor a savings plan that provides benefits to substantially all U.K. associates.  The company provides a basic contribution and a match to employee contributions, both of which depend on age and base salary.  The maximum employer contribution is up to 12% of an associate’s base salary up to $180,000.

 

Health Care Benefits

 

In the U.S., we sponsor a contributory health care plan that provides hospitalization, medical and dental benefits to substantially all U.S. associates.  We accrue a liability for estimated incurred but unreported claims based on projected use of the plan as well as prior plan history.

 

In the U.K., we sponsor a non-contributory medical insurance plan that provides hospitalization and medical benefits and a contributory dental plan that provides dental benefits to substantially all U.K. associates.

 

Postretirement Benefits

 

We provide certain health care and life insurance benefits for retired associates.  The principal plans cover associates in the U.S. and Canada who have met certain eligibility requirements. Our principal post-retirement benefit plans are unfunded.  We accrue a liability for these benefits.

 

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost for Other Postretirement Plans

 

The following table sets forth the components of net periodic benefit cost for the company’s healthcare and post-retirement plans for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

Nine Months Ended March31,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost

 

$

386

 

$

404

 

$

1,156

 

$

1,215

 

Interest cost

 

683

 

647

 

2,046

 

1,944

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of transition obligation

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of net gain

 

(112

)

(39

)

(338

)

(117

)

Amortization of prior service cost

 

(166

)

(165

)

(498

)

(495

)

Net periodic benefit cost

 

$

791

 

$

847

 

$

2,366

 

$

2,547

 

 

13



 

Employer Contributions

 

The company made contributions in the form of premiums and medical claim payments to its healthcare and post-retirement plans of $1.0 million and $0.8 million in each of the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively and contributions of $2.6 million and $2.5 million in the nine months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.  We plan to make additional payments of approximately $0.9 million through the remainder of the fiscal year.

 

Note 6 – Goodwill & Intangible Assets.

 

The components of goodwill and intangible assets are outlined below for the nine months ended March 31, 2008:

 

 

 

Benefits
Group

 

Human
Capital
Group

 

Technology
and
Administration
Solutions
Group

 

Investment
Consulting
Group

 

Insurance
and
Financial
Services
Group

 

All Other
Segments

 

Total

 

Balance as of June 30, 2007

 

$

208,453

 

$

22,805

 

$

46,662

 

$

44,897

 

$

58,905

 

$

1,214

 

$

382,936

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill acquired

 

166,278

 

9,562

 

15,429

 

16,221

 

18,211

 

 

225,701

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Translation adjustment and other

 

27,575

 

608

 

(595

)

708

 

(776

)

 

27,520

 

Balance as of March 31, 2008

 

$

402,306

 

$

32,975

 

$

61,496

 

$

61,826

 

$

76,340

 

$

1,214

 

$

636,157

 

 

The following table reflects changes in the net carrying amount of the components of intangible assets for the nine months ended March 31, 2008:

 

 

 

Trademark
& trade
name

 

Customer
related
intangible

 

Core/developed
technology

 

Non-compete
agreements

 

Total

 

Balance as of June 30, 2007

 

$

122,666

 

$

76,270

 

$

12,256

 

$

523

 

$

211,715

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intangible assets acquired during the period

 

391

 

28,521

 

5,548

 

611

 

35,071

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization expense

 

(153

)

(7,829

)

(3,891

)

(409

)

(12,282

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Translation adjustment

 

(1,437

)

(1,081

)

(103

)

(6

)

(2,627

)

Balance as of March 31, 2008

 

$

121,467

 

$

95,881

 

$

13,810

 

$

719

 

$

231,877

 

 

14



 

The following table reflects the carrying value of intangible assets at March 31, 2008 and June 30, 2007:

 

 

 

March 31, 2008

 

June 30, 2007

 

 

 

Gross

 

 

 

Gross

 

 

 

 

 

Carrying

 

Accumulated

 

Carrying

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

Amount

 

Amortization

 

Amount

 

Amortization

 

Intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trademark & trade name

 

$

121,621

 

$

153

 

$

122,666

 

$

 

Customer related intangibles

 

114,565

 

18,684

 

85,064

 

8,794

 

Core/developed technology

 

24,773

 

10,963

 

17,935

 

5,679

 

Non-compete

 

1,213

 

495

 

1,028

 

505

 

Total intangible assets

 

$

262,172

 

$

30,295

 

$

226,693

 

$

14,978

 

 

A component of the change in the gross carrying amount of trademark & trade name, customer related intangibles and core/developed technology reflects translation adjustments between June 30, 2007 and March 31, 2008.  These intangible assets are denominated in the currencies of our subsidiaries outside the United States, and are translated into our reporting currency, the U.S. dollar, based on exchange rates at the balance sheet date.

 

The weighted average remaining life of amortizable intangible assets at March 31, 2008, was 9.1 years.  Future estimated amortization expense is as follows:

 

Fiscal year ending June 30:

 

Amount

 

2008

 

$

3,841

 

2009

 

15,364

 

2010

 

14,703

 

2011

 

10,988

 

2012

 

10,661

 

Thereafter

 

55,086

 

Total

 

$

110,643

 

 

15



 

Note 7 – Earnings Per Share.

 

Basic earnings per share are calculated on the basis of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the three and nine month periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2007.  Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, plus the dilutive effect of outstanding stock options, stock-based compensation plans, and employee stock purchase plan shares using the “treasury stock” method over the same measurement period.  The components of basic and diluted earnings per share are as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

Nine Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

42,546

 

$

33,834

 

$

113,771

 

$

84,642

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average outstanding shares of common stock

 

42,064

 

42,488

 

42,230

 

42,430

 

Dilutive effect of employee stock options and employee stock purchase plan shares

 

2,270

 

2,098

 

2,285

 

2,132

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock and stock equivalents

 

44,333

 

44,586

 

44,515

 

44,562

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

1.01

 

$

0.80

 

$

2.69

 

$

1.99

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

0.96

 

$

0.76

 

$

2.56

 

$

1.90

 

 

The diluted earnings per share calculation for the three and nine month periods ended March 31, 2008 assumes that the 242,000 contingent shares related to the WWN business acquisition and 1,950,000 contingent shares related to the WWLLP business combinations had been issued and outstanding for the entire three and nine month periods ended March 31, 2008.  See Note 10 of this report for further information regarding the WWN contingent shares.

 

Note 8 – Variable Interest Entities

 

The Company has an equity investment in Professional Consultants Insurance Company, Inc. (PCIC).  As defined by FASB Interpretation No. 46R, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, PCIC is a variable interest entity.  Based on the legal, financial and operating structure of PCIC, the company has concluded that it is not the primary beneficiary of PCIC.  Accordingly, the company does not consolidate the results of PCIC into its consolidated financial statements.  The company applies the equity method of accounting for its investment in PCIC.

 

PCIC was organized in 1987 as a captive insurance company under the laws of the State of Vermont.  PCIC provides professional liability insurance on a claims-made basis to three actuarial and management consulting firms, all of which participate in the program as both policyholders and stockholders.

 

16



 

Capital contributions to PCIC are required when approved by a majority of its stockholders.  In July 2007, the Shareholders of PCIC approved a requirement for an additional capital contribution.  As a result, the company contributed an additional $1.9 million of capital to PCIC and increased the amount of the letter of credit provided on behalf of PCIC by $2.6 million in lieu of a higher cash capital contribution.  From the time PCIC was organized through March 31, 2008, we have provided capital contributions to PCIC through cash contributions totaling $7.3 million and through the issuance of letters of credit totaling $10.6 million.  Our ownership interest in PCIC as of March 31, 2008 and 2007 was 36.43 percent and 34.15 percent, respectively.

 

Management believes that the company’s maximum financial statement exposure regarding its investment in PCIC as of March 31, 2008 is limited to the carrying value of the company’s investment in PCIC of $5.8 million, combined with letters of credit totaling $10.6 million, for a total maximum exposure of $16.4 million.

 

Note 9 – Comprehensive Income.

 

Comprehensive income includes net income and changes in the cumulative translation adjustment gain or loss.  For the three months ended March 31, 2008, comprehensive income totaled $63.8 million compared with $38.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007.  For the nine months ended March 31, 2008, comprehensive income totaled $143.0 million, compared with $120.1 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2007.

 

Note 10 – Restricted Shares.

 

In conjunction with our business acquisition of Watson Wyatt LLP (WWLLP) on July 31, 2005, we issued 9,090,571 Class A shares, 4,749,797 of which were subject to sale restrictions.  On July 31,  2006, and July 31,  2007, sale restrictions expired on 2,339,761 shares and 2,410,036 shares, respectively.  As of September 30, 2007, the contingencies associated with the payment of an additional 1,950,000 Class A shares were met. The contingent shares were issued to the former partners of WWLLP subsequent to the end of the third quarter, on April 15, 2008.

 

In conjunction with its acquisition of WWN on February 1, 2007, the company issued 252,285 Class A common shares which were subject to contractual transfer restrictions.  Transfer restrictions on 50% of these shares expired on February 1, 2008.  Transfer restrictions on the remaining shares will expire on February 1, 2009. The payment of up to an additional €8.0 million of Class A shares (approximately 242,000 shares) after January 31, 2008 was contingent upon achievement by the acquired business of certain financial performance goals during the twelve month period ended January 31, 2008.  As of March 31, 2008, the contingency was met and the company’s balance sheet reflects the accrued liability along with a corresponding increase in goodwill. Sale of these shares will be subject to contractual transfer restrictions that will expire on 50% of these shares on each of the first and second anniversaries of issuance of the shares. The diluted earnings per share calculation assumes these contingent shares had been issued at the beginning of fiscal year 2008.  See Note 2 of this report for further information regarding the WWN business combination.

