MARSH & MCLENNAN COMPANIES, INC. - Quarter Report: 2021 March (Form 10-Q)
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM 10-Q
_____________________________________________
(Mark One)
| ☒ | Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 | ||||
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2021
OR
| ☐ | Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 | ||||
For the transition period from to
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Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.
1166 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
(212) 345-5000
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Commission file number 1-5998
State of Incorporation: Delaware
I.R.S. Employer Identification No. 36-2668272
_____________________________________________
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading symbol(s) | Name of exchange on which registered | ||||||||||||
| Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share | MMC | New York Stock Exchange | ||||||||||||
| Chicago Stock Exchange | ||||||||||||||
| London Stock Exchange | ||||||||||||||
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 ý No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ý No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large Accelerated Filer | ☒ | Accelerated Filer | ☐ | |||||||||||
| Non-Accelerated Filer | ☐(Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller Reporting Company | ☐ | |||||||||||
| Emerging Growth Company | ☐ | |||||||||||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ý
As of April 22, 2021, there were outstanding 508,531,926 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the registrant.
INFORMATION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains "forward-looking statements," as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements, which express management's current views concerning future events or results, use words like "anticipate," "assume," "believe," "continue," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "project" and similar terms, and future or conditional tense verbs like "could," "may," "might," "should," "will" and "would."
Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements. Factors that could materially affect our future results include, among other things:
•the financial and operational impact of COVID-19 on our revenue and ability to generate new business, our overall level of profitability and cash flow, and our liquidity, including the timeliness and collectability of our receivables;
•the impact from lawsuits, other contingent liabilities and loss contingencies arising from errors and omissions, breach of fiduciary duty or other claims against us;
•the impact of investigations, reviews, or other activity by regulatory or law enforcement authorities;
•the financial and operational impact of complying with laws and regulations where we operate and the risks of noncompliance with such laws, including anti-corruption laws such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, U.K. Anti-Bribery Act, trade sanctions regimes and cybersecurity and data privacy regulations such as the E.U.’s General Data Protection Regulation;
•our ability to maintain adequate safeguards to protect the security of our information systems and confidential, personal or proprietary information, particularly given the increased risk of cybersecurity attacks, including hacking, viruses, malware, ransomware and other types of data security breaches, as well as the heightened risk caused by remote work arrangements;
•our ability to compete effectively and adapt to changes in the competitive environment, including to respond to technological change, disintermediation, digital disruption and other types of innovation;
•our ability to manage risks associated with our investment management and related services business, particularly in the context of uncertain equity markets, including our ability to execute timely trades in light of increased trading volume and to manage potential conflicts of interest between investment consulting and fiduciary management services;
•our ability to attract and retain industry leading talent;
•the impact of changes in tax laws, guidance and interpretations, particularly due to proposals from the current administrations in the U.S. and U.K., or disagreements with tax authorities;
•our ability to successfully recover if we experience a business continuity problem due to cyberattack, natural disaster, government unrest or otherwise; and
•the regulatory, contractual and reputational risks that arise based on insurance placement activities and various insurer revenue streams.
The factors identified above are not exhaustive. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the "Company" or "Marsh McLennan") operate in a dynamic business environment in which new risks emerge frequently. Accordingly, we caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are based only on information currently available to us and speak only as of the dates on which they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date on which it is made.
Further information concerning Marsh McLennan and its businesses, including information about factors that could materially affect our results of operations and financial condition, is contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the "Risk Factors" section and the "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" section of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
| ITEM 1. | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) | |||||||
| ITEM 2. | ||||||||
| OF OPERATIONS | ||||||||
| ITEM 3. | ||||||||
| ITEM 4. | ||||||||
| ITEM 1. | ||||||||
| ITEM 1A. | ||||||||
| ITEM 2. | ||||||||
| ITEM 3. | ||||||||
| ITEM 4. | ||||||||
| ITEM 5. | ||||||||
| ITEM 6. | ||||||||
3
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.Financial Statements.
MARSH & McLENNAN COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| (In millions, except per share amounts) | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||
| Revenue | $ | 5,083 | $ | 4,651 | |||||||
| Expense: | |||||||||||
| Compensation and benefits | 2,807 | 2,555 | |||||||||
| Other operating expenses | 918 | 1,026 | |||||||||
| Operating expenses | 3,725 | 3,581 | |||||||||
| Operating income | 1,358 | 1,070 | |||||||||
| Other net benefit credits | 71 | 64 | |||||||||
| Interest income | — | 2 | |||||||||
| Interest expense | (118) | (127) | |||||||||
| Investment income (loss) | 11 | (2) | |||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 1,322 | 1,007 | |||||||||
| Income tax expense | 324 | 240 | |||||||||
| Net income before non-controlling interests | 998 | 767 | |||||||||
| Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests | 15 | 13 | |||||||||
| Net income attributable to the Company | $ | 983 | $ | 754 | |||||||
| Net income per share attributable to the Company: | |||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 1.93 | $ | 1.49 | |||||||
| Diluted | $ | 1.91 | $ | 1.48 | |||||||
| Average number of shares outstanding: | |||||||||||
| Basic | 509 | 505 | |||||||||
| Diluted | 514 | 510 | |||||||||
| Shares Outstanding at March 31, | 509 | 506 | |||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated statements.
4
MARSH & McLENNAN COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
(In millions) | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||
| Net income before non-controlling interests | $ | 998 | $ | 767 | |||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax: | |||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation adjustments | (91) | (941) | |||||||||
| Gain related to pension/post-retirement plans | 6 | 175 | |||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss, before tax | (85) | (766) | |||||||||
| Income tax expense on other comprehensive income | 2 | 26 | |||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss, net of tax | (87) | (792) | |||||||||
| Comprehensive income (loss) | 911 | (25) | |||||||||
| Less: comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest | 15 | 13 | |||||||||
| Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company | $ | 896 | $ | (38) | |||||||
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MARSH & McLENNAN COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
| (In millions, except share amounts) | (Unaudited) March 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||||
| ASSETS | |||||||||||
| Current assets: | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,120 | $ | 2,089 | |||||||
| Receivables | |||||||||||
| Commissions and fees | 5,032 | 4,679 | |||||||||
| Advanced premiums and claims | 119 | 112 | |||||||||
| Other | 592 | 677 | |||||||||
| 5,743 | 5,468 | ||||||||||
| Less-allowance for credit losses | (146) | (142) | |||||||||
| Net receivables | 5,597 | 5,326 | |||||||||
| Other current assets | 832 | 740 | |||||||||
| Total current assets | 7,549 | 8,155 | |||||||||
| Goodwill | 15,458 | 15,517 | |||||||||
| Other intangible assets | 2,603 | 2,699 | |||||||||
Fixed assets (net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $2,197 at March 31, 2021 and $2,159 at December 31, 2020) | 830 | 856 | |||||||||
| Pension related assets | 1,823 | 1,768 | |||||||||
| Right of use assets | 1,824 | 1,894 | |||||||||
| Deferred tax assets | 704 | 702 | |||||||||
| Other assets | 1,482 | 1,458 | |||||||||
| $ | 32,273 | $ | 33,049 | ||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated statements.
6
MARSH & McLENNAN COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Continued)
| (In millions, except share amounts) | (Unaudited) March 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||||
| LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | |||||||||||
| Current liabilities: | |||||||||||
| Short-term debt | $ | 1,015 | $ | 517 | |||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 2,940 | 3,050 | |||||||||
| Accrued compensation and employee benefits | 1,220 | 2,400 | |||||||||
| Current lease liabilities | 342 | 342 | |||||||||
| Accrued income taxes | 368 | 247 | |||||||||
| Dividends payable | 238 | — | |||||||||
| Total current liabilities | 6,123 | 6,556 | |||||||||
| Fiduciary liabilities | 8,782 | 8,585 | |||||||||
| Less – cash and investments held in a fiduciary capacity | (8,782) | (8,585) | |||||||||
| — | — | ||||||||||
| Long-term debt | 10,242 | 10,796 | |||||||||
| Pension, post-retirement and post-employment benefits | 2,594 | 2,662 | |||||||||
| Long-term lease liabilities | 1,850 | 1,924 | |||||||||
| Liabilities for errors and omissions | 354 | 366 | |||||||||
| Other liabilities | 1,514 | 1,485 | |||||||||
| Commitments and contingencies | — | — | |||||||||
| Equity: | |||||||||||
Preferred stock, $1 par value, authorized 6,000,000 shares, none issued | — | — | |||||||||
Common stock, $1 par value, authorized 1,600,000,000 shares, issued 560,641,640 shares at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 | 561 | 561 | |||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 851 | 943 | |||||||||
| Retained earnings | 16,780 | 16,272 | |||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (5,197) | (5,110) | |||||||||
| Non-controlling interests | 162 | 156 | |||||||||
| 13,157 | 12,822 | ||||||||||
Less – treasury shares, at cost, 51,871,847 shares at March 31, 2021 and 52,914,550 shares at December 31, 2020 | (3,561) | (3,562) | |||||||||
| Total equity | 9,596 | 9,260 | |||||||||
| $ | 32,273 | $ | 33,049 | ||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated statements.
7
MARSH & McLENNAN COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
| For the Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
(In millions) | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||
| Operating cash flows: | |||||||||||
| Net income before non-controlling interests | $ | 998 | $ | 767 | |||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income used for operations: | |||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization of fixed assets and capitalized software | 97 | 97 | |||||||||
| Amortization of intangible assets | 100 | 86 | |||||||||
| Non cash lease expense | 79 | 80 | |||||||||
| Adjustments and payments related to contingent consideration liability | (1) | (10) | |||||||||
| Provision for deferred income taxes | 14 | 9 | |||||||||
| Net (gain) loss on investments | (11) | 2 | |||||||||
| Net loss (gain) on disposition of assets | 3 | (3) | |||||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | 78 | 72 | |||||||||
| Changes in assets and liabilities: | |||||||||||
| Net receivables | (275) | (313) | |||||||||
| Other current assets | (91) | (34) | |||||||||
| Other assets | (54) | 57 | |||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | (73) | (140) | |||||||||
| Accrued compensation and employee benefits | (1,180) | (1,178) | |||||||||
| Accrued income taxes | 121 | 91 | |||||||||
| Contributions to pension and other benefit plans in excess of current year credit | (102) | (85) | |||||||||
| Other liabilities | 26 | (38) | |||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities | (82) | (86) | |||||||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes | (55) | (12) | |||||||||
| Net cash used for operations | (408) | (638) | |||||||||
| Financing cash flows: | |||||||||||
| Purchase of treasury shares | (112) | — | |||||||||
| Net increase in commercial paper | — | 193 | |||||||||
| Borrowings from term-loan and credit facilities | — | 2,000 | |||||||||
| Repayments of debt | (4) | (503) | |||||||||
| Purchase of non-controlling interests | — | (3) | |||||||||
| Shares withheld for taxes on vested units – treasury shares | (93) | (112) | |||||||||
| Issuance of common stock from treasury shares | 35 | 44 | |||||||||
| Payments of deferred and contingent consideration for acquisitions | (32) | (29) | |||||||||
| Distributions of non-controlling interests | (8) | (18) | |||||||||
| Dividends paid | (237) | (232) | |||||||||
| Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities | (451) | 1,340 | |||||||||
| Investing cash flows: | |||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | (69) | (118) | |||||||||
| Net sales of long-term investments | 4 | 57 | |||||||||
| Dispositions | — | 7 | |||||||||
| Acquisitions | — | (200) | |||||||||
| Other, net | (2) | 9 | |||||||||
| Net cash used for investing activities | (67) | (245) | |||||||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | (43) | (132) | |||||||||
| (Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents | (969) | 325 | |||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 2,089 | 1,155 | |||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 1,120 | $ | 1,480 | |||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated statements.
8
MARSH & McLENNAN COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY
(Unaudited)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
(In millions, except per share amounts) | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||||
| COMMON STOCK | ||||||||||||||
| Balance, beginning and end of period | $ | 561 | $ | 561 | ||||||||||
| ADDITIONAL PAID-IN CAPITAL | ||||||||||||||
| Balance, beginning of period | $ | 943 | $ | 862 | ||||||||||
| Change in accrued stock compensation costs | (133) | (129) | ||||||||||||
| Issuance of shares under stock compensation plans and employee stock purchase plans | 41 | 14 | ||||||||||||
| Other | — | (1) | ||||||||||||
| Balance, end of period | $ | 851 | $ | 746 | ||||||||||
| RETAINED EARNINGS | ||||||||||||||
| Balance, beginning of period | $ | 16,272 | $ | 15,199 | ||||||||||
| Net income attributable to the Company | 983 | 754 | ||||||||||||
| Dividend equivalents declared | (3) | (4) | ||||||||||||
| Dividends declared | (472) | (459) | ||||||||||||
| Balance, end of period | $ | 16,780 | $ | 15,490 | ||||||||||
| ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME | ||||||||||||||
| Balance, beginning of period | $ | (5,110) | $ | (5,055) | ||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss, net of tax | (87) | (792) | ||||||||||||
| Balance, end of period | $ | (5,197) | $ | (5,847) | ||||||||||
| TREASURY SHARES | ||||||||||||||
| Balance, beginning of period | $ | (3,562) | $ | (3,774) | ||||||||||
| Issuance of shares under stock compensation plans and employee stock purchase plans | 113 | 119 | ||||||||||||
| Purchase of treasury shares | (112) | — | ||||||||||||
| Balance, end of period | $ | (3,561) | $ | (3,655) | ||||||||||
| NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS | ||||||||||||||
| Balance, beginning of period | $ | 156 | $ | 150 | ||||||||||
| Net income attributable to non-controlling interests | 15 | 13 | ||||||||||||
| Net non-controlling interests acquired (disposed) | — | (3) | ||||||||||||
| Distributions and other changes | (9) | (4) | ||||||||||||
| Balance, end of period | $ | 162 | $ | 156 | ||||||||||
| TOTAL EQUITY | $ | 9,596 | $ | 7,451 | ||||||||||
| Dividends declared per share | $ | 0.93 | $ | 0.91 | ||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated statements.
9
MARSH & McLENNAN COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
1. Nature of Operations
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (the "Company" or "Marsh McLennan"), a global professional services firm, is organized based on the different services that it offers. Under this structure, the Company’s two business segments are Risk and Insurance Services and Consulting.
The Risk and Insurance Services segment provides risk management solutions, services, advice and insurance broking, reinsurance broking and insurance program management services for businesses, public entities, insurance companies, associations, professional services organizations, and private clients. The Company conducts business in this segment through Marsh and Guy Carpenter. Marsh advises individual and commercial clients of all sizes on insurance broking and innovative risk management solutions. Guy Carpenter develops advanced risk, reinsurance and capital strategies that help clients grow profitably and pursue emerging opportunities.
The Company conducts business in its Consulting segment through Mercer and Oliver Wyman Group. Mercer provides consulting expertise, advice, services and solutions in the areas of health, wealth and career consulting services and products. Oliver Wyman Group provides specialized management and economic and brand consulting services.
Business Update Related To COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has now surpassed one year in duration and it continues to impact virtually every geography in which the Company operates. The safety and well-being of our colleagues remains our first priority, while continuing to serve the needs of our clients. Approximately 70% of the Company’s offices are open, however, the vast majority of colleagues continue to work in a remote environment which is expected to continue through much of 2021. The Company continues to plan the multiple aspects of a return to the office model, considering health, colleague privacy and potential government restrictions. The Company expects to continue to service clients effectively in the current remote environment and as colleagues gradually return to the office.
Although the pandemic is ongoing, the global economy is showing signs of recovery as various countries begin to ease restrictions. The Company had strong revenue growth in the first quarter of 2021 and continues to benefit from reduced expense levels in areas such as travel and entertainment and outside services. However, uncertainty remains in the economic outlook and the ultimate extent of COVID-19 impact to the Company will depend on future developments that it is unable to predict, including new “waves” of infection, newly emerging variants of the virus, potential renewed restrictions by various governments or agencies, and the effectiveness and distribution rate of vaccines.
2. Principles of Consolidation and Other Matters
The Company prepared the consolidated financial statements included herein pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. For interim filings, certain information and disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The Company believes that the information and disclosures presented are adequate to make such information and disclosures not misleading. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 (the "2020 Form 10-K").
The financial information contained herein reflects all normal recurring adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the three month periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.
10
Estimates: The preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, judgments and methodologies. The estimates are based on historical experience and on various other assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable. Such matters include:
•the allowance for current expected credit losses on receivables,
•estimates of revenue,
•impairment assessments and charges,
•recoverability of long-lived assets,
•liabilities for errors and omissions,
•deferred tax assets, uncertain tax positions and income tax expense,
•share-based and incentive compensation expense,
•useful lives assigned to long-lived assets, and depreciation and amortization,
•fair value estimates of contingent consideration receivable or payable related to acquisitions or dispositions
The Company believes these estimates are reasonable based on information currently available at the time they are made. The Company also considered any COVID-19 potential impacts to its customer base in various industries and geographies and has concluded through March 31, 2021, that COVID-19 did not have a material adverse impact on the Company's financial position or estimates. The ultimate extent to which COVID-19 will directly or indirectly impact the Company’s businesses, results of operations and financial condition will depend on numerous evolving factors and future developments that it is not able to predict. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents primarily consist of certificates of deposit and time deposits, with original maturities of three months or less, and money market funds. The estimated fair value of the Company's cash and cash equivalents approximates their carrying value. The Company is required to maintain operating funds primarily related to regulatory requirements outside of the United States or as collateral under captive insurance arrangements. At March 31, 2021, the Company maintained $272 million compared to $270 million at December 31, 2020 related to these regulatory requirements.
Allowance for Credit Losses on Accounts Receivable
The Company’s policy for providing an allowance for credit losses on its accounts receivable is based on a combination of factors, including historical write-offs, aging of balances, and other qualitative and quantitative analyses. The charge related to expected credit losses was immaterial to the consolidated statement of income for the three months ended March 31, 2021.
Investments
The caption "Investment income (loss)" in the consolidated statements of income comprises realized and unrealized gains and losses from investments recognized in earnings. It includes, when applicable, other than temporary declines in the value of securities, mark-to-market increases or decreases in equity investments with readily determinable fair values and equity method gains or losses on the Company's investments in private equity funds.
The Company holds investments in certain private equity funds that are accounted for in accordance with the equity method of accounting using a consistently applied three-month lag period adjusted for any known significant changes from the lag period to the reporting date of the Company. The underlying private equity funds follow investment company accounting, where investments within the fund are carried at fair value. Investment gains or losses for the Company's proportionate share of the change in fair value of the funds are recorded in earnings. Investments accounted for using the equity method of accounting are included in "other assets" in the consolidated balance sheets.
The Company recorded net investment income of $11 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to a net investment loss of $2 million for the same period last year. The increase is primarily due to gains from its investments in private equity funds.
11
Income Taxes
The Company's effective tax rate in the first quarter of 2021 was 24.5% compared with 23.8% in the first quarter of 2020. The tax rates in both periods reflect the impact of discrete tax items such as excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation, enacted tax legislation, changes in uncertain tax positions, deferred tax adjustments and nontaxable adjustments to contingent acquisition consideration. The excess tax benefit related to share-based payments is the most significant discrete item, reducing the effective tax rate by 1.1% and 2.6% in the first quarters of 2021 and 2020, respectively.
The Company's tax rate reflects its income, statutory tax rates and tax planning in the various jurisdictions in which it operates. Significant judgment is required in determining the annual effective tax rate and in evaluating uncertain tax positions.
Losses in one jurisdiction, generally, cannot offset earnings in another, and within certain jurisdictions profits and losses may not offset between entities. Consequently, losses in certain jurisdictions may require valuation allowances affecting the effective tax rate, depending on estimates of the realizability of associated deferred tax assets. The tax rate is also sensitive to changes in unrecognized tax benefits, including the impact of settled tax audits and expired statutes of limitation.
Changes in tax laws or tax rulings may have a significant impact on our effective tax rate. The Company reports a liability for unrecognized tax benefits resulting from uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in tax returns. The Company's gross unrecognized tax benefits was $96 million at March 31, 2021 and $98 million at December 31, 2020. It is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will decrease between zero and approximately $35 million within the next twelve months due to settlements of audits and expirations of statutes of limitation.
Integration and Restructuring Charges
Severance and related costs are recognized based on amounts due under established severance plans or estimates of one-time benefits that will be provided. Typically, severance benefits are recognized when the impacted colleagues are notified of their expected termination and such termination is expected to occur within the legally required notification period. These costs are included in compensation and benefits in the consolidated statements of income.
Costs for real estate consolidation are recognized based on the type of cost, and the expected future use of the facility. For locations where the Company does not expect to sub-lease the property, the amortization of any right-of-use asset is accelerated from the decision date to the cease use date. For locations where the Company expects to sub-lease the properties subsequent to its vacating the property, the right-of-use asset is reviewed for potential impairment at the earlier of the cease use date or the date a sub-lease is signed. To determine the amount of impairment, the fair value of the right-of-use asset is determined based on the present value of the estimated net cash flows related to the property. Contractual costs outside of the right-of-use asset are recognized based on the net present value of expected future cash outflows for which the Company will not receive any benefit. Such amounts are based on estimates of future sub-lease income to be received and future contractual costs to be incurred.