 

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Note 11 – Guarantees.

 

The company has historically provided guarantees on an infrequent basis to third parties in the ordinary course of business.  The guarantees described below are currently in effect and could require the company to make payments to third parties under certain circumstances.

 

Letters of Credit.  The company has an outstanding letter of credit to a third party totaling $10.6 million which represents capital committed to our captive insurance company, PCIC.  This letter of credit will remain outstanding as long as we retain an ownership share of PCIC. The company has also provided a $5.0 million Australian dollar-denominated letter of credit (US $4.6 million) to an Australian governmental agency as required by local regulations. The estimated fair market value of these letters of credit is immaterial because they have never been used, and the company believes that the likelihood of future usage is remote.

 

Indemnification Agreements.  The company has various agreements that provide that it may be obligated to indemnify the other party with respect to certain matters.  Generally, these indemnification clauses are included in contracts arising in the normal course of business and in connection with the purchase and sale of certain businesses.  Although it is not possible to predict the maximum potential amount of future payments under these indemnification agreements due to the conditional nature of the company’s obligations and the unique facts of each particular agreement, the company does not believe that any potential liability that might arise from such indemnity provisions is probable or material.  There are no provisions for recourse to third parties, nor are any assets held by any third parties that any guarantor can liquidate to recover amounts paid under such indemnities.

 

Note 12 – Contingent Liabilities.

 

Legal ProceedingsFrom time to time, we are a party to various lawsuits, arbitrations or mediations that arise in the ordinary course of business. The matter reported below is the most significant pending claim against us.

 

We carry substantial professional liability insurance with a self-insured retention of $1 million per occurrence, which provides coverage for professional liability claims including the cost of defending such claims. We reserve for contingent liabilities based on Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies” (FAS 5) when it is determined that a liability, inclusive of defense costs, is probable and reasonably estimable. Management believes, based on currently available information including the existence of professional liability insurance, that the results of all pending claims against the company will not have a material adverse effect on the results of operations, but litigation is subject to many factors which are difficult to predict so there can be no assurance that in the event of a material unfavorable result in one or more of such matters, we will not incur material costs.

 

Watson Wyatt v. SBC Holdings, Inc. (Stroh Brewery Company):  On July 23, 2004, we received a demand letter from Stroh’s counsel alleging that errors in valuations for 2001 and subsequent years understated the liabilities of its pension plan and overstated the company’s net worth.  As a result, Stroh claimed it did not annuitize its defined benefit plan and redeemed its stock at an inflated price.  On April 15, 2005, Watson Wyatt filed a petition in federal court to compel arbitration of the matter. Subsequently, Stroh filed an answer and counterclaim, alleging damages in excess of $46 million.  In January, 2008, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals held that the entire claim is subject to arbitration.  Stroh has filed a demand for arbitration on April 16, 2008.  No hearing is anticipated until sometime in fiscal year 2009.

 

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Government Subpoenas and Investigations: We also have received subpoenas and requests for information in connection with the following government investigations Department of Labor Investigation: On November 17, 2006, Watson Wyatt Investment Consulting Inc. (“WWIC”) received a subpoena from the United States Department of Labor (“DOL”) in connection with its investigation into the compensation of consultants and other investment advisers.  WWIC has responded to the subpoena and continues to cooperate with the DOL.

 

Note 13 - Income Taxes.

 

The company adopted the provisions of FIN 48 on July 1, 2007.  The cumulative effect of adopting FIN 48 was a $13.0 million increase in the liability for uncertain tax positions, a $9.1 million increase to deferred tax assets, a $0.1 million decrease to other comprehensive income and a $3.8 million decrease to retained earnings at July 1, 2007.

 

Upon adoption, the gross liability for income taxes associated with uncertain tax positions at July 1, 2007 was $16.3 million.  This liability can be reduced by $8.4 million of offsetting deferred tax benefits associated with timing differences, foreign tax credits and the federal tax benefit of state income taxes.  The net difference of $7.9 million, if recognized, would have a $7.5 million favorable impact on the company’s effective tax rate and would increase other comprehensive income by $0.4 million.   At March 31, 2008, the gross liability for income taxes associated with uncertain tax positions was $10.3 million.  This liability can be reduced by $2.1 million of offsetting deferred tax benefits associated with foreign tax credits and the federal tax benefit of state income taxes.  The net difference of $8.2 million, if recognized, would have a $7.9 million favorable impact on the company’s effective tax rate and would increase other comprehensive income by $0.3 million.

 

Interest and penalties related to income tax liabilities are included in income tax expense.  The company had accrued interest of $1.8 million and penalties of $1.4 million, totaling $3.2 million at July 1, 2007.  At March 31, 2008 the company had accrued interest of $1.7 million and penalties of $0.7 million, totaling $2.4 million.

 

During the nine months ended March 31, 2008, the gross tax liability for uncertain tax positions decreased by $6.0 million.  This decrease was primarily related to a $5.9 million decrease due to a change in accounting method which the company filed with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) in October 2007 to change the method of accounting for accrued expenses owed to foreign affiliates. Since the accounting method change was filed voluntarily, the IRS will not assess tax, interest or penalties related to the position claimed in prior tax returns.  The $5.9 million decrease in the gross tax liability relates to a deferred tax item and did not impact the company’s effective tax rate.  Gross accrued interest and penalties related to this tax position decreased $1.3 million which, net of federal tax benefits, resulted in a $1.2 million impact on the effective tax rate in the period ended March 31, 2008.

 

The company believes it is reasonably possible that there will be a $2.0 million decrease in the gross tax liability for uncertain tax positions within the next 12 months based upon potential settlements and the expiration of statutes of limitations in various tax jurisdictions.

 

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The company and its subsidiaries conduct business globally and are subject to income tax in the U.S. and in many states and foreign jurisdictions.  The company is currently under examination in several tax jurisdictions.  The last tax year examined and settled with the IRS was fiscal year ending June 30, 2003.  A summary of the tax years that remain subject to examination in the company’s major tax jurisdictions are:

 

 

 

Open Tax Years
(fiscal year ending)

 

 

 

United States - Federal

 

2005 and forward

 

 

 

United States – Various States

 

2003 and forward

 

 

 

Canada - Federal

 

2004 and forward

 

 

 

Germany

 

2002 and forward

 

 

 

United Kingdom

 

2005 and forward

 

Note 14 – Recent Accounting Pronouncements.

 

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) published Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“FAS 157”) which is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and for interim periods within those years.  FAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. FAS 157 applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements and accordingly, does not require any new fair value measurements. In February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) No. 157-1, “Application of FASB Statement No.157 to FASB Statement No. 13 and Other Accounting Pronouncements That Address Fair Value Measurements for Purposes of Lease Classification or Measurement under Statement 13” and FSP No. 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157.”  FSP No. 157-1 amends FAS 157 to exclude FAS 13, “Accounting for Leases,” and its related interpretive accounting pronouncements that address leasing transactions, while FSP No. 157-2 delays the effective date of FAS 157 for all nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually) until the beginning of the first quarter of fiscal year 2009.  The Company has evaluated the new statement and has determined that the adoption of FAS 157 will not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In June 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes - an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FAS 109”), which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with FAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.”  FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return.  This Interpretation also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition.  The company adopted this standard on July 1, 2007.  See Note 13 of this report for further information regarding the company’s adoption of FIN 48.

 

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In February 2007, the FASB published Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities—including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115” (“FAS 159”).  FAS 159 allows entities to choose to measure eligible financial assets and liabilities at fair value that are not otherwise required to be measured at fair value. If a company elects the fair value option for an eligible item, changes in that item’s fair value in subsequent reporting periods must be recognized in current earnings. FAS 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, provided the entity also elects to apply the provisions of FAS 157, “Fair Value Measurements”. The company does not believe the adoption of FAS 159 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141 (revised 2007), “Business Combinations” (FAS 141R) which is a revision of FAS 141, “Business Combinations”.  FAS 141R changes the application of the acquisition method in a number of significant aspects.  Acquisition costs will generally be expensed as incurred; noncontrolling interests will be valued at fair value at the acquisition date; restructuring costs associated with a business combination will generally be expensed subsequent to the acquisition date; Contingent consideration will be recognized at its fair value on the acquisition date and, for certain arrangements, changes in fair value will be recognized in earnings until settled, and changes in deferred tax asset valuation allowances and income tax uncertainties after the acquisition date generally will affect income tax expense. We will be required to comply with the provisions of FAS 141(R) for acquisitions that occur on or after July 1, 2009. The Statement would apply prospectively to any future business combinations and therefore the impact would be determined when a business combination occurs.

 

In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements — an amendment of ARB No.51” (“FAS 160”).  This statement is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008, with earlier adoption prohibited.  This statement requires the recognition of a noncontrolling interest (minority interest) as equity in the consolidated financial statements and separate from the parent’s equity.  The amount of net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest will be included in consolidated net income.  It also amends certain of ARB No. 51’s consolidation procedures for consistency with the requirements of FAS 141(R).  This statement also includes expanded disclosure requirements regarding the interests of the parent and its noncontrolling interest.  The Company is currently evaluating the effects, if any, that FAS 160 may have on its financial statements.

 

Note 15 – Exit From Taft Hartley Consulting Business.