These costs are included in other operating expenses in the consolidated statements of income.
Other costs related to integration and restructuring, such as moving, legal or consulting costs are recognized as incurred. These costs are included in other operating expenses in the consolidated statements of income.
3. Revenue
The core principle of the revenue recognition guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve that principle, the entity applies the following steps: identify the contract(s) with the customer, identify the performance obligations in the contract(s), determine the transaction price, allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract and recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. A performance obligation is satisfied either at a “point in time” or “over time” depending on the nature of the product or service provided, and the specific terms of the contract with customers.
The Company's revenue recognition guidance is provided in more detail in Note 2 of the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in 2020 Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
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The following schedule disaggregates components of the Company's revenue:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| (In millions) | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||
| Marsh: | |||||||||||
| EMEA | $ | 837 | $ | 754 | |||||||
| Asia Pacific | 274 | 238 | |||||||||
| Latin America | 90 | 91 | |||||||||
| Total International | 1,201 | 1,083 | |||||||||
| U.S./Canada | 1,124 | 978 | |||||||||
| Total Marsh | 2,325 | 2,061 | |||||||||
| Guy Carpenter | 895 | 827 | |||||||||
| Subtotal | 3,220 | 2,888 | |||||||||
| Fiduciary interest income | 5 | 23 | |||||||||
| Total Risk and Insurance Services | $ | 3,225 | $ | 2,911 | |||||||
| Mercer: | |||||||||||
| Wealth | $ | 623 | $ | 592 | |||||||
| Health | 487 | 486 | |||||||||
| Career | 178 | 173 | |||||||||
| Total Mercer | 1,288 | 1,251 | |||||||||
| Oliver Wyman | 585 | 511 | |||||||||
| Total Consulting | $ | 1,873 | $ | 1,762 | |||||||
The Company recognizes commission revenue from arrangements for a significant portion of its brokerage arrangements at a point in time on the effective date of the underlying policy. Commission revenue is estimated using historical information about the risks to be covered over the policy period, some of which are dependent on variable factors such as number of employees covered, covered payroll, airline passenger miles flown, shipped tonnage of marine cargo and others.
The following schedule provides contract assets and contract liabilities information from contracts with customers.
| (In millions) | March 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||
| Contract Assets | $ | 304 | $ | 236 | ||||||||||
| Contract Liabilities | $ | 737 | $ | 676 | ||||||||||
The Company records accounts receivable when the right to consideration is unconditional, subject only to the passage of time. Contract assets primarily relate to quota share reinsurance brokerage and contingent insurer revenue. The Company does not have the right to bill and collect revenue for quota share brokerage until the underlying policies written by the ceding insurer attach to the treaty. Contract assets are included in other current assets in the Company's consolidated balance sheet. Contract liabilities primarily relate to the advance consideration received from customers. Contract liabilities are included in current liabilities in the Company's consolidated balance sheet. Revenue recognized in the first three months of 2021 and 2020 that was included in the contract liability balance at the beginning of each of those years was $238 million and $289 million, respectively.
The amount of revenue recognized in the first three months of 2021 and 2020 from performance obligations satisfied in previous periods, mainly due to variable consideration from contracts with insurers, quota share business and consulting contracts previously considered constrained was $34 million and $29 million, respectively.
The Company applies the practical expedient and does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for (1) contracts with original contract terms of one year or less and (2) contracts where the Company has the right to invoice for services performed. The revenue expected to be recognized in future periods during the non-cancellable term of existing contracts greater than one year that is related to performance obligations that are unsatisfied or partially satisfied at the end of the reporting period is approximately $40 million for Marsh, $169 million for Mercer and $2 million for Oliver Wyman. The Company expects revenue in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and
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2026 and beyond of $102 million, $72 million, $29 million, $5 million and $3 million, respectively, related to these performance obligations.
4. Fiduciary Assets and Liabilities
In its capacity as an insurance broker or agent, the Company collects premiums from insureds and, after deducting its commissions, remits the premiums to the respective insurance underwriters. The Company also collects claims or refunds from underwriters on behalf of insureds. Unremitted insurance premiums and claims proceeds are held by the Company in a fiduciary capacity. Risk & Insurance Services revenue includes interest on fiduciary funds ("fiduciary interest income") of $5 million and $23 million for the three month periods ended March 31, 2021 and March 31, 2020, respectively. The decrease in 2021 compared to 2020 reflects the impact of lower interest rates partially offset by a higher level of average invested funds. Since fiduciary assets are not available for corporate use, they are shown in the consolidated balance sheets as an offset to fiduciary liabilities.
Net uncollected premiums and claims and the related payables amounted to $12.5 billion at March 31, 2021 and $11.2 billion at December 31, 2020. The Company is not a principal to the contracts under which the right to receive premiums or the right to receive reimbursement of insured losses arises. Accordingly, net uncollected premiums and claims and the related payables are not assets and liabilities of the Company and are not included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
In certain instances, the Company advances premiums, refunds or claims to insurance underwriters or insureds prior to collection. These advances are made from corporate funds and are reflected in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as receivables.
5. Per Share Data
Basic net income per share attributable to the Company is calculated by dividing the after-tax income attributable to the Company by the weighted average number of outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock.
Diluted net income per share attributable to the Company is calculated by dividing the after-tax income attributable to the Company by the weighted average number of outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, which have been adjusted for the dilutive effect of potentially issuable common shares.
| Basic and Diluted EPS Calculation | Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||
| (In millions, except per share amounts) | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||
| Net income before non-controlling interests | $ | 998 | $ | 767 | |||||||
| Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests | 15 | 13 | |||||||||
| Net income attributable to the Company | $ | 983 | $ | 754 | |||||||
| Basic weighted average common shares outstanding | 509 | 505 | |||||||||
| Dilutive effect of potentially issuable common shares | 5 | 5 | |||||||||
| Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding | 514 | 510 | |||||||||
| Average stock price used to calculate common stock equivalents | $ | 114.96 | $ | 107.10 | |||||||
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6. Supplemental Disclosures to the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
The following schedule provides additional information concerning acquisitions, interest and income taxes paid for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.
| (In millions) | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||
| Assets acquired, excluding cash | $ | — | $ | 249 | |||||||
| Liabilities assumed | — | (5) | |||||||||
| Contingent/deferred purchase consideration | — | (44) | |||||||||
| Net cash outflow for current year acquisitions | $ | — | $ | 200 | |||||||
| (In millions) | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||
| Interest paid | $ | 191 | $ | 199 | |||||||
| Income taxes paid, net of refunds | $ | 122 | $ | 136 | |||||||
The classification of contingent consideration in the statement of cash flows is determined by whether the payment was part of the initial liability established on the acquisition date (financing) or an adjustment to the acquisition date liability (operating).
The following amounts are included in the consolidated statements of cash flows as a financing activity. The Company paid deferred and contingent consideration of $37 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. This consisted of deferred purchase consideration related to prior years' acquisitions of $27 million and contingent purchase consideration of $10 million. Financing cash flows also reflect the receipt of contingent consideration of $5 million related to prior year dispositions. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company paid deferred and contingent consideration of $29 million, consisting of deferred purchase consideration related to prior years' acquisitions of $25 million and contingent consideration of $4 million.
The following amounts are included in the operating section of the consolidated statements of cash flows. For the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company paid contingent consideration payments of $1 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company recorded a net credit for adjustments to contingent consideration liabilities of $1 million and made contingent consideration payments of $9 million.
The Company had non-cash issuances of common stock under its share-based payment plan of $212 million and $201 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The Company recorded stock-based compensation expense for equity awards related to restricted stock units, performance stock units and stock options of $78 million and $72 million for the three-months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
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7. Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
The changes, net of tax, in the balances of each component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income ("AOCI") for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, including amounts reclassified out of AOCI, are as follows:
| (In millions) | Pension/Post-Retirement Plans Gains (Losses) | Foreign Currency Translation Gains (Losses) | Total Gains (Losses) | ||||||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2020 | $ | (4,126) | $ | (984) | $ | (5,110) | |||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications | (36) | (91) | (127) | ||||||||||||||
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income | 40 | — | 40 | ||||||||||||||
| Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) | 4 | (91) | (87) | ||||||||||||||
| Balance as of March 31, 2021 | $ | (4,122) | $ | (1,075) | $ | (5,197) | |||||||||||
| (In millions) | Pension/Post-Retirement Plans Gains (Losses) | Foreign Currency Translation Gains (Losses) | Total Gains (Losses) | ||||||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2019 | $ | (3,512) | $ | (1,543) | $ | (5,055) | |||||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications | 109 | (930) | (821) | ||||||||||||||
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income | 29 | — | 29 | ||||||||||||||
| Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) | 138 | (930) | (792) | ||||||||||||||
| Balance as of March 31, 2020 | $ | (3,374) | $ | (2,473) | $ | (5,847) | |||||||||||
The components of other comprehensive income (loss) for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions) | Pre-Tax | Tax (Credit) | Net of Tax | Pre-Tax | Tax (Credit) | Net of Tax | |||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation adjustments | $ | (91) | $ | — | $ | (91) | $ | (941) | $ | (11) | $ | (930) | |||||||||||
| Pension/post-retirement plans: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of (gains) losses included in net periodic pension cost: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net actuarial losses (a) | 52 | 12 | 40 | 40 | 11 | 29 | |||||||||||||||||
| Subtotal | 52 | 12 | 40 | 40 | 11 | 29 | |||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation adjustments | (37) | (8) | (29) | 135 | 26 | 109 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other adjustments | (7) | (2) | (5) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Effect of remeasurement | (2) | — | (2) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Pension/post-retirement plans gains | 6 | 2 | 4 | 175 | 37 | 138 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive (loss) income | $ | (85) | $ | 2 | $ | (87) | $ | (766) | $ | 26 | $ | (792) | |||||||||||
| (a) Components of net periodic pension cost are included in other net benefit credits in the consolidated statements of income. Income tax expense on net actuarial losses are included in income tax expense. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
8. Acquisitions and Dispositions
The Company’s acquisitions have been accounted for as business combinations. Net assets and results of operations are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements commencing at the respective purchase closing dates. In connection with acquisitions, the Company records the estimated values of the net tangible assets and the identifiable intangible assets purchased, which typically consist of customer relationships, developed technology, trademarks and non-compete agreements. The valuation of purchased intangible assets
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involves significant estimates and assumptions. The Company estimates the fair value of purchased intangible assets, primarily using the income approach, by determining the present value of future cash flows over the remaining economic life of the respective assets. The significant estimates and assumptions used in this approach include the determination of the discount rate, economic life, future revenue growth rates, expected account attrition rates and earnings margins. Refinement and completion of final valuation of net assets acquired could affect the carrying value of tangible assets, goodwill and identifiable intangible assets.
The Company had no acquisitions during the first three months of 2021.
On April 1, 2021, MMA completed the acquisitions of PayneWest Insurance, Inc., a Montana-based full-service broker providing business insurance, surety, employee benefits and personal insurance services to companies and individuals, and The Pryor Group, LLC, a Texas-based full-service broker providing business insurance with a specialty in quick service restaurants and the personal lines of franchise owners.
The Company paid $27 million of deferred purchase consideration and $11 million of contingent consideration related to acquisitions made in prior years.
Dispositions
There were no dispositions during the first three months of 2021.
Prior-Year Acquisitions
The Risk and Insurance Services segment completed seven acquisitions during 2020.
•January – Marsh & McLennan Agency ("MMA") acquired Momentous Insurance Brokerage Inc., a California-based full-service risk management and employee benefits firm specializing in high net worth private client services and insurance solutions for the entertainment industry, and Ironwood Insurance Services, LLC, an Atlanta-based broker that provides commercial property/casualty insurance, employee benefits, and private client solutions to mid-size businesses and individuals across the U.S.
•April – MMA acquired Assurance Holdings, Inc., an Illinois-based full service brokerage providing business insurance, employee benefits, private client insurance, and retirement services to businesses and individuals across the U.S.
•June – MMA acquired Nico Insurance Services, Inc., a California-based agency providing employee benefits solutions to groups and individuals.
•December – MMA acquired Heritage Insurance Services, Inc., a Kentucky-based full service broker that provides commercial property and casualty and personal lines primarily in the trucking and transportation industry, Inspro Insurance, Inc., a Nebraska-based full service broker that provides commercial property and casualty insurance, personal lines and employee benefits services, and Compass Financial Partners, LLC, a North Carolina-based retirement consulting and investment advisory firm.
Total purchase consideration for acquisitions made during the three months ended March 31, 2020 was approximately $245 million, which consisted of cash paid of $201 million and deferred purchase and estimated contingent consideration of $44 million. Contingent consideration arrangements are based primarily on earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") or revenue targets over a period of to four years. In 2020, the Company also paid $25 million of deferred purchase consideration and $13 million of contingent consideration related to acquisitions made in prior years. Estimated fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed are subject to adjustment when purchase accounting is finalized.
The consolidated statements of income include the results of operations of acquired companies since their respective acquisition dates. The consolidated statements of income for the three-month period ended March 31, 2020 included approximately $15 million of revenue and operating income of $4 million related to acquisitions made in 2020.
Prior year dispositions
In 2020, the Company sold certain businesses primarily in the U.S., U.K. and Canada for cash proceeds of approximately $98 million.
Pro-Forma Information
The following unaudited pro-forma financial data gives effect to the acquisitions made by the Company during 2020. In accordance with accounting guidance related to pro-forma disclosures, the information presented for acquisitions made in 2020 is as if they occurred on January 1, 2019. The unaudited pro-forma information adjusts for the effects of amortization of acquired intangibles. The unaudited pro-forma financial data is presented for illustrative purposes
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only and is not necessarily indicative of the operating results that would have been achieved if such acquisitions had occurred on the dates indicated, nor is it necessarily indicative of future consolidated results.
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| (In millions, except per share figures) | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||
| Revenue | $ | 5,083 | $ | 4,705 | |||||||
| Net income attributable to the Company | $ | 983 | $ | 755 | |||||||
| Basic net income per share attributable to the Company | $ | 1.93 | $ | 1.50 | |||||||
| Diluted net income per share attributable to the Company | $ | 1.91 | $ | 1.48 | |||||||
9. Goodwill and Other Intangibles
The Company is required to assess goodwill and any indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually, or more frequently if circumstances indicate impairment may have occurred. The Company performs the annual impairment assessment for each of its reporting units during the third quarter of each year. In accordance with applicable accounting guidance, a company can assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative goodwill impairment test. Alternatively, the Company may elect to proceed directly to the quantitative goodwill impairment test. In 2020, the Company elected to perform a qualitative impairment assessment. As part of its assessment, the Company considered numerous factors, including:
•that the fair value of each reporting unit exceeds its carrying value by a substantial margin based on its most recent quantitative assessment in 2019;
•whether significant acquisitions or dispositions occurred which might alter the fair value of its reporting units;
•macroeconomic conditions and their potential impact on reporting unit fair values;
•actual performance compared with budget and prior projections used in its estimation of reporting unit fair values;
•industry and market conditions; and
•the year-over-year change in the Company’s share price.
The Company completed its qualitative assessment in the third quarter of 2020 and concluded that goodwill was not impaired.
Other intangible assets that are not deemed to have an indefinite life are amortized over their estimated lives and assessed for impairment upon the occurrence of certain triggering events in accordance with applicable accounting literature. Based on its assessment, the Company concluded that other intangible assets were not impaired. The Company does not have any indefinite lived intangible assets.
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill are as follows:
| March 31, | |||||||||||
| (In millions) | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||
Balance as of January 1, | $ | 15,517 | $ | 14,671 | |||||||
| Goodwill acquired | — | 142 | |||||||||
Other adjustments(a) | (59) | (401) | |||||||||
| Balance at March 31, | $ | 15,458 | $ | 14,412 | |||||||
(a) Primarily reflects the impact of foreign exchange.
The goodwill arising from the acquisitions in 2020 consists largely of the synergies and economies of scale
expected from combining the operations of the Company and the acquired entities and the trained and assembled
workforce acquired.
Goodwill allocable to the Company’s reportable segments at March 31, 2021 is as follows: Risk and Insurance Services, $11.7 billion and Consulting, $3.8 billion.
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The gross cost and accumulated amortization of identified intangible assets at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 are as follows:
| March 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions) | Gross Cost | Accumulated Amortization | Net Carrying Amount | Gross Cost | Accumulated Amortization | Net Carrying Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Client Relationships | $ | 3,717 | $ | 1,260 | $ | 2,457 | $ | 3,713 | $ | 1,170 | $ | 2,543 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Other (a) | 387 | 241 | 146 | 386 | 230 | 156 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortized intangibles | $ | 4,104 | $ | 1,501 | $ | 2,603 | $ | 4,099 | $ | 1,400 | $ | 2,699 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(a) Primarily non-compete agreements, trade names and developed technology.
Aggregate amortization expense for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 was $100 million and $86 million, respectively. The estimated future aggregate amortization expense is as follows:
| For the Years Ending December 31, | |||||
(In millions) | Estimated Expense | ||||
| 2021 (excludes amortization through March 31, 2021) | $ | 258 | |||
| 2022 | 318 | ||||
| 2023 | 293 | ||||
| 2024 | 276 | ||||
| 2025 | 238 | ||||
| Subsequent years | 1,220 | ||||
| $ | 2,603 | ||||
10. Fair Value Measurements
Fair Value Hierarchy
The Company has categorized its assets and liabilities that are valued at fair value on a recurring basis into a three-level fair value hierarchy as defined by the FASB. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities (Level 1) and lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). In some cases, the inputs used to measure fair value might fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, the level in the fair value hierarchy, for disclosure purposes, is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Assets and liabilities recorded in the consolidated balance sheets at fair value are categorized based on the inputs in the valuation techniques as follows:
Level 1.Assets and liabilities whose values are based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in an active market (examples include active exchange-traded equity securities and exchange-traded money market mutual funds).
Assets and liabilities measured using Level 1 inputs include exchange-traded equity securities, exchange-traded mutual funds and money market funds.
Level 2.Assets and liabilities whose values are based on the following:
a)Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;
b)Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in non-active markets (examples include corporate and municipal bonds, which trade infrequently);
c)Pricing models whose inputs are observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability (examples include most over-the-counter derivatives, including interest rate and currency swaps); and
d)Pricing models whose inputs are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data through correlation or other means for substantially the full asset or liability (for example, certain mortgage loans).
Assets and liabilities using Level 2 inputs are related to an equity security.
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Level 3.Assets and liabilities whose values are based on prices, or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement. These inputs reflect management’s own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in pricing the asset or liability.
Assets and liabilities measured using Level 3 inputs relate to assets and liabilities for contingent purchase consideration.
Valuation Techniques
Equity Securities, Money Market Mutual Funds and Mutual Funds – Level 1
Investments for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the sale price on their principal exchange or, for certain markets, official closing bid price. Money market mutual funds are valued using a valuation technique that results in price per share at $1.00.
Contingent Purchase Consideration Assets and Liabilities – Level 3
Purchase consideration for some acquisitions and dispositions made by the Company include contingent consideration arrangements. Contingent consideration arrangements are based primarily on EBITDA or revenue targets over a period of to four years. The fair value of the contingent purchase consideration asset and liability is estimated as the present value of future cash flows to be paid, based on projections of revenue and earnings and related targets of the acquired and disposed entities.
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The following fair value hierarchy table presents information about the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020.
| Identical Assets (Level 1) | Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions) | 03/31/21 | 12/31/20 | 03/31/21 | 12/31/20 | 03/31/21 | 12/31/20 | 03/31/21 | 12/31/20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Financial instruments owned: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Exchange traded equity securities(a) | $ | 60 | $ | 59 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 60 | $ | 59 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mutual funds(a) | 183 | 186 | — | — | — | — | 183 | 186 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Money market funds(b) | 65 | 587 | — | — | — | — | 65 | 587 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other equity investment(a) | — | — | 8 | 8 | — | — | 8 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Contingent purchase consideration asset(c) | — | — | — | — | 66 | 68 | 66 | 68 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets measured at fair value | $ | 308 | $ | 832 | $ | 8 | $ | 8 | $ | 66 | $ | 68 | $ | 382 | $ | 908 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fiduciary Assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Treasury Bills | $ | — | $ | 150 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 150 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Money market funds | 241 | 173 | — | — | — | — | 241 | 173 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total fiduciary assets measured at fair value | $ | 241 | $ | 323 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 241 | $ | 323 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Contingent purchase consideration liability(d) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 233 | $ | 243 | $ | 233 | $ | 243 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities measured at fair value | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 233 | $ | 243 | $ | 233 | $ | 243 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(a) Included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets.
(b) Included in cash and cash equivalents in the consolidated balance sheets.
(c) Included in other receivables in the consolidated balance sheets.
(d) Included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities and other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.
The Level 3 assets in the above chart reflect contingent purchase consideration from the sale of businesses during 2019. The change in the asset from December 31, 2020 is primarily due to the net impact of payments and accretion.