 

Exit from Taft-Hartley Consulting Business - On February 1, 2008, the company exited its U.S. “Taft-Hartley” retirement consulting business and its Canadian private sector, negotiated costs, trusteed plan business.  The transition affected approximately 70 retirement clients, accounting for approximately $15 million in annual revenue.  Two newly created companies, which are owned and operated by individuals who were formerly Watson Wyatt associates, service these clients in the U.S. and Canada respectively. These associates, who focus on multi-employer retirement plans, moved to the new companies on February 1, 2008.  Watson Wyatt has no ownership in these new companies, but is compensated for release of certain non-compete obligations through receipt of a percentage of the new companies’ revenues from clients that transfer from the company for the next five years.  The transition was completed on January 31, 2008.

 

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

 

Executive Overview

 

General

 

Watson Wyatt is a global consulting firm focusing on providing human capital and financial consulting services. We provide services in five principal practice areas: Benefits, Human Capital Consulting, Technology and Administration Solutions, Investment Consulting, and Insurance and Financial Services operating from 104 offices in 32 countries throughout North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America. The company employed approximately 7,190 and 6,670 associates as of March 31, 2008 and June 30, 2007 respectively, in the following practice areas:

 

 

 

March 31,

 

June 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

Benefits Group

 

3,240

 

2,900

 

Human Capital Group

 

840

 

885

 

Technology and Administration Solutions Group

 

830

 

735

 

Investment Consulting Group

 

440

 

395

 

Insurance & Financial Services Group

 

425

 

390

 

Other (including Communication)

 

810

 

785

 

Corporate

 

605

 

580

 

Total

 

7,190

 

6,670

 

 

We help our clients enhance business performance by improving their ability to attract, retain, and motivate qualified employees. We focus on delivering consulting services that help our clients anticipate, identify and capitalize on emerging opportunities in human capital management.  We also provide independent financial advice regarding all aspects of life assurance and general insurance, as well as investment advice to assist our clients in developing disciplined and efficient investment strategies to meet their investment goals.  Our target market clients include those companies in the Fortune 1000, Pension & Investments (P&I) 1000, the FTSE 100, and equivalent organizations in markets around the world.

 

As leading economies worldwide become more services-oriented, human capital and financial management has become increasingly important to companies and other organizations. The heightened competition for skilled employees, unprecedented changes in workforce demographics, regulatory changes related to compensation and retiree benefits and rising employee-related costs have increased the importance of effective human capital management.  Insurance and investment decisions have become increasingly complex and important in the face of changing economies and dynamic financial markets.  We help our clients address these issues by combining our expertise in human capital and financial management with consulting and technology, to improve the design and implementation of various human resources and financial programs, including compensation, retirement, health care, insurance and investment plans.

 

The human resources consulting industry, although highly fragmented, is highly competitive and is comprised of major human capital consulting firms, specialist firms, consulting arms of accounting firms and information technology consulting firms.

 

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In the short term, our revenues are driven by many factors including the impact of new regulations in the legal and accounting fields that most recently increased demand for our executive compensation and benefits practices, the general state of the global economy and the resulting level of discretionary spending by our clients and the ability of our consultants to attract new clients or cross-sell to existing clients.  In the long term, we expect that the company’s financial results will depend in large part upon how well we succeed in deepening our existing client relationships through thought leadership and focus on cross-practice solutions, actively pursuing new clients in our target markets, cross selling and strategic acquisitions.  We believe that the highly fragmented industry in which we operate represents tremendous growth opportunities for us, because we offer a unique combination of benefits and human capital consulting as well as strategic technology solutions.

 

Principal Services

 

We design, develop and implement human resource and risk management strategies and programs through the following closely-interrelated practice areas:

 

Benefits Group - The Benefits Group, accounting for 59 percent of our total third quarter fiscal year 2008 revenues, is the foundation of our business.  Retirement, the core of our Benefits Group business, lags reduction in discretionary spending compared to our other segments, mainly due to the recurring nature of client relationships.  Our corporate client retention rate within our target market has remained very high. Revenue for our retirement practice is seasonal, with the second and third quarters of each fiscal year being the busier periods.  Major revenue growth drivers in this practice include changes in regulations, leverage from other practices, increased global demand and increased market share.   Services provided through the Benefits Group include the following:

 

·                  Design and management of benefit programs

·                  Actuarial services including development of funding and risk management strategies

·                  Expatriate and international human resource strategies

·                  Mergers and acquisitions

·                  Strategic workforce planning

·                  Compliance and governance

 

Human Capital Group - Our Human Capital Group (HCG), accounting for 11 percent of our total third quarter fiscal year 2008 revenues, generally encompasses short-term projects, although the percentage of recurring projects has grown in the U.S. as a result of new regulations in the legal and accounting field.  As a result, sensitivity of this segment to cyclical economic fluctuations may diminish.  Services provided through HCG include the following:

 

·                  Advice concerning compensation plans, including broad-based and executive compensation, stock and other long-term incentive programs

·                  Strategies to align workforce performance with business objectives

·                  Organization effectiveness consulting, including talent management

·                  Strategies for attracting, retaining and motivating employees

·                  Data services

 

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Technology and Administration Solutions Group - Our Technology and Administration Solutions Group (TAS), accounting for 10 percent of our total third quarter fiscal year 2008 revenues, provides information technology services to our clients.  Revenue for TAS is relatively stable, compared to what it had historically experienced in an economic downturn, because of its long term contracts associated with the administration business.  Income in this segment is slightly greater in the first half of the fiscal year because of the timing of the typical enrollment season for benefits.  Services provided through the TAS Group include the following:

 

·                  Web-based applications for health and welfare, pension and compensation administration

·                  Administration outsourcing solutions for health and welfare and pension benefits

·                  Call center strategy, design and tools

·                  Strategic human resource technology and service delivery consulting

·                  Targeted online compensation and benefits statements, content management and call center case management solutions

 

Investment Consulting Group - Our Investment Consulting Group accounts for 9 percent of our total third quarter fiscal year 2008 revenues.  This business, although relationship based, can be affected by an increasingly complex investment landscape as well as by volatility in investment returns, particularly as clients look to us for assistance in managing that volatility.  Services provided through our Investment Consulting Group include the following:

 

·                  Investment consulting services to pension plans and other institutional funds

·                  Input on governance and regulatory issues

·                  Analysis of asset allocation and investment strategies

·                  Investment structure analysis, selection and evaluation of managers, and performance monitoring

 

Insurance & Financial Services Group - Our Insurance & Financial Services Group (I&FS) accounts for 7 percent of our total third quarter fiscal year 2008 revenues. This business is largely a project-based business and therefore could be cyclical.  Services provided through I&FS include the following:

 

·                  Independent actuarial and strategic advice

·                  Assessment and advice regarding financial condition and risk management

·                  Financial modeling software tools for product design and pricing, planning and projections, reporting, valuations and risk management

 

While we focus our consulting services in the areas described above, management believes that one of our primary strengths is our ability to draw upon consultants from our different practices to deliver integrated services to meet the needs of our clients.  This capability includes communication and change management implementation support services.

 

Financial Statement Overview

 

Watson Wyatt’s fiscal year ends June 30. The financial statements contained in this quarterly report reflect Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of the end of the third quarter of fiscal year 2008 (March 31, 2008) and as of the end of fiscal year 2007 (June 30, 2007), Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine month periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine month periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 and a Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the nine month period ended March 31, 2008.

 

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We derive substantially all of our revenue from fees for consulting services, which generally are billed based on time and materials or on a fixed-fee basis.  Clients are typically invoiced on a monthly basis with revenue generally recognized as services are performed.  No single client accounted for more than 2 percent of our consolidated revenue for any of the most recent three fiscal years.

 

For the nine months ended March 31, 2008 and fiscal years ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, the company’s top six markets based on percentage of consolidated revenue were as follows:

 

 

 

Nine Months

 

Fiscal Year

 

Geographic Region

 

2008

 

2007

 

2006

 

United States

 

41

%

44

%

44

%

United Kingdom

 

32

 

31

 

32

 

Germany(1)

 

6

 

1

 

1

 

Canada

 

4

 

4

 

5

 

Netherlands

 

3

 

1

 

1

 

Greater China

 

2

 

2

 

1

 

 


  (1) Germany includes the revenue from Heissmann which was acquired by the company in July, 2007.

 

In delivering consulting services, our principal direct expenses relate to compensation of personnel. Salaries and employee benefits are comprised of wages paid to associates, related taxes, benefit expenses such as pension, medical and insurance costs, and fiscal year-end incentive bonuses.

 

Professional and subcontracted services represent fees paid to external service providers for employment, marketing and other services.  For the most recent three fiscal years, approximately 50 to 60 percent of these professional and subcontracted services were directly incurred on behalf of our clients and were reimbursed by them, with such reimbursements being included in revenue.  For the third quarter of fiscal year 2008, approximately 55 percent of professional and subcontracted services represent these reimbursable services.

 

Occupancy, communications and other expenses represent expenses for rent, utilities, supplies and telephone to operate office locations as well as non-client-reimbursed travel by associates, publications and professional development. This line item also includes miscellaneous expenses, including gains and losses on foreign currency transactions.

 

General and administrative expenses include the operational costs, professional fees and insurance paid by corporate management, general counsel, marketing, human resources, finance, research and technology support.

 

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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Our estimates, judgments and assumptions are continually evaluated based on available information and experience. Because of the use of estimates inherent in the financial reporting process, actual results could differ from those estimates. The areas that we believe are critical accounting policies include revenue recognition, valuation of billed and unbilled receivables from clients, discretionary compensation, income taxes, pension assumptions, incurred but not reported claims, and goodwill and intangible assets. The critical accounting policies discussed below involve making difficult, subjective or complex accounting estimates that could have a material effect on our financial condition and results of operations. These critical accounting policies require us to make assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain at the time of the estimate or assumption and different estimates that we could have used or changes in the estimate that are reasonably likely to occur may have a material impact on our financial statements and results of operations.

 

   Revenue Recognition

 

Revenue includes fees primarily generated from consulting services provided.  We recognize revenue from these consulting engagements when hours are worked, either on a time-and-materials basis or on a fixed-fee basis, depending on the terms and conditions defined at the inception of an engagement with a client.  We have terms and conditions with our clients that support our engagements.  These terms and conditions can only be changed upon agreement by both parties. Individual consultants’ billing rates are principally based on a multiple of salary and compensation costs.

 

Revenue for fixed-fee arrangements, which span multiple months, is based upon the percentage of completion method.  The company typically has three types of fixed-fee arrangements:  annual recurring projects, projects of a short duration, and non-recurring system projects.  Annual recurring projects and the projects of short duration are typically straightforward and highly predictable in nature.  As a result, the project manager and financial staff are able to identify, as the project status is reviewed and bills are prepared monthly, the occasions when cost overruns could lead to the recording of a loss accrual.

 

Our system projects are typically found in our Technology and Administration Solutions Group.  They tend to be more complex projects that are longer in duration and subject to more changes in scope as the project progresses than projects undertaken in other segments. We evaluate at least quarterly, and more often as needed, project managers’ estimates-to-complete to assure that the projects’ current status is accounted for properly.  Our Technology and Administration Solutions Group contracts generally provide that if the client terminates a contract, the company is entitled to payment for services performed through termination.

 

Revenue recognition for fixed-fee engagements is affected by a number of factors that change the estimated amount of work required to complete the project such as changes in scope, the staffing on the engagement and/or the level of client participation.  The periodic engagement evaluations require us to make judgments and estimates regarding the overall profitability and stage of project completion that, in turn, affect how we recognize revenue.  The company recognizes a loss on an engagement when estimated revenue to be received for that engagement is less than the total estimated direct and indirect costs associated with the engagement.  Losses are recognized in the period in which the loss becomes probable and the amount of the loss is reasonably estimable.  The company has experienced certain costs in excess of estimates from time to time.  Management believes that it is rare, however, for these excess costs to result in overall project losses.

 

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The company has developed various software programs and technologies that we provide to clients in connection with consulting services.  In most instances, such software is hosted and maintained by the company and ownership of the technology and rights to the related code remain with the company.  Software developed to be utilized in providing services to a client, but for which the client does not have the contractual right to take possession, is capitalized in accordance with the AICPA’s Statement of Position 98-1 “Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use.”  Revenue associated with the related contract, together with amortization of the related capitalized software, is recognized over the service period.  As a result we do not recognize revenue during the implementation phase of an engagement.

 

Revenue recognized in excess of billings is recorded as unbilled accounts receivable.  Cash collections and invoices generated in excess of revenue recognized are recorded as deferred revenue until the revenue recognition criteria are met.  Client reimbursable expenses, including those relating to travel, other out-of-pocket expenses and any third-party costs, are included in revenue, and an equivalent amount of reimbursable expenses are included in professional and subcontracted services as a cost of revenue.

 

 Valuation of Billed and Unbilled Receivables from Clients

 

We maintain allowances for doubtful accounts to reflect estimated losses resulting from our clients’ failure to pay for our services after the services have been rendered, including allowances when customer disputes may exist.  The related provision is recorded as a reduction to revenue.  Our allowance policy is based on the aging of our billed and unbilled client receivables and has been developed based on our write-off history.  Facts and circumstances such as the average length of time the receivables are past due, general market conditions, current economic trends and our clients’ ability to pay may cause fluctuations in our valuation of billed and unbilled receivables.

 

 Discretionary Compensation

 

The company’s compensation program includes a discretionary annual bonus that is determined by management and paid once per fiscal year in the form of cash and/or deferred stock units after the company’s annual operating results are finalized.

 

An estimated annual bonus amount is initially developed at the beginning of each fiscal year in conjunction with our budgeting process.  Quarterly, estimated annual operating performance is reviewed by the company and the discretionary annual bonus amount is then adjusted, if necessary, by management to reflect changes in the forecast of net income for the year. In those quarters where the estimated annual bonus level changes, the remaining estimated annual bonus is accrued over the remaining quarters as a constant percentage of estimated future net income.  Annual bonus levels may vary from current expectations as a result of changes in the company’s forecast of net income and competitive employment market conditions.

 

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Income Taxes

 

Determining the consolidated provision for income tax expense, deferred tax assets and liabilities and the related valuation allowance involves judgment.  As a global company, we are required to calculate and provide for estimated income tax liabilities for each of the tax jurisdictions in which we operate.  This process involves estimating current tax obligations and exposures in each jurisdiction as well as making significant judgments regarding the future recoverability of deferred tax assets.  The company does not provide deferred taxes on cumulative earnings of foreign subsidiaries that have been reinvested indefinitely as asserted under Accounting Principles Board (APB) 23, “Accounting for Income Taxes – Special Areas”.  Due to the availability of foreign tax credits, it is not practicable to estimate the company’s income tax liability that might be payable if such earnings were not reinvested indefinitely, however, deferred taxes are provided for earnings of foreign subsidiaries which the company plans to remit.  Tax costs can involve complex issues and may require an extended period to resolve.  Changes in the geographic mix or estimated level of annual pre-tax income, limitations on the use of the company’s foreign subsidiary losses, changes in tax laws and changes resulting from tax audits can all affect the overall effective income tax rate which, in turn, impacts the overall level of income tax expense and net income.

 

Pension Assumptions

 

We sponsor both qualified and non-qualified, non-contributory defined benefit pension plans in North America and the U.K. that cover approximately 85% of our associates.  Under our plans in North America, benefits are based on the number of years of service and the associates’ compensation during the five highest paid consecutive years of service.  Beginning January 2008, we have made changes to our plan in the U.K. related to years of service used in calculating benefits for associates.  Benefits earned prior to January 2008 are based on the number of years of service and the associate’s compensation during the three years before leaving the plan and benefits earned after January 2008 are based on the number of years of service and the associates’ average compensation during the associate’s term of service since that date.  The non-qualified plan, included only in North America, provides for pension benefits that would be covered under the qualified plan but are limited by the Internal Revenue Code.  The non-qualified plan has no assets and therefore is an unfunded arrangement.  The benefit liability is reflected on the balance sheet.  The measurement date for each of the plans is June 30.

 

Determination of our obligations and annual expense under the plans is based on a number of assumptions that, given the longevity of the plans, are long-term in focus.  A change in one or a combination of these assumptions could have a material impact on our pension benefit obligation and related expense.  For this reason, management employs a long-term view so that assumptions do not change frequently in response to short-term volatility in the economy.  Any difference between actual and assumed results is amortized into our pension expense over the average remaining service period of participating employees.  We consider several factors prior to the start of each fiscal year when determining the appropriate annual assumptions, including economic forecasts, relevant benchmarks, historical trends, portfolio composition and peer comparisons.

 

North America

 

The following assumptions were used at the end of the past three fiscal years in the valuation of our North American plans:

 

 

 

Year Ended June 30

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

Discount rate

 

6.25

%

6.25

%

5.25

%

Expected long-term rate of return on assets

 

8.75

%

8.75

%

9.00

%

Rate of increase in compensation levels

 

3.84

%

3.84

%

3.34

%

 

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The 6.25 percent discount rate assumption used at the end of fiscal year 2007 is unchanged from fiscal year 2006 and represents a 100 basis point increase from the 5.25 percent discount rate used at the end of fiscal year 2005.  The company’s discount rate assumptions were determined by matching future pension benefit payments with expected future U.S. AA corporate bond yields for the same periods.

 

The expected long-term rate of return on assets assumption remained at 8.75 percent per annum, unchanged from fiscal year 2006 and 25 basis points lower than the 9.00 percent rate used in fiscal year 2005. Selection of the return assumption at 8.75 percent per annum was supported by an analysis performed by the company of the weighted average yield expected to be achieved with the anticipated makeup of investments.  The investment makeup is heavily weighted towards equities.  The return on assets through the first nine months of fiscal year 2008 was a loss of 7 percent, compared to a gain of 10.1 percent in the first nine months of fiscal year 2007.

 

The following information illustrates the sensitivity to a change in certain assumptions for the U.S. pension plans:

 

Change in Assumption

 

Effect on FY2008
Pre-Tax Pension Expense

 

 

 

 

 

25 basis point decrease in discount rate

 

$

+3.3 million

 

 

 

 

 

25 basis point increase in discount rate

 

$

-3.1 million

 

 

 

 

 

25 basis point decrease in expected return on assets

 

$

+1.4 million

 

 

 

 

 

25 basis point increase in expected return on assets

 

$

-1.4 million

 

 

The above sensitivities reflect the impact of changing one assumption at a time. It should be noted that economic factors and conditions often affect multiple assumptions simultaneously and the effects of changes in key assumptions are not necessarily linear. The company’s U.S. Other Postretirement Employee Benefits Plan is relatively insensitive to discount rate changes due to the plan provisions that have been established to control costs and as such no sensitivity results are shown in the table above.

 

United Kingdom

 

The following assumptions were used in the valuation of our U.K. plan at June 30, 2007 and 2006 and July 31, 2005, the date of the business combination with WWLLP:

 

 

 

Period Ended

 

 

 

June 30,

 

June 30,

 

July 31,

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

Discount rate

 

5.80

%

5.10

%

5.00

%

Expected long-term rate of return on assets

 

5.69

%

5.63

%

5.63

%

Rate of increase in compensation levels

 

4.95

%

4.75

%

4.75

%

 

The 5.80 percent discount rate assumption used at the end of June 30, 2007 represents a 70 basis point increase over the rate used at fiscal year 2006 and an 80 basis point increase over the discount rate at July 31, 2005. The discount rate is set having regard to yields on European AA corporate bonds at the measurement date and this increase reflects the change in yields between these two dates.