During the three-month period ended March 31, 2021, there were no assets or liabilities that were transferred between any of the levels.
The table below sets forth a summary of the changes in fair value of the Company’s Level 3 liabilities for the three month periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2020:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| (In millions) | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||
| Balance at beginning of period | $ | 243 | $ | 225 | |||||||
| Net Additions | — | 30 | |||||||||
| Payments | (11) | (13) | |||||||||
| Revaluation Impact | 1 | 1 | |||||||||
Other (a) | — | (4) | |||||||||
| Balance at March 31, | $ | 233 | $ | 239 | |||||||
(a) Primarily reflects the impact of foreign exchange.
Long-Term Investments
The Company holds investments in public and private companies as well as certain private equity investments that are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. The carrying value of these investments was $289 million and $280 million at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.
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Investments in Public and Private Companies
The Company has investments in private insurance and consulting companies with a carrying value of $172 million and $169 million at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. These investments are accounted for using the equity method of accounting, the results of which are included in revenue in the consolidated statements of income and the carrying value of which is included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company records its share of income or loss on its equity method investments, some of which are on a one quarter lag basis.
Private Equity Investments
The Company's investments in private equity funds were $117 million and $111 million at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The carrying values of these private equity investments approximate fair value. The underlying private equity funds follow investment company accounting, where investments within the fund are carried at fair value. The Company records in earnings its proportionate share of the change in fair value of the funds on the investment income (loss) line in the consolidated statements of income. These investments are included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company recorded net investment gains of $10 million and losses of $1 million from these investments for the three month periods ended March 31, 2021 and March 31, 2020.
Other Investments
At March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company held certain equity investments with readily determinable market values of $74 million and $72 million, respectively, including an investment in the common stock of Alexander Forbes (" AF") of $55 million at March 31, 2021 and $54 million at December 31, 2020. The Company also held investments without readily determinable market values of $33 million at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020.
In February 2020 the Company sold 49 million shares and in May 2020 sold an additional 193 million shares of the common stock of AF. Upon completion of the May 2020 transaction, the investment in AF, which was previously accounted for using the equity method of accounting was accounted for at fair value, with investment gains and losses recorded as investment income (loss) in the consolidated statement of income.
11. Derivatives
Net Investment Hedge
The Company has investments in various subsidiaries with Euro functional currencies. As a result, the Company is exposed to the risk of fluctuations between the Euro and U.S. dollar exchange rates. The Company designated its €1.1 billion senior note debt instruments ("euro notes") as a net investment hedge (the "hedge") of its Euro denominated subsidiaries. The hedge effectiveness is re-assessed each quarter to confirm that the designated equity balance at the beginning of each period continues to equal or exceed 80% of the outstanding balance of the Euro debt instrument and that all the critical terms of the hedging instrument and the hedged net investment continue to match. If the Company concludes that the hedge is highly effective, the change in the debt balance related to foreign exchange fluctuations is recorded in foreign currency translation gains (losses) in the consolidated balance sheet. The Company concluded that the hedge continues to be highly effective as of March 31, 2021. The U.S. dollar value of the euro notes decreased $53 million through March 31, 2021 due to the impact of foreign exchange rates, with a corresponding decrease to accumulated other comprehensive loss.
12. Leases
A lease is defined as a party obtaining the right to use an asset legally owned by another party. The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are recognized in the balance sheet as Right-of-Use ("ROU") assets and operating lease liabilities based on the present value of the remaining future minimum payments over the lease term at commencement date of the lease.
The Company uses discount rates to determine the present value of future lease payments. The Company primarily uses its incremental borrowing rate adjusted to reflect a secured rate, based on the information available for leases, including the lease term and interest rate environment in the country in which the lease exists. The lease terms used to calculate the ROU asset and lease liability may include options to extend or terminate when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option.
The Company leases office facilities under non-cancelable operating leases with terms generally ranging between 10 and 25 years. The Company utilizes these leased office facilities for use by its employees in countries in which the Company conducts its business. Leases are negotiated with third-parties and, in some instances contain
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renewal, expansion and termination options. The Company also subleases certain office facilities to third-parties when the Company no longer utilizes the space. None of the Company’s leases restrict the payment of dividends or the incurrence of debt or additional lease obligations, or contain significant purchase options. In addition to the base rental costs, our lease agreements generally provide for rent escalations resulting from increased assessments for real estate taxes and other charges. A portion of our real estate lease portfolio contains base rents subject to annual changes in the Consumer Price Index ("CPI") as well as charges for operating expenses which are reimbursable to the landlord based on actual usage. Changes to the CPI and payments for such reimbursable operating expenses are considered variable and are recognized as variable lease costs in the period in which the obligation for those payments is incurred. Approximately 99% of the Company’s lease obligations are for the use of office space. All of the Company’s material leases are operating leases.
As a practical expedient, the Company has elected an accounting policy not to separate non-lease components from lease components and instead account as a single lease component. The Company has also elected not to recognize ROU assets and lease liabilities for leases that, at the commencement date, are for 12 months or less.
The following chart provides additional information about the Company’s property leases:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| (In millions) | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||
| Lease Cost: | |||||||||||
| Operating lease cost | $ | 94 | $ | 92 | |||||||
| Short-term lease cost | 1 | 1 | |||||||||
| Variable lease cost | 37 | 37 | |||||||||
| Sublease income | (8) | (5) | |||||||||
| Net lease cost | $ | 124 | $ | 125 | |||||||
| Other information: | |||||||||||
| Operating cash outflows from operating leases | $ | 99 | $ | 103 | |||||||
| Right of use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities | $ | 22 | $ | 79 | |||||||
| Weighted-average remaining lease term – real estate | 8.3 years | 8.7 years | |||||||||
| Weighted-average discount rate – real estate leases | 2.93 | % | 3.06 | % | |||||||
Future minimum lease payments for the Company’s operating leases as of March 31, 2021 are as follows:
Payment Dates (In millions) | Real Estate Leases | ||||
| Remainder of 2021 | $ | 308 | |||
| 2022 | 381 | ||||
| 2023 | 332 | ||||
| 2024 | 289 | ||||
| 2025 | 257 | ||||
| 2026 | 235 | ||||
| Subsequent years | 678 | ||||
| Total future lease payments | 2,480 | ||||
| Less: Imputed interest | (288) | ||||
| Total | $ | 2,192 | |||
| Current lease liabilities | $ | 342 | |||
| Long-term lease liabilities | 1,850 | ||||
| Total lease liabilities | $ | 2,192 | |||
Note: Table excludes obligations for leases with original terms of 12 months or less which have not been recognized as a right to use asset or liability in the consolidated balance sheets.
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13. Retirement Benefits
The Company maintains qualified and non-qualified defined benefit pension plans for some of its U.S. and non-U.S. eligible employees. The Company’s policy for funding its tax-qualified defined benefit pension plans is to contribute amounts at least sufficient to meet the funding requirements set forth in accordance with applicable law.
The target asset allocation for the Company's U.S. plans is 64% equities and equity alternatives and 36% fixed income. At March 31, 2021 the actual allocation for the Company's U.S. Plan was 65% equities and equity alternatives and 35% fixed income. The target allocation for the U.K. Plans at March 31, 2021 is 28% equities and equity alternatives and 72% fixed income. At March 31, 2021, the actual allocation for the U.K. Plans was 30% equities and equity alternatives and 70% fixed income. The Company's U.K. Plans comprised approximately 81% of non-U.S. plan assets at December 31, 2020. The assets of the Company's defined benefit plans are diversified and are managed in accordance with applicable laws and with the goal of maximizing the plans' real return within acceptable risk parameters. The Company generally uses threshold-based portfolio re-balancing to ensure the actual portfolio remains consistent with target asset allocation ranges.
The components of the net periodic benefit cost for defined benefit and other post-retirement plans are as follows:
| Combined U.S. and significant non-U.S. Plans | Pension Benefits | Post-retirement Benefits | |||||||||||||||||||||
| For the Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions) | 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Service cost | $ | 10 | $ | 8 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
| Interest cost | 85 | 106 | — | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Expected return on plan assets | (208) | (210) | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of prior service credit | — | — | (1) | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Recognized actuarial loss | 52 | 40 | 1 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net periodic benefit credit | $ | (61) | $ | (56) | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
| Amounts Recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Income | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Combined U.S. and significant non-U.S. Plans | Pension Benefits | Post-retirement Benefits | |||||||||||||||||||||
| For the Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions) | 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Compensation and benefits expense | $ | 10 | $ | 8 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
| Other net benefit credits | (71) | (64) | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total credit | $ | (61) | $ | (56) | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
| U.S. Plans only | Pension Benefits | Post-retirement Benefits | |||||||||||||||||||||
| For the Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions) | 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Interest cost | $ | 46 | $ | 53 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
| Expected return on plan assets | (82) | (86) | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Recognized actuarial loss | 23 | 18 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net periodic benefit credit | $ | (13) | $ | (15) | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
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| Significant non-U.S. Plans only | Pension Benefits | Post-retirement Benefits | |||||||||||||||||||||
| For the Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions) | 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Service cost | $ | 10 | $ | 8 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
| Interest cost | 39 | 53 | — | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Expected return on plan assets | (126) | (124) | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of prior service credit | — | — | (1) | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Recognized actuarial loss | 29 | 22 | 1 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net periodic benefit credit | $ | (48) | $ | (41) | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
The weighted average actuarial assumptions utilized to calculate the net periodic benefit costs for the U.S. and significant non-U.S. defined benefit plans are as follows:
| Combined U.S. and significant non-U.S. Plans | Pension Benefits | Post-retirement Benefits | |||||||||||||||||||||
| March 31, | 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted average assumptions: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expected return on plan assets | 4.72 | % | 5.31 | % | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Discount rate | 1.92 | % | 2.57 | % | 2.42 | % | 2.72 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Rate of compensation increase | 1.85 | % | 1.76 | % | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
The Company made approximately $29 million of contributions to its U.S. and non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans for the three months ended March 31, 2021. The Company expects to contribute approximately $100 million to its U.S. and non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans during the remainder of 2021.