 

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The expected long-term rate of return on assets assumption increased to 5.69 percent per annum for fiscal year 2007 from 5.63 percent per annum for fiscal year 2006.  The rate of return was supported by an analysis performed by the company of the weighted average return expected to be achieved with the anticipated makeup of investments which is heavily weighted towards bonds.   The return on assets through the first nine months of fiscal year 2008 has been 1.2 percent, compared to a return of 11.4 percent in the first nine months of fiscal year 2007.

 

The following information illustrates the sensitivity to a change in certain assumptions for the U.K. pension plans:

 

Change in Assumption

 

Effect on FY2008
Pre-Tax Pension Expense

 

 

 

 

 

25 basis point decrease in discount rate

 

$

+1.3 million

 

 

 

 

 

25 basis point increase in discount rate

 

$

-1.2 million

 

 

 

 

 

25 basis point decrease in expected return on assets

 

$

+0.5 million

 

 

 

 

 

25 basis point increase in expected return on assets

 

$

-0.5 million

 

 

The differences in the discount rate and compensation level assumption used for the North American and U.K. plans above can be attributed to the differing interest rate environments associated with the currencies and economies to which the plans are subject.  The differences in the expected return on assets are primarily driven by the respective asset allocation in each plan, coupled with the return expectations for assets in the respective currencies.  The North American plans are approximately 65 percent invested in equities, which on average provide a higher return than bonds, which is the predominant investment for the U.K. plans.

 

 Incurred But Not Reported Claims

 

The company uses actuarial assumptions to estimate and record a liability for incurred but not reported (IBNR) professional liability claims.  Our estimated IBNR liability is based on long-term trends and averages, and considers a number of factors, including changes in claim reporting patterns, claim settlement patterns, judicial decisions, and legislation and economic decisions, but excludes the effect of claims data for large cases due to the insufficiency of actual experience with such cases.  Management does not currently expect significant fluctuations in the IBNR liability, based on the company’s historical claims experience.  However, our estimated IBNR liability will fluctuate if claims experience changes over time.

 

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Goodwill and Intangible Assets

 

In applying the purchase method of accounting for our business combinations, amounts assigned to identifiable assets and liabilities acquired have been based on estimated fair values as of the date of the acquisitions, with the remainder recorded as goodwill. Intangible assets are initially valued at fair market value using generally accepted valuation methods appropriate for the type of intangible asset. We evaluate our goodwill for impairment annually and whenever indicators of impairment exist. The evaluation is based upon a comparison of the estimated fair value of the reporting unit to which the goodwill has been assigned to the sum of the carrying value of the net assets for that reporting unit. The fair values used in this evaluation are estimated based upon a multiple of revenue for the reporting unit. This revenue multiple is based on our experience and knowledge of our own and other transactions in the marketplace. Intangible assets with definite lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives and are reviewed for impairment if indicators of impairment arise. The evaluation of impairment would be based upon a comparison of the carrying amount of the intangible asset to the estimated future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If estimated future undiscounted net cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset, the asset would be considered impaired. The impairment expense would be determined by comparing the estimated fair value of the intangible asset to its carrying value, with any shortfall from fair value recognized as an expense in the current period.

 

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Results of Operations

 

The table below sets forth our historical Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations data as a percentage of change between periods indicated:

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(in thousands)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

Nine Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

%

 

 

 

 

 

%

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

Change

 

2008

 

2007

 

Change

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

$

457,525

 

$

395,598

 

15.7

%

$

1,306,244

 

$

1,098,027

 

19.0

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs of providing services:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries and employee benefits

 

254,147

 

211,807

 

20.0

 

722,583

 

598,447

 

20.7

 

Professional and subcontracted services

 

20,334

 

26,494

 

(23.3

)

75,154

 

72,659

 

3.4

 

Occupancy, communications and other

 

54,955

 

49,375

 

11.3

 

148,187

 

136,008

 

9.0

 

General and administrative expenses

 

45,390

 

40,445

 

12.2

 

131,486

 

118,005

 

11.4

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

18,265

 

15,123

 

20.8

 

53,225

 

41,797

 

27.3

 

 

 

393,091

 

343,244

 

14.5

 

1,130,635

 

966,916

 

16.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from operations

 

64,434

 

52,354

 

23.1

 

175,609

 

131,111

 

33.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from affiliates

 

(29

)

(4,490

)

(99.4

)

(603

)

(5,357

)

(88.7

)

Interest expense

 

(1,353

)

(304

)

345.1

 

(5,580

)

(1,336

)

317.7

 

Interest income

 

1,585

 

889

 

78.3

 

4,356

 

3,101

 

40.5

 

Other non-operating income

 

179

 

37

 

383.8

 

454

 

141

 

222.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

64,816

 

48,486

 

33.7

 

174,236

 

127,660

 

36.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for income taxes

 

22,270

 

14,652

 

52.0

 

60,465

 

43,018

 

40.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

$

42,546

 

$

33,834

 

25.7

%

$

113,771

 

$

84,642

 

34.4

%

 

Three and Nine Months Ended March 31, 2008 Compared to the Three and Nine Months Ended March 31, 2007

 

  Revenue.

 

Revenues for the third quarter of fiscal year 2008 were $457.5 million, an increase of $61.9 million, or 15.7 percent from $395.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2007.   We acquired WWN in February 2007 and Heissmann in July 2007.  The increase in revenues from these acquisitions was $31 million during the third quarter of fiscal year 2008.

 

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The average exchange rate used to translate our revenues earned in British pounds sterling increased to 1.9868 for the third quarter of fiscal year 2008 from 1.9631 for the third quarter of fiscal year 2007, and the average exchange rate used to translate our revenues earned in Euros increased to 1.5108 for the third quarter of fiscal year 2008 from 1.3190 for the third quarter of fiscal year 2007.  The appreciation of the British pound and the Euro resulted in $2 million of the increase in revenues in the third quarter of fiscal year 2008.  The average exchange rate used to translate our revenues earned in Canadian dollars also appreciated 17% compared to the third quarter of fiscal year 2007 and resulted in $3 million of the increase in revenues during the quarter.  Changes in the value of other foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar resulted in $3 million of the increase in the third quarter of fiscal year 2008 revenues.

 

Excluding the impact of acquisitions and changes in foreign currency exchange rates, total company revenues increased 6% in the third quarter of fiscal year 2008.

 

The increases in our segment revenue for the third quarter of fiscal year 2008 as compared to the third quarter of fiscal year 2007 are as follows:

 

·                  The Benefits Group increased revenues $47.2 million, or 21 percent, over the third quarter of fiscal year 2007 due to increased demand for our services, particularly in North America and Europe, as well as the acquisitions of WWN and Heissmann.  The strengthening of the European and Canadian currencies accounted for 2 percentage points of the increase.  Excluding the impact of acquisitions and changes in foreign currency exchange rates, Benefits revenues increased 6% over the third quarter of fiscal year 2007.

 

·                  The Technology and Administration Solutions Group increased revenues $5.7 million, or 14 percent, over the third quarter of fiscal year 2007, largely due to an increase in administration services in North America and Europe.  In accordance with EITF 00-03, “Application of AICPA Statement of Position 97-2 to Arrangements that Include the Right to Use Software Stored on Another Entity’s Hardware” (EITF 00-03), the Company begins recognizing revenue after projects go into service.  No revenues are recognized during project implementation.  At March 31, 2008, the Company had 121 projects in on-going service delivery and 56 projects in implementation.  At March 31, 2007, the Company had 76 projects in on-going service delivery and 66 projects in implementation.  The strengthening of the European and Canadian currencies accounted for less than 1 percentage point of the revenue increase.

 

·                  The Human Capital Group increased revenues $7.9 million, or 19 percent, over the third quarter of fiscal year 2007 primarily due to increased demand for our compensation consulting and our data services.  The strengthening of the European and Canadian currencies accounted for 1 percentage point of the revenue increase.

 

·                  The Investment Consulting Group increased revenues $9.2 million, or 27 percent, over the third quarter of fiscal year 2007 due to an increase in demand for our services, especially investment strategy advice.  The strengthening of the European and Canadian currencies accounted for 2 percentage points of the revenue increase.

 

·                  The Insurance and Financial Services Group increased revenues $0.5 million, or 2 percent, over the third quarter of fiscal year 2007.  The increase in revenues was due to the continued growth in demand for our services in Asia-Pacific, offset in part by a decline in revenues in Europe resulting from fewer large projects in Europe during this fiscal quarter.  The strengthening of the European currencies accounted for 1 percentage point of the revenue increase.

 

33



 

Revenues for the nine months ended March 31, 2008 were $1.306 billion, an increase of $208.2 million, or 19 percent, from $1.098 billion for the nine months ended March 31, 2007.  We acquired WWN in February 2007 and Heissmann in July 2007.  The increase in revenues from these acquisitions was $88 million during the nine months ended March 31, 2008.

 

The average exchange rate used to translate our revenues earned in British pounds sterling increased to 2.0188 for the nine months ended March 31, 2008 from 1.9220 for the nine months ended March 31, 2007, and the average exchange rate used to translate our revenues earned in Euros increased to 1.4465 for the nine months ended March 31, 2008 from 1.2983 for the nine months ended March 31, 2007.  The appreciation of the British pound and the Euro resulted in $24 million of the increase in revenues for the nine months ended March 31, 2008.  The average exchange rate used to translate our revenues earned in Canadian dollars also appreciated 13% compared to the nine months ended March 31, 2007 and resulted in $6 million of the increase in revenues during the nine months ended March 31, 2008.  Changes in the value of other foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar resulted in $6 million of the increase in revenues for the nine months ended March 31, 2008.

 

Excluding the impact of acquisitions and changes in foreign currency exchange rates, total company revenues increased 8% during the nine months ended March 31, 2008.

 

The increases in our segment revenue for the nine months ended March 31, 2008 as compared to the nine months ended March 31, 2007 are as follows:

 

·                  The Benefits Group increased revenues $135.9 million, or 23 percent, over the nine months ended March 31, 2007 due to increased demand for our services, particularly in North America and Europe as well as the acquisitions of WWN and Heissmann.  The strengthening of the European and Canadian currencies accounted for 3 percentage points of the revenue increase.  Excluding the impact of acquisitions and changes in foreign currency exchange rates, the Benefits Group revenues increased 6% during the nine months ended March 31, 2008.

 

·                  The Technology and Administration Solutions Group increased revenues $17.0 million, or 14 percent, over the nine months ended March 31, 2007, largely due to system modifications made to pension administration systems as clients implemented provisions of the Pension Protection Act in the U.S. as well as an increase in administration services in the U.S. and Europe.  In accordance with EITF 00-03, “Application of AICPA Statement of Position 97-2 to Arrangements that Include the Right to Use Software Stored on Another Entity’s Hardware” (EITF 00-03), the Company begins recognizing revenue after projects go into service.  No revenues are recognized during project implementation.  At March 31, 2008, the Company had 121 projects in on-going service delivery and 56 projects in implementation.  At March 31, 2007, the Company had 76 projects in on-going service delivery and 66 projects in implementation.  The strengthening of the European and Canadian currencies accounted for 2 percentage points of the revenue increase.

 

·                  The Human Capital Group increased revenues $19.0 million, or 15 percent, over the nine months ended March 31, 2007, primarily due to increased demand for our compensation consulting and our data services.  The strengthening of the European and Canadian currencies accounted for 2 percentage points of the revenue increase.

 

·                  The Investment Consulting Group increased revenues $31.5 million, or 33 percent, over the nine months ended March 31, 2007, due to an increase in demand for our services, especially investment strategy advice.  The strengthening of the European and Canadian currencies accounted for 5 percentage points of the revenue increase.

 

34



 

·                  The Insurance and Financial Services Group increased revenues $5.5 million, or 7 percent, over the nine months ended March 31, 2007.  The increase in revenues was due to the continued growth in demand for our services in continental Europe and Asia-Pacific.  The strengthening of the European currencies accounted for 4 percentage points of the revenue increase.

 

Salaries and Employee Benefits.

 

Salaries and employee benefit expenses for the third quarter of fiscal year 2008 were $254.1 million compared to $211.8 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2007, an increase of $42.3 million or 20.0 percent.  Of this increase $16.3 million, or 7.7 percentage points, was attributed to the inclusion of recently acquired entities in our consolidated financials.  An additional 2.5 percentage points was attributed to the strengthening foreign currencies.  The remaining increase, inclusive of the impact of foreign currencies, was principally due to $9.2 million of salary and wage tax increases, a higher accrual for discretionary compensation expense of $9.1 million, as well as an increase in other benefits, including pension. As a percentage of revenue, salaries and employee benefits increased to 55.5 percent from 53.5 percent.

 

Salaries and employee benefit expenses for the first nine months of fiscal year 2008 were $722.6 million compared to $598.4 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2007, an increase of $124.1 million or 20.7 percent.  Of this increase $54.2 million, or 9.1 percentage points, was attributed to the inclusion of recently acquired entities in our consolidated financials.  An additional 3.8 percentage points was attributed to the strengthening foreign currencies.  The remaining increase, inclusive of the impact of foreign currencies, was principally due to $36.7 million of salary and wage tax increases, a higher accrual of $28.0 million of discretionary compensation, as well as an increase in other benefits, including pension.  As a percentage of revenue, salaries and employee benefits increased to 55.3 percent from 54.5 percent.

 

Professional and Subcontracted Services.

 

Professional and subcontracted services expenses for the third quarter of fiscal year 2008 were $20.3 million compared to $26.5 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2007, a decrease of $6.2 million or 23.3 percent. The decrease was primarily due to lower reimbursable expenses incurred on behalf of clients and lower expense associated with legal settlements, partially offset by a 3.4 percentage points increase due to the strengthening of foreign currencies.  As a percentage of revenue, professional and subcontracted services decreased to 4.4 percent from 6.7 percent.

 

Professional and subcontracted services used in consulting operations for the first nine months of fiscal year 2008 were $75.2 million, compared to $72.7 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2007, an increase of $2.5 million or 3.4 percent.  Of this increase, 4.9 percentage points was attributed to the strengthening foreign currencies.  As a percentage of revenue, professional and subcontracted services decreased to 5.8 percent from 6.6 percent.

 

Occupancy, Communications and Other.

 

Occupancy, communications and other expenses for the third quarter of fiscal year 2008 were $55.0 million compared to $49.4 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2007, an increase of $5.6 million or 11.3 percent.  Of this increase $3.2 million, or 6.5 percentage points, was attributed to the inclusion of recently acquired entities in our consolidated financials.  An additional 2.3 percentage points was attributed to the strengthening foreign currencies.  The remaining increase, exclusive of the impact of foreign currencies, was principally due to increases in travel, rent, promotion, repairs and maintenance and business tax expense, partially offset by a decrease in telephone and insurance expenses.  As a percentage of revenue, occupancy, communications and other decreased to 12.0 percent from 12.5 percent.

 

35



 

Occupancy, communications and other expenses for the first nine months of fiscal year 2008 were $148.2 million compared to $136.0 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2007, an increase of $12.2 million or 9.0 percent.  Of this increase $12.7 million, or 9.3 percentage points, was attributed to the inclusion of recently acquired entities in our consolidated financials.  An additional 3.4 percentage points was attributed to the strengthening foreign currencies.  The remaining increase, exclusive of the impact of foreign currencies, was principally due to increases in travel, rent, promotion, telephone, professional development and business tax expenses, partially offset by a decrease in insurance expense.  As a percentage of revenue, occupancy, communications and other decreased to 11.3 percent from 12.4 percent.

 

General and Administrative Expenses.

 

General and administrative expenses for the third quarter of fiscal year 2008 were $45.4 million, compared to $40.4 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2007, an increase of $5.0 million or 12.2 percent, 0.9 percentage points of which was attributed to the strengthening of the European currencies. The increase, including the impact of foreign currencies, was primarily due to higher salaries and employee benefits, telephone expenses and professional services expense, partially offset by a decrease in rent in Europe, promotion, and equipment rental expenses.  As a percentage of revenue, general and administrative expense decreased to 9.9 percent from 10.2 percent.

 

General and administrative expenses for the first nine months of fiscal year 2008 were $131.5 million, compared to $118.0 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2007, an increase of $13.5 million or 11.4 percent, 2.8 percentage points of which was attributed to the strengthening of the European currencies.  The increase, including the impact of foreign currencies, was primarily due to additional salary and employee benefits, repairs and maintenance, professional services, and insurance expenses, partially offset by a decrease in rent expense.  As a percentage of revenue, general and administrative expense decreased to 10.1 percent from 10.7 percent.

 

Depreciation and Amortization.

 

Depreciation and amortization for the third quarter of fiscal year 2008 was $18.3 million, compared to $15.1 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2007, an increase of $3.2 million or 20.8 percent.  Of this increase $0.9 million, or 6.0 percentage points, was attributed to the inclusion of recently acquired entities in our consolidated financials.  An additional 1.8 percentage points was attributed to the strengthening foreign currencies.  The remaining increase, inclusive of the impact of foreign currencies, was principally due to a $1.9 million increase in depreciation of fixed assets and amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions and a $0.4 million increase in depreciation of internally developed software used to support our Benefits and Technology and Administration Solutions Groups.  As a percentage of revenue, depreciation and amortization increased to 4.0 percent from 3.8 percent.

 

Depreciation and amortization for the first nine months of fiscal year 2008 was $53.2 million, compared to $41.8 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2007, an increase of $11.4 million or 27.3 percent.  Of this increase $3.3 million, or 7.9 percentage points, was attributed to the inclusion of recently acquired entities in our consolidated financials.  An additional 2.9 percentage points was attributed to the strengthening foreign currencies.  The remaining increase, inclusive of the impact of foreign currencies, was principally due to $4.6 million increase in depreciation of fixed assets and amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions and a $3.6 million increase in depreciation of internally developed software used to support our Benefits and Technology and Administration Solutions Groups.  As a percentage of revenue, depreciation and amortization increased to 4.1 percent from 3.8 percent.

 

36



 

Loss From Affiliates.

 

As of July 1, 2007, PCIC, the company’s captive insurance company carries reinsurance for losses it insures above $25 million.  Because losses incurred by PCIC below this level are not covered by reinsurance, but are direct expenses of PCIC, reserve adjustments and actual outcomes of specific claims of any PCIC member firm carry through into Watson Wyatt’s financial results.  Our shares of PCIC’s financial results are reflected as income or loss from affiliates through our 36.43% ownership of PCIC.  Thus, from time to time, the impacts of PCIC’s reserve development may result in fluctuations in Watson Wyatt’s earnings.