Defined Contribution Plans
The Company maintains certain defined contribution plans ("DC Plans") for its employees, the most significant being in the U.S. and the U.K. The cost of the U.S. DC Plans was $39 million and $37 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The cost of the U.K. DC Plans was $39 million and $31 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
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14. Debt
The Company’s outstanding debt is as follows:
| (In millions) | March 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||||
| Short-term: | |||||||||||
| Current portion of long-term debt | $ | 1,015 | $ | 517 | |||||||
| 1,015 | 517 | ||||||||||
| Long-term: | |||||||||||
Senior notes – 4.80% due 2021 | 500 | 500 | |||||||||
Senior notes – 2.75% due 2022 | 499 | 499 | |||||||||
Senior notes – 3.30% due 2023 | 349 | 349 | |||||||||
Senior notes – 4.05% due 2023 | 249 | 249 | |||||||||
Senior notes – 3.50% due 2024 | 598 | 598 | |||||||||
Senior notes – 3.875% due 2024 | 995 | 995 | |||||||||
Senior notes – 3.50% due 2025 | 498 | 498 | |||||||||
Senior notes – 1.349% due 2026 | 650 | 677 | |||||||||
Senior notes – 3.75% due 2026 | 598 | 597 | |||||||||
Senior notes – 4.375% due 2029 | 1,499 | 1,499 | |||||||||
Senior notes – 1.979% due 2030 | 638 | 664 | |||||||||
Senior notes – 2.250% due 2030 | 738 | 737 | |||||||||
Senior notes – 5.875% due 2033 | 298 | 298 | |||||||||
Senior notes – 4.75% due 2039 | 495 | 495 | |||||||||
Senior notes – 4.35% due 2047 | 493 | 493 | |||||||||
Senior notes – 4.20% due 2048 | 592 | 592 | |||||||||
Senior notes – 4.90% due 2049 | 1,237 | 1,237 | |||||||||
Mortgage – 5.70% due 2035 | 327 | 331 | |||||||||
| Other | 4 | 5 | |||||||||
| 11,257 | 11,313 | ||||||||||
| Less current portion | 1,015 | 517 | |||||||||
| $ | 10,242 | $ | 10,796 | ||||||||
The senior notes in the table above are registered by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are not guaranteed.
On April 9, 2021, the Company increased its short-term commercial paper financing program to $2.0 billion from $1.5 billion. The proceeds from the issuance of commercial paper are used for general corporate purposes. The Company had no commercial paper outstanding at March 31, 2021.
Credit Facilities
On April 2, 2021, the Company entered into an amended and restated multi-currency unsecured $2.8 billion five-year revolving credit facility ("New Facility"). The interest rate on the New Facility is based on LIBOR plus a fixed margin which varies with the Company’s credit ratings. The New Facility expires in April 2026 and requires the Company to maintain certain coverage and leverage ratios which are tested quarterly. The New Facility includes provisions for determining a LIBOR successor rate in the event LIBOR reference rates are no longer available or in certain other circumstances which are determined to make using an alternative rate desirable.
In connection with the New Facility, the Company terminated its multicurrency unsecured $1.8 billion five-year revolving credit facility (“Old Facility”) and its unsecured $1 billion 364-day unsecured revolving credit facility (“364-day Facility). The Old Facility had similar interest rate, coverage and leverage ratios as the New Facility. The Company entered into the 364-day Facility in April 2020 with a term out option after one year. As of March 31, 2021, the Company had no borrowings under either of these facilities.
In January 2020, the Company closed on $500 million one-year and $500 million two-year term loan facilities. In the first quarter of 2020 the Company borrowed $1 billion against these facilities, which were subsequently repaid
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during the third and fourth quarters of 2020. These two facilities were terminated as of December 31, 2020 after repayment of the initial draw down.
Additional credit facilities, guarantees and letters of credit are maintained with various banks, primarily related to operations located outside the United States, aggregating $517 million at March 31, 2021 and $573 million at December 31, 2020. There were no outstanding borrowings under these facilities at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020.
Senior Notes
On April 15, 2021, the Company repaid $500 million of senior notes maturing in July 2021.
In May 2020, the Company issued $750 million of Senior Notes due 2030.
In March 2020, the Company repaid $500 million of maturing senior notes and in December 2020, the Company repaid $700 million of maturing senior notes and $300 million of floating rate notes with an original maturity of December 2021.
Fair Value of Short-term and Long-term Debt
The estimated fair value of the Company’s short-term and long-term debt is provided below. Certain estimates and judgments were required to develop the fair value amounts. The fair value amounts shown below are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that the Company would realize upon disposition, nor do they indicate the Company’s intent or need to dispose of the financial instrument.
| March 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions) | Carrying Amount | Fair Value | Carrying Amount | Fair Value | |||||||||||||||||||
| Short-term debt | $ | 1,015 | $ | 1,026 | $ | 517 | $ | 523 | |||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt | $ | 10,242 | $ | 11,555 | $ | 10,796 | $ | 12,858 | |||||||||||||||
The fair value of the Company's short-term debt consists primarily of borrowings from the term loan and revolving credit facilities and term debt maturing within the next year and its fair value approximates its carrying value. The estimated fair value of a primary portion of the Company's long-term debt is based on discounted future cash flows using current interest rates available for debt with similar terms and remaining maturities. Short-term and long-term debt would be classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
15. Restructuring Costs
Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc ("JLT") Related Integration and Restructuring
The Company is in the final stages of its integration of JLT, which the Company acquired in April 2019. The costs incurred in connection with the integration and restructuring of the combined businesses, primarily related to severance, real estate rationalization and technology, consulting fees related to the management of the integration processes and legal fees related to the rationalization of legal entity structures.
Since the acquisition of JLT, the Company has incurred JLT integration and restructuring costs of $609 million through March 31, 2021. This reflects $23 million of costs incurred during the first quarter of 2021 compared to $80 million for the same period in the prior year.
Costs recognized are based on applicable accounting guidance which includes accounting for disposal or exit activities, guidance related to impairment of long lived assets (for right of use assets related to real estate leases), as well as other costs resulting from accelerated depreciation or amortization of leasehold improvements and other property and equipment.
In connection with the JLT integration and restructuring, the Company incurred costs of $23 million: $16 million in RIS, $6 million in Consulting, and $1 million in Corporate for the three month period ended March 31, 2021. The severance and related costs were included in compensation and benefits and the other costs were included in other operating expenses in the consolidated statement of income.
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Details of the JLT integration and restructuring activity from January 1, 2020 through March 31, 2021, are as follows:
| (In millions) | Severance | Real Estate Related Costs (a) | Information Technology (a) | Consulting and Other Outside Services (b) | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Liability at 1/1/20 | $ | 42 | $ | 5 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 47 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 Charges | 43 | 69 | 62 | 77 | 251 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash payments | (69) | (25) | (55) | (77) | (226) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-cash charges | — | (42) | (5) | — | (47) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Liability at 12/31/20 | $ | 16 | $ | 7 | $ | 2 | $ | — | $ | 25 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 Charges | 2 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash payments | (10) | (2) | (7) | (7) | (26) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-cash charges | — | (4) | — | — | (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Liability at 3/31/21 | $ | 8 | $ | 7 | $ | 2 | $ | 1 | $ | 18 | |||||||||||||||||||
(a) Includes ROU asset impairments, data center contract termination costs and temporary infrastructure leasing costs.
(b) Includes consulting fees related to the management of the integration processes and legal fees related to the rationalization of legal entity structures.
Other Restructuring
The Company incurred costs of $11 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2021 which reflect costs associated with the Company's global information technology and HR functions, and adjustments to restructuring liabilities for future rent under non-cancellable leases.
The following details other restructuring liabilities for actions initiated prior to 2021:
| (In millions) | Liability at 1/1/20 | Amounts Accrued | Cash Paid | Non-Cash/Other | Liability at 12/31/20 | Amounts Accrued | Cash Paid | Non-Cash/Other | Liability at 3/31/21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Severance | $ | 51 | $ | 39 | $ | (54) | $ | — | $ | 36 | $ | 5 | $ | (20) | $ | — | $ | 21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Future rent under non-cancelable leases and other costs | 51 | 50 | (46) | (10) | 45 | 6 | (8) | — | 43 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 102 | $ | 89 | $ | (100) | $ | (10) | $ | 81 | $ | 11 | $ | (28) | $ | — | $ | 64 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The expenses associated with the above initiatives are included in compensation and benefits and other operating expenses in the consolidated statements of income. The liabilities associated with these initiatives are classified on the consolidated balance sheets as accounts payable and accrued liabilities, other liabilities or accrued compensation and employee benefits, depending on the nature of the items.
16. Common Stock
During the first three months of 2021, the Company repurchased 1.0 million shares of its common stock for $119 million, of which approximately $112 million was paid in the first quarter of 2021. In November 2019, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the Company to repurchase up to $2.5 billion in shares of the Company's common stock, which superseded any prior authorizations. As of March 31, 2021, the Company remained authorized to repurchase up to approximately $2.3 billion in shares of its common stock. There is no time limit on the authorization. During the first three months of 2020 there were no repurchases of the Company's common stock.
The Company issued approximately 2.0 million and 2.3 million shares related to stock compensation and employee stock purchase plans during the first three months of 2021 and 2020, respectively.
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17. Claims, Lawsuits and Other Contingencies
Nature of Contingencies
The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to a significant number of claims, lawsuits and proceedings in the course of our business. Such claims and lawsuits consist principally of alleged errors and omissions in connection with the performance of professional services, including the placement of insurance, the provision of actuarial services for corporate and public sector clients, the provision of investment advice and investment management services to pension plans, the provision of advice relating to pension buy-out transactions and the provision of consulting services relating to the drafting and interpretation of trust deeds and other documentation governing pension plans. These claims often seek damages, including punitive and treble damages, in amounts that could be significant. In establishing liabilities for errors and omissions claims in accordance with FASB guidance on Contingencies - Loss Contingencies, the Company uses case level reviews by inside and outside counsel, and internal actuarial analysis by Oliver Wyman, a subsidiary of the Company, and other methods to estimate potential losses. A liability is established when a loss is both probable and reasonably estimable. The liability is reviewed quarterly and adjusted as developments warrant. In many cases, the Company has not recorded a liability, other than for legal fees to defend the claim, because we are unable, at the present time, to make a determination that a loss is both probable and reasonably estimable. To the extent that expected losses exceed our deductible in any policy year, the Company also records an asset for the amount that we expect to recover under any available third-party insurance programs. The Company has varying levels of third-party insurance coverage, with policy limits and coverage terms varying significantly by policy year.
Our activities are regulated under the laws of the United States and its various states, the European Union and its member states, and the many other jurisdictions in which the Company operates. The Company also receives subpoenas in the ordinary course of business and, from time to time, receives requests for information in connection with governmental investigations.
Current Matters
Risk and Insurance Services Segment
•In January 2019, the Company received a notice that the Administrative Council for Economic Defense anti-trust agency in Brazil had commenced an administrative proceeding against a number of insurance brokers, including both Marsh and JLT, and insurers “to investigate an alleged sharing of sensitive commercial and competitive confidential information" in the aviation insurance and reinsurance sector.
•In 2017, JLT identified payments to a third-party introducer that had been directed to unapproved bank accounts. These payments related to reinsurance placements made on behalf of an Ecuadorian state-owned insurer between 2014 and 2017. In early 2018, JLT voluntarily reported this matter to law enforcement authorities. In February and March 2020, money laundering charges were filed in the United States against a former employee of JLT, the principals of the third-party introducer and a former official of the state-owned insurer. These individuals, including the former JLT employee, have since pleaded guilty to criminal charges. We are cooperating with all ongoing investigations related to this matter.
•From 2014, Marsh Ltd. was engaged by Greensill Capital (UK) Limited as its insurance broker. Marsh Ltd. placed a number of trade credit insurance policies for Greensill. On March 1, 2021, Greensill filed an action against certain of its trade credit insurers in Australia seeking a mandatory injunction compelling these insurers to renew coverage under expiring policies. Later that day, the Australian court denied Greensill’s application. Since then, a number of Greensill entities have filed for, or been subject to, insolvency proceedings in the U.K., Australia, Germany and the U.S.
Consulting Segment
•In 2014, the FCA conducted an industry-wide review of the suitability of financial advice provided to individuals by a number of companies, including JLT, relating to enhanced transfer value ("ETV") defined benefit pension transfers. In January 2015, the FCA notified JLT that it was commissioning a Skilled Person review of ETV pension transfer advice given by JLT and a business acquired by JLT in 2012. Following the Skilled Person review which took place between 2015 and 2018, JLT engaged a compliance consulting firm to conduct an analysis of approximately 14,000 individual files to assess the suitability of the advice provided and, where appropriate, the amount of redress to be paid. In February 2019, prior to the completion of its acquisition by the Company, JLT recorded a gross liability of £59 million (or $77 million). This preliminary estimate by JLT, which reflected the projected redress amounts contained in the Skilled Person report, was based on a review of a limited number of files. Thereafter, the FCA expanded the scope of the thematic review. As of December 31, 2020, the updated redress liability, including the projected costs
29
of completing the review, increased to £155 million (or $210 million) resulting from the expansion in the scope of the review, and the significant progress made in completing the individual suitability reviews. As of March 31, 2021, the recorded gross liability was £134 million (or $185 million). We expect to finalize the suitability review of the limited number of files that remain outstanding and calculate the majority of redress amounts by the end of the second quarter of 2021. We anticipate this gross liability will be partially offset by a contractual indemnity and insurance recoveries from third-party E&O insurers.
At this time, we are unable to predict the likely timing, outcome or ultimate impact of the foregoing matters. Adverse determinations in one or more of these matters could have a material impact on the Company's consolidated results of operations, financial condition or cash flows in a future period.
Other Contingencies-Guarantees
In connection with its acquisition of U.K.-based Sedgwick Group in 1998, the Company acquired several insurance underwriting businesses that were already in run-off, including River Thames Insurance Company Limited ("River Thames"), which the Company sold in 2001. Sedgwick guaranteed payment of claims on certain policies underwritten through the Institute of London Underwriters (the "ILU") by River Thames. The policies covered by this guarantee are partly reinsured by a related party of River Thames. Payment of claims under the reinsurance agreement is collateralized by funds withheld by River Thames from the reinsurer. To the extent River Thames or the reinsurer is unable to meet its obligations under those policies, a claimant may seek to recover from the Company under the guarantee.
From 1980 to 1983, the Company owned indirectly the English & American Insurance Company ("E&A"), which was a member of the ILU. The ILU required the Company to guarantee a portion of E&A's obligations. After E&A became insolvent in 1993, the ILU agreed to discharge the guarantee in exchange for the Company's agreement to post an evergreen letter of credit that is available to pay claims by policyholders on certain E&A policies issued through the ILU and incepting between July 3, 1980 and October 6, 1983. Certain claims have been paid under the letter of credit and the Company anticipates that additional claimants may seek to recover against the letter of credit.
* * * *
The pending proceedings described above and other matters not explicitly described in this Note 17 on Claims, Lawsuits and Other Contingencies may expose the Company or its subsidiaries to liability for significant monetary damages, fines, penalties or other forms of relief. Where a loss is both probable and reasonably estimable, the Company establishes liabilities in accordance with FASB guidance on Contingencies - Loss Contingencies. Except as described above, the Company is not able at this time to provide a reasonable estimate of the range of possible loss attributable to these matters or the impact they may have on the Company's consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows. This is primarily because these matters are still developing and involve complex issues subject to inherent uncertainty. Adverse determinations in one or more of these matters could have a material impact on the Company's consolidated results of operations, financial condition or cash flows in a future period.
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18. Segment Information
The Company is organized based on the types of services provided. Under this structure, the Company’s segments are:
•Risk and Insurance Services, comprising insurance services (Marsh) and reinsurance services (Guy Carpenter); and
•Consulting, comprising Mercer and Oliver Wyman Group.
The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those used for the consolidated financial statements described in Note 1 to the Company’s 2020 Form 10-K. Segment performance is evaluated based on segment operating income, which includes directly related expenses, and charges or credits related to integration and restructuring but not the Company’s corporate-level expenses. Revenues are attributed to geographic areas on the basis of where the services are performed.
Selected information about the Company’s operating segments for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| (In millions) | Revenue | Operating Income (Loss) | |||||||||
| 2021– | |||||||||||
| Risk and Insurance Services | $ | 3,225 | (a) | $ | 1,060 | ||||||
| Consulting | 1,873 | (b) | 361 | ||||||||
| Total Operating Segments | 5,098 | 1,421 | |||||||||
| Corporate/Eliminations | (15) | (63) | |||||||||
| Total Consolidated | $ | 5,083 | $ | 1,358 | |||||||
| 2020– | |||||||||||
| Risk and Insurance Services | $ | 2,911 | (a) | $ | 854 | ||||||
| Consulting | 1,762 | (b) | 282 | ||||||||
| Total Operating Segments | 4,673 | 1,136 | |||||||||
| Corporate/Eliminations | (22) | (66) | |||||||||
| Total Consolidated | $ | 4,651 | $ | 1,070 | |||||||
(a) Includes interest income on fiduciary funds of $5 million and $23 million in 2021 and 2020, respectively.
(b) Includes inter-segment revenue of $15 million and $21 million in 2021 and 2020, respectively.
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Details of operating segment revenue for the three-month period ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| (In millions) | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||
| Risk and Insurance Services | |||||||||||
| Marsh | $ | 2,329 | $ | 2,076 | |||||||
| Guy Carpenter | 896 | 835 | |||||||||
| Total Risk and Insurance Services | 3,225 | 2,911 | |||||||||
| Consulting | |||||||||||
| Mercer | 1,288 | 1,251 | |||||||||
| Oliver Wyman Group | 585 | 511 | |||||||||
| Total Consulting | 1,873 | 1,762 | |||||||||
| Total Operating Segments | 5,098 | 4,673 | |||||||||
Corporate/Eliminations | (15) | (22) | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 5,083 | $ | 4,651 | |||||||
19. New Accounting Guidance
New Accounting Pronouncements Adopted Effective January 1, 2021:
In January 2020, the FASB issued guidance that addresses accounting for the transition into and out of the equity method and measuring certain purchased options and forward contracts to acquire investments. The standard takes effect for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or its results of operations.
In December 2019, the FASB issued guidance related to the accounting for income taxes. The standard removes specific exceptions in the current rules and eliminates the need for an organization to analyze whether the following apply in a given period: (a) exception to the incremental approach for intraperiod tax allocation; (b) exceptions to accounting for basis differences when there are ownership changes in foreign investments and (c) exception in interim period income tax accounting for year-to-date losses that exceed anticipated losses. The standard also is designed to improve financial statement preparers’ application of income tax-related guidance and simplify GAAP for (a) franchise taxes that are partially based on income; (b) transactions with a government that result in a step-up in the tax basis of goodwill; (c) separate financial statements of legal entities that are not subject to tax and (d) enacted changes in tax laws in interim periods. The standard takes effect for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or its results of operations.
New Accounting Pronouncements Adopted Effective January 1, 2020:
In August 2018, the FASB issued new guidance that amends required fair value measurement disclosures. The guidance adds new requirements, eliminates some current disclosures and modifies other required disclosures. The new disclosure requirements, along with modifications made to disclosures as a result of the change in requirements for narrative descriptions of measurement uncertainty, must be applied on a prospective basis. The effects of all other amendments included in the guidance must be applied retrospectively for all periods presented. The adoption of this guidance impacted disclosures only and did not have an impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations.
In January 2017, the FASB issued new guidance to simplify the test for goodwill impairment. The new guidance eliminates the second step in the current two-step goodwill impairment process, under which a goodwill impairment loss is measured by comparing the implied fair value of a reporting unit's goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill for that reporting unit. The new guidance requires a one-step impairment test, in which the goodwill impairment charge is based on the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. An entity still has the option to perform the qualitative assessment for a reporting unit to determine if the quantitative impairment test is necessary. The guidance should be applied on a prospective basis with the nature of and reason for the change in accounting principle disclosed upon transition. The adoption of this standard did not have an impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations.
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In June 2016, the FASB issued new guidance on the impairment of financial instruments. The new guidance adds an allowance for credit losses ("CECL") impairment model that is based on expected losses rather than incurred losses. Under the new guidance, an entity recognizes as an allowance its estimate of lifetime expected credit losses, which the FASB believes will result in more timely recognition of such losses. The new standard is also intended to reduce the complexity of U.S. GAAP by decreasing the number of credit impairment models that entities use to account for debt instruments. Further, the new standard makes targeted changes to the impairment model for available-for-sale debt securities. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations.
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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
General
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries (the "Company" or "Marsh McLennan") is a global professional services firm offering clients advice in the areas of risk, strategy and people. The Company’s 76,000 colleagues advise clients in over 130 countries. With annual revenue over $17 billion, the Company helps clients navigate an increasingly dynamic and complex environment through four market-leading businesses. Marsh advises individual and commercial clients of all sizes on insurance broking and innovative risk management solutions. Guy Carpenter develops advanced risk, reinsurance and capital strategies that help clients grow profitably and pursue emerging opportunities. Mercer delivers advice and technology-driven solutions that help organizations redefine the world of work, reshape retirement and investment outcomes, and unlock health and well being for a changing workforce. Oliver Wyman Group serves as a critical strategic, economic and brand advisor to private sector and governmental clients.
The Company conducts business through two segments:
•Risk and Insurance Services includes risk management activities (risk advice, risk transfer and risk control and mitigation solutions) as well as insurance and reinsurance broking and services. The Company conducts business in this segment through Marsh and Guy Carpenter.