 

Loss from affiliates for the third quarter of fiscal year 2008 was $29 thousand, compared to $4.5 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2007, a decrease of $4.5 million.

 

Loss from affiliates for the first nine months of fiscal year 2008 was $0.6 million compared to $5.4 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2007.  Affiliate loss during the three and nine months ended March 31, 2007 includes our share of PCIC’s losses resulting from a substantial increase in PCIC’s reserves.

 

Interest Expense.

 

Interest expense for the third quarter of fiscal year 2008 was $1.4 million, compared to $0.3 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2007.  Interest expense for the first nine months of fiscal year 2008 was $5.6 million, compared to $1.3 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2007.  The increase in both periods was due to a higher average debt balance stemming from recent acquisition-related payments.

 

Interest Income.

 

Interest income for the third quarter of fiscal year 2008 was $1.6 million, compared to $0.9 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2007. Interest income for the first nine months of fiscal year 2008 was $4.4 million, compared to $3.1 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2007.  The increase was mainly due to a higher average cash balance in the current period compared to the prior period, combined with higher short-term interest rates in Europe.

 

Provision for Income Taxes.

 

Provision for income taxes for the first nine months of fiscal year 2008 was $60.5 million, compared to $43.0 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2007. Our effective tax rate was 34.7 percent for the first nine months of fiscal year 2008 and 33.7 percent for the first nine months of fiscal year 2007. The tax rate increase was primarily due to the geographic mix of income and the release of tax reservesThe company has not provided U.S. deferred taxes on cumulative earnings of foreign subsidiaries that have been reinvested indefinitely, which also includes foreign subsidiaries affiliated with our recent acquisitions.  We record a tax benefit on foreign net operating loss carryovers and foreign deferred expenses only if it is more likely than not that a benefit will be realized.

 

Net Income.

 

Net income for the third quarter of fiscal year 2008 was $42.5 million, compared to $33.8 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2007.  As a percentage of revenue, net income increased to 9.3 percent from 8.6 percent. Net income for the first nine months of fiscal year 2008 was $113.8 million, compared to $84.6 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2007.  As a percentage of revenue, net income increased to 8.7 percent from 7.7 percent.

 

37



 

Earnings Per Share.

 

Diluted earnings per share for the third quarter of fiscal year 2008 was $0.96, compared to $0.76 for the third quarter of fiscal year 2007.  Diluted earnings per share for the first nine months of fiscal year 2008 was $2.56, compared to $1.90 for the first nine months of fiscal year 2007. The diluted earnings per share calculations for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2008 assume that the 242,000 contingent shares related to the WWN business acquisition and 1,950,000 contingent shares related to the WWLLP business acquisitions had been issued and outstanding for the entire three and nine month periods ended March 31, 2008.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2008 totaled $157.8 million, compared to $248.2 million at June 30, 2007.  The decrease in cash from June 30, 2007 to March 31, 2008 was principally attributable to the payment during the first quarter of fiscal year 2008 of $139 million of previously accrued discretionary compensation as well as payment for the Heissmann and WisdomNet acquisitions of approximately $135 million.  We also paid $55.2 million in corporate taxes, $24.7 million in capital expenditures and $9.5 million in dividends during the first nine months of fiscal year 2008.  These payments were funded by cash flow from current consulting operations, from existing cash balances and from borrowings under our revolving credit facility.  Consistent with the company’s liquidity position, management considers various alternative strategic uses of cash reserves including acquisitions, dividends and stock buybacks, or any combination of these options. The company believes that it will generate sufficient resources to fund operations and pay down debt through the next twelve months.

 

Our non U.S. operations are substantially self-sufficient for their working capital needs.  At March 31, 2008, $153.0 million of the total cash balance of $157.8 million was held outside of North America, which we have the ability to utilize, if necessary. There are no significant repatriation restrictions other than local or U.S. taxes associated with repatriation.

 

Under the terms of the WWLLP Business Combination, we are required under certain circumstances to place funds into an insurance trust designed to satisfy potential litigation settlement related to the former partners of WWLLP.  If the assets of the trust are not used by 2017, it will be returned to the company. As of March 31, 2008, we maintained $6.5 million of restricted cash related to this obligation. This restricted cash balance was included in Other Assets on our consolidated balance sheet.

 

Cash From Operating Activities.

 

Cash from operating activities for the first nine months of fiscal year 2008 was $137.8 million, compared to cash from operating activities of $55.8 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2007.  The difference was primarily attributable to $29.1 million of incremental net income, a higher increase in the discretionary compensation accrual, and a lower decrease of receivables net of a larger decrease in other current assets.

 

The allowance for doubtful accounts increased $4.5 million from June 30, 2007 to March 31, 2008. The number of days of accounts receivable and work in process outstanding was 80 at March 31, 2008, compared to 83 at June 30, 2007.

 

Cash Used in Investing Activities.

 

Cash used in investing activities for the first nine months of fiscal year 2008 was $181.7 million, compared to $91.6 million used in investing activities for the first nine months of fiscal year 2007.  The difference was attributed to acquisition and contingent consideration payments, primarily for Heissmann, of $134.9 million during the first nine months of fiscal year 2008 compared to $46.5 million, primarily for WWN, in the first nine months of fiscal year 2007.

 

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Expenditures of capital funds were $24.7 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2008.  Anticipated commitments of capital funds are estimated at $18 million for the remainder of fiscal year 2008. We expect cash from operations to adequately provide for these cash needs.

 

Cash Used in Financing Activities.

 

Cash used in financing activities for the first nine months of fiscal year 2008 was $48.5 million, compared to cash used in financing activities of $63.0 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2007.  This change was primarily attributable to activity under our credit facility which included net borrowings of $5.5 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2008 compared to a net repayment of $30 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2007.  Additionally, during the first nine months of fiscal year 2008, the company repurchased $54.0 million of common stock, compared to $33.4 million of common stock during the same period in fiscal year 2007.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations

 

 

 

Remaining payments due by fiscal year as of March 31, 2008

 

Contractual Cash
Obligations (in thousands)

 

Total

 

Remaining
2008

 

2009
through
2010

 

2011
through
2012

 

Thereafter(1)

 

Lease commitments

 

$

354,367

 

$

16,554

 

$

118,427

 

$

89,316

 

$

130,070

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revolving Credit Facility

 

112,762

 

91,920

 

20,842

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension Contributions

 

176,773

 

7,216

 

81,786

 

87,771

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

643,902

 

$

115,690

 

$

221,055

 

$

177,087

 

$

130,070

 

 


(1)  Pension contributions for this category can not be estimated.

 

Operating Leases.  We lease office space, furniture and selected computer equipment under operating lease agreements with terms ranging from one to ten years. Management has determined that there is not a large concentration of leases that will expire in any one fiscal year.  Consequently, management anticipates that any increase in future rent expense will be mainly market driven.

 

Credit Agreement.  The company has a credit facility provided by a syndicate of banks in an aggregate principal amount of $300 million.  Interest rates associated with this facility vary with LIBOR and/or the Prime Rate and are based on our leverage ratio, as defined by the credit agreement.  We are charged a quarterly commitment fee, currently 0.125 percent of the facility, which varies with our financial leverage and is paid on the unused portion of the credit facility.  Borrowings under this facility at March 31, 2008 were $110.5 million compared to no borrowings as of March 31, 2007, primarily due to acquisitions and the repurchase of common stock.  Credit under the facility is available upon demand, although the credit facility requires us to observe certain covenants (including requirements relating to our leverage ratio and fixed coverage charge ratio) and is collateralized with a pledge of stock of material subsidiaries.  We were in compliance with all covenants under the credit facility as of March 31, 2008. This facility is scheduled to mature on June 30, 2010.  Borrowings of $91 million were repaid in April, 2008.

 

A portion of the revolving facility is used to support a required letter of credit.  As a result, $10.6 million of the facility was unavailable for operating needs as of March 31, 2008.  We are also charged a fee for this outstanding letter of credit that also fluctuates based on our leverage ratio.

 

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Risk Management

 

As a part of our overall risk management program, we carry customary commercial insurance policies, including commercial general liability and claims-made professional liability insurance with a self-insured retention of $1 million per claim, which provides coverage for professional liability claims of the company and its subsidiaries, including the cost of defending such claims.  Our professional liability insurance coverage beyond our self-insured retention amount is written by an affiliated captive insurance company (PCIC) owned by us and two other professional services firms, and by various commercial insurance carriers.

 

In formulating its premium structure, PCIC estimates the amount it expects to pay for losses (and loss expenses) for all the members as a whole and then allocates that amount to the member firms based on the individual member’s expected losses.  PCIC bases premium calculations, which are determined annually based on experience through March of each year, on relative risk of the various lines of business performed by each of the owner companies, past claim experience of each owner company, growth of each of those companies, industry risk profiles in general and the overall insurance markets.

 

As of July 1, 2007, the captive insurance company carries reinsurance for losses it insures above $25 million.  Since losses incurred by PCIC below this level are not covered by reinsurance, but are direct expenses of PCIC, reserve adjustments and actual outcomes of specific claims of any PCIC member firm carry through into Watson Wyatt’s financial results as income or loss from affiliates through our 36.43% ownership of PCIC.  Thus from time to time the impacts of PCIC’s reserve development may result in fluctuations in Watson Wyatt’s earnings.

 

Our agreements with PCIC could require additional payments to PCIC in the event that the company decided to exit PCIC and adverse claims significantly exceed prior expectations.  If these circumstances were to occur, the company would record a liability at the time it becomes probable and reasonably estimable.