•Consulting includes health, wealth and career consulting services and products, and specialized management, economic and brand consulting services. The Company conducts business in this segment through Mercer and Oliver Wyman Group.
A reconciliation of segment operating income to total operating income is included in Note 18 to the consolidated financial statements included in Part I Item 1 in this report. The accounting policies used for each segment are the same as those used for the consolidated financial statements.
For information on the three months ended March 31, 2020 results and similar comparisons, see "Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020.
Business Update Related To COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has now surpassed one year in duration and it continues to impact virtually every geography in which the Company operates. The safety and well-being of our colleagues remains our first priority, while continuing to serve the needs of our clients. Approximately 70% of the Company’s offices are open, however, the vast majority of colleagues continue to work in a remote environment which is expected to continue through much of 2021. The Company continues to plan the multiple aspects of a return to the office model, considering health, colleague privacy and potential government restrictions. The Company expects to continue to service clients effectively in the current remote environment and as colleagues gradually return to the office.
Although the pandemic is ongoing, the global economy is showing signs of recovery as various countries begin to ease restrictions. The Company had strong revenue growth in the first quarter of 2021 and continues to benefit from reduced expense levels in areas such as travel and entertainment and outside services. However, uncertainty remains in the economic outlook and the ultimate extent of COVID-19 impact to the Company will depend on future developments that it is unable to predict, including new “waves” of infection, newly emerging variants of the virus, potential renewed restrictions by various governments or agencies, and the effectiveness and distribution rate of vaccines.
Factors that could adversely affect the Company’s financial statements related to the financial and operational impact of COVID-19 are outlined in “Item 1A - Risk Factors” in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Acquisitions and dispositions impacting the Risk and Insurance Services and Consulting segments are discussed in Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements.
This Management's Discussion & Analysis ("MD&A") contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. See "Information Concerning Forward-Looking Statements" at the outset of this report.
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Consolidated Results of Operations
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| (In millions, except per share figures) | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||
| Revenue | $ | 5,083 | $ | 4,651 | |||||||
| Expense: | |||||||||||
| Compensation and benefits | 2,807 | 2,555 | |||||||||
| Other operating expenses | 918 | 1,026 | |||||||||
| Operating expenses | 3,725 | 3,581 | |||||||||
| Operating income | 1,358 | 1,070 | |||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 1,322 | 1,007 | |||||||||
| Net income before non-controlling interests | 998 | 767 | |||||||||
| Net income attributable to the Company | $ | 983 | $ | 754 | |||||||
| Net Income per share attributable to the Company: | |||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 1.93 | $ | 1.49 | |||||||
| Diluted | $ | 1.91 | $ | 1.48 | |||||||
| Average number of shares outstanding: | |||||||||||
| Basic | 509 | 505 | |||||||||
| Diluted | 514 | 510 | |||||||||
| Shares Outstanding at March 31, | 509 | 506 | |||||||||
Consolidated operating income in the first quarter of 2021 increased 27% to $1.4 billion compared to the same period last year, reflecting a 9% increase in revenue and 4% increase in expense. On an underlying basis, revenue increased 6%, reflecting an increase of 7% in Risk and Insurance Services and a 3% increase in Consulting. The underlying revenue increase in Risk and Insurance Services is as a result of growth in new business, strong retention of existing clients, and to a lesser extent, benefits from pricing in the marketplace. The growth in Consulting revenue was due to increase in demand for project-based services as the global economy continues to improve. On an underlying basis, expenses were slightly lower than last year due to lower travel and entertainment, meeting costs and outside services resulting from the Company’s restrictions on travel and cost containment measures taken in light of COVID-19, partly offset by higher incentive compensation and increase in headcount. Expenses were also impacted by lower Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc ("JLT") integration and restructuring costs of $57 million, which are winding down in 2021.
Income before income taxes increased to $1.3 billion in the first quarter of 2021, compared with $1.0 billion in the first quarter of 2020. The increase reflects higher operating income, higher investment income, and lower interest expense.
Diluted earnings per share increased from $1.48 in the first quarter of 2020 to $1.91 in 2021. This increase is a result of the factors discussed above offset by a higher effective tax rate in the first quarter of 2021 compared to 2020.
The Company’s results of operations and earnings per share for the three month periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 include costs related to JLT integration and restructuring activities, and other Marsh McLennan restructuring activities as discussed in more detail in Note 15 of the consolidated financial statements. These costs are reflected as part of net operating income and are summarized below:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| (In millions) | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||
| Restructuring costs, excluding JLT | $ | 11 | $ | 9 | |||||||
| JLT integration and restructuring costs | 23 | 80 | |||||||||
| JLT acquisition related costs | 12 | 13 | |||||||||
| Impact on operating income | $ | 46 | $ | 102 | |||||||
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JLT Integration and Restructuring Costs
The Company is in the final stages of its integration of JLT. The costs incurred in connection with the integration and restructuring of the combined businesses, primarily related to severance, real estate rationalization and technology, consulting fees related to the management of the integration processes and legal fees related to the rationalization of legal entity structures. Since the acquisition of JLT, the Company has incurred JLT integration and restructuring costs of $609 million through March 31, 2021. This reflects $23 million of costs incurred during the first quarter of 2021 compared to $80 million for the same period in the prior year. The Company expects to incur the remaining $116 million of costs substantially in 2021, primarily related to real estate and technology, of which approximately $100 million will be cash expenditures. Through March 31, 2021, the Company has exceeded the initial estimated savings of $350 million. The Company expects at least $425 million of annualized savings when the integration is completed.
JLT Acquisition Related Costs
JLT acquisition related costs reflect retention costs related to the acquisition of JLT.
Consolidated Revenue and Expense
Revenue - Components of Change
The Company conducts business in more than 130 countries. As a result, foreign exchange rate movements may impact period-to-period comparisons of revenue. Similarly, certain other items such as acquisitions and dispositions, including transfers among businesses, may impact period-to-period comparisons of revenue. Underlying revenue measures the change in revenue from one period to the next by isolating these impacts.
The impact of foreign currency exchange fluctuations, acquisitions and dispositions, including transfers among businesses, on the Company's operating revenues by segment are as follows:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | % Change GAAP Revenue | Components of Revenue Change* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Currency Impact | Acquisitions/ Dispositions/ Other Impact | Underlying Revenue | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions, except percentage figures) | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Risk and Insurance Services | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marsh | $ | 2,325 | $ | 2,061 | 13 | % | 3 | % | 2 | % | 8 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guy Carpenter | 895 | 827 | 8 | % | 2 | % | — | 7 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Subtotal | 3,220 | 2,888 | 11 | % | 3 | % | 1 | % | 7 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fiduciary Interest Income | 5 | 23 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Risk and Insurance Services | 3,225 | 2,911 | 11 | % | 3 | % | 1 | % | 7 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Consulting | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mercer | 1,288 | 1,251 | 3 | % | 4 | % | (1) | % | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oliver Wyman Group | 585 | 511 | 14 | % | 3 | % | — | 11 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Consulting | 1,873 | 1,762 | 6 | % | 4 | % | (1) | % | 3 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate/Eliminations | (15) | (22) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Revenue | $ | 5,083 | $ | 4,651 | 9 | % | 3 | % | — | 6 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Three Months Ended March 31, | % Change GAAP Revenue | Components of Revenue Change* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Currency Impact | Acquisitions/ Dispositions/ Other Impact | Underlying Revenue | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions, except percentage figures) | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marsh: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| EMEA | $ | 837 | $ | 754 | 11 | % | 7 | % | (2) | % | 6 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asia Pacific | 274 | 238 | 15 | % | 7 | % | 1 | % | 8 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Latin America | 90 | 91 | (1) | % | (7) | % | — | 6 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total International | 1,201 | 1,083 | 11 | % | 5 | % | (1) | % | 6 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S./Canada | 1,124 | 978 | 15 | % | 1 | % | 5 | % | 9 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Marsh | $ | 2,325 | $ | 2,061 | 13 | % | 3 | % | 2 | % | 8 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mercer: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wealth | 623 | 592 | 5 | % | 6 | % | (1) | % | 1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Health | 487 | 486 | — | 1 | % | (1) | % | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career | 178 | 173 | 3 | % | 3 | % | — | 1 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Mercer | $ | 1,288 | $ | 1,251 | 3 | % | 4 | % | (1) | % | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| * | Components of revenue change may not add due to rounding. | ||||
Revenue
Consolidated revenue for the first quarter of 2021 was $5.1 billion, an increase of 9% compared to the same quarter in prior year. This reflects an increase of 6% on an underlying basis, and an increase of 3% from the impact of foreign currency translation.
Revenue in the Risk and Insurance Services segment for the first quarter of 2021 was $3.2 billion, an increase of 11% from the same quarter of the prior year. This reflects increases of 7% on an underlying basis, 3% from the impact of foreign currency translation and 1% from acquisitions. The increase in underlying revenue was primarily due to growth in new business, strong retention of existing clients, and to a lesser extent, benefits from pricing in the marketplace. Consulting revenue of $1.9 billion in the first quarter of 2021 increased 6%, reflecting increases of 3% on an underlying basis and 4% from the impact of foreign currency translation, partly offset by a decrease of 1% from the disposition of businesses. The increase in underlying revenue was due to increase in demand for project-based services as the global economy continues to improve.
Operating Expense
Consolidated operating expense in the first quarter increased 4% compared with the same period last year reflecting a 3% increase from the impact of foreign currency translation and an increase of 1% from acquisitions. Underlying expenses were slightly lower than last year reflecting lower travel and entertainment, meeting costs and outside services resulting from the Company’s restrictions on travel and cost containment measures taken in light of COVID-19, offset by an increase in incentive compensation and increase in headcount. The Company also incurred lower JLT integration and restructuring costs, which are winding down in 2021.
The Company incurred approximately $35 million and $93 million of operating expenses for the three month periods ended March 31, 2021 and March 31, 2020, respectively, related to the JLT acquisition, integration and restructuring charges.
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Risk and Insurance Services
The results of operations for the Risk and Insurance Services segment are presented below:
| For the Three Months Ended March 31, | Three Months | |||||||
| (In millions) | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||
| Revenue | $ | 3,225 | $ | 2,911 | ||||
| Compensation and Benefits | 1,610 | 1,452 | ||||||
| Other Operating Expenses | 555 | 605 | ||||||
| Expense | 2,165 | 2,057 | ||||||
| Operating Income | $ | 1,060 | $ | 854 | ||||
| Operating Income Margin | 32.9 | % | 29.4 | % | ||||
Revenue
Revenue in the Risk and Insurance Services segment in the first quarter of 2021 was $3.2 billion, an increase of 11% as compared to the same period last year. This reflects increases of 7% in underlying revenue, 3% from the impact of foreign currency translation