 

The company will continue to provide for the self-insured retention where specific estimated losses and loss expenses for known claims in excess of $1 million are considered probable and reasonably estimable.  Although the company maintains professional liability insurance coverage, this insurance does not cover claims made after expiration of our current insurance contracts.  Generally accepted accounting principles require that we record a liability for incurred but not reported (IBNR) professional liability claims if they are probable and reasonably estimable, and for which we have not yet contracted for insurance coverage.  The company uses actuarial assumptions to estimate and record its IBNR liability and has a $38.5 million IBNR liability recorded as of March 31, 2008.

 

Insurance market conditions for our industry and the company include increases in overall premium cost.  In addition, beginning in 2005 PCIC raised the reinsurance attachment point from $15 million to $25 million. Trends toward higher self-insured retentions and constraints on aggregate excess coverage for this class of insurance coverage are anticipated to continue or to recur periodically, and to be reflected in our future annual insurance renewals.  As a result, we will continue to assess our ability to secure future insurance coverage and we cannot assure that such coverage will continue to be available indefinitely in the event of specific adverse claims experience, adverse loss trends, market capacity constraints or other factors.  In anticipation of the possibility of future reductions in risk transfer from PCIC to re-insurers, as well as the hardening insurance market conditions in recent years, the firms that own PCIC, including the company, have increased PCIC’s capital in the past and we will continue to re-assess capital requirements on a regular basis.

 

40



 

In light of increasing worldwide litigation, including litigation against professionals, the company has a policy that all client relationships be documented by engagement letters containing specific risk mitigation clauses that were not included in all historical client agreements.  Certain contractual provisions designed to mitigate risk may not be legally practical or enforceable in litigation involving breaches of fiduciary duty or certain other alleged errors or omissions, or in certain jurisdictions. We may incur significant legal expenses in defending against litigation. Nearly 100 percent of the company’s U.S. and U.K. corporate clients have signed engagement letters including some if not all of our preferred mitigation clauses, and initiatives to maintain that process in the United States and the United Kingdom and complete it elsewhere are underway.

 

Disclaimer Regarding Forward-looking Statements

 

This filing contains a number of  “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to the following: Note 5 -  Retirement Benefits; Note 6 – Goodwill and Intangible Assets; Note 10 – Restricted Shares; Note 11 – Guarantees; Note 12 – Contingent Liabilities; Note 13 – Income Taxes; Note 14 – Recent Accounting Pronouncements; Note 15 – Exit From Taft Hartley Consulting Business; the Executive Overview; Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates; the discussion of our capital expenditures; Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations; Risk Management; and Part II, Item 1 “Legal Proceedings”.  You can identify these statements and other forward-looking statements in this filing by words such as “may”, “will”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “plan”, “intend”, “continue”, or similar words, expressions or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. You should read these statements carefully because they contain projections of our future results of operations or financial condition, or state other “forward-looking” information. A number of risks and uncertainties exist which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results reflected in these forward-looking statements.  Such factors include but are not limited to:

 

·      our ability to integrate acquired businesses into our own business, processes and systems, and achieve the anticipated results;

·      our continued ability to recruit and retain qualified associates;

·      the success of our marketing, client development and sales programs after our acquisitions;

·      our ability to maintain client relationships and to attract new clients after our acquisitions;

·      declines in demand for our services;

·      outcomes of pending or future litigation and the availability and capacity of professional liability insurance to fund the outcome of pending cases or future judgments or settlements;

·      our ability to obtain professional liability insurance;

·      a significant decrease in the demand for the consulting, actuarial and other services we offer as a result of changing economic conditions or other factors;

·      actions by competitors offering human resources consulting services, including public accounting and consulting firms, technology consulting firms and Internet/intranet development firms;

·      our ability to achieve cost reductions after our recent acquisitions;

·      foreign currency exchange and interest rate fluctuations;

·      exposure to liabilities that have not been expressly assumed in our acquisition transactions;

·      general economic and business conditions that adversely affect us or our clients;

·      the level of capital resources required for future acquisitions and business opportunities;

·      regulatory developments abroad and domestically that impact our business practice;

·      legislative and technological developments that may affect the demand for or costs of our services;

 

41



 

and other factors discussed under “Risk Factors” in the company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on August 24, 2007.  These statements are based on assumptions that may not come true.  All forward-looking disclosure is speculative by its nature.  The company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking information included in this report, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed expectations or otherwise.

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

We are exposed to market risks in the ordinary course of business.  These risks include interest rate risk, foreign currency exchange and translation risk.

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

The primary objective of our investment activities is to preserve principal while at the same time maximizing yields without significantly increasing risk. To achieve this objective, we maintain our portfolio in mainly short term securities that are recorded on the balance sheet at fair value.

 

Foreign Currency Risk

 

International net revenues result from transactions by our foreign operations and are typically denominated in the local currency of each country. These operations also incur most of their expenses in the local currency. Accordingly, our foreign operations use the local currency as their functional currency and our primary international operations use the British Pound, the Euro and the Canadian dollar. Our international operations are subject to risks typical of international operations, including, but not limited to, differing economic conditions, changes in political climate, differing tax structures, other regulations and restrictions, and foreign exchange rate volatility.  Accordingly, our future results could be adversely impacted by changes in these or other factors.

 

Translation Exposure

 

Foreign exchange rate fluctuations may adversely impact our consolidated financial position as well as our consolidated results of operations and may adversely impact our financial position as the assets and liabilities of our foreign operations are translated into U.S. dollars in preparing our condensed consolidated balance sheet. Additionally, foreign exchange rate fluctuations may adversely impact our condensed consolidated results of operations as exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in currencies other than our functional currencies result in gains and losses that are reflected in our condensed consolidated statement of income.

 

We consolidate our international subsidiaries by converting them into U.S. dollars in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 52, “Foreign Currency Translation” (“FAS 52”). The results of operations and our financial position will fluctuate when there is a change in foreign currency exchange rates.

 

ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the chief executive officer, or CEO, and chief financial officer, or CFO, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, our management, including the CEO and CFO, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2008.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

There were no significant changes in our internal control over financial reporting in the quarter ended March 31, 2008 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

42



 

Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls

 

Our management, including the CEO and CFO, does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures will necessarily prevent all error and all fraud.  However, our management does expect that the control system provides reasonable assurance that its objectives will be met.  A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, cannot provide absolute assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met.   In addition, the design of such internal controls must take into account the costs of designing and maintaining such a control system.  Certain inherent limitations exist in control systems to make absolute assurances difficult, including the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, that breakdowns can occur because of a simple error or mistake, and that individuals can circumvent controls.  The design of any control system is based in part upon existing business conditions and risk assessments. There can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.  Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in business conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures.  As a result, they may require change or revision.  Because of the inherent limitations in a control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and may not be detected.  Nevertheless, the disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their stated objectives, and the CEO and CFO have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective at a reasonable assurance level.

 

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

 

From time to time, we are a party to various lawsuits, arbitrations or mediations that arise in the ordinary course of business. The disclosure called for by Part II, Item 1, regarding our legal proceedings is incorporated by reference herein from Note 12 “Contingent Liabilities,” of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2008.

 

ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS.

 

There are no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in our 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-16159) filed on August 24, 2007.

 

ITEM 2.  UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.

 

None.

 

43



 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

The table below presents specified information about the company’s stock repurchases and repurchase plans:

 

Period

 

Total Number of 
Shares
Purchased

 

Average Price
Paid per Share

 

Total Number of 
Shares Purchased 
as Part of Publicly 
Announced Plans
 or Programs

 

Maximum Number of 
Shares that May Yet 
Be Purchased Under 
the Plans or Programs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 1, 2008 through January 31, 2008

 

100,300

 

$

45.34

 

100,300

 

1,012,034

 

February 1, 2008 through February 29, 2008

 

149,700

 

51.63

 

149,700

 

2,871,173

 

March 1, 2008 through March 31, 2008

 

250,700

 

53.54

 

250,700

 

2,620,473

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

500,700

 

 

 

500,700

 

 

 

 

During the first quarter of fiscal year 2007, the company’s Board of Directors approved the repurchase of up to 1,500,000 shares of our Class A Common Stock.  Shares that the company repurchases are primarily issued in connection with the company’s employee benefit plans.

 

On February 11, 2008, the company’s Board of Directors approved the repurchase of up to $100 million of the company’s Class A Common Stock in addition to the ongoing stock repurchase program approved during the first quarter of fiscal year 2007. The maximum number of shares that may be purchased under this plan is approximately 2,008,839 shares, estimated by using the market closing price on February 11, 2008 at $49.78 per share.

 

ITEM 3.  DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.

 

None.

 

ITEM 4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

 

None.

 

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION.

 

None.

 

44



 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS.

 

10.1

 

Watson Wyatt Worldwide, Inc. Performance Share Bonus Incentive Program FY08(1)

 

 

 

21

 

Subsidiaries of Watson Wyatt Worldwide, Inc.(1)

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002(1)

 

 

 

31.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002(1)

 

 

 

32

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Title 18, U.S.C. Section 1350, adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002(1)

 


(1)   Filed with this Form 10-Q

 

45



 

Signatures

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

Watson Wyatt Worldwide, Inc.
(Registrant)

 

/s/ John J. Haley

 

May 8, 2008

 

 

 

Name:

John J. Haley

Date

 

 

 

Title:

President and

 

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

/s/ Carl D. Mautz

 

May 8, 2008

 

 

 

Name:

Carl D. Mautz

Date

 

 

 

Title:

Vice President and

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

/s/ Peter L. Childs

 

May 8, 2008

 

 

 

Name:

Peter L. Childs

Date

 

 

 

Title:

Controller

 

 

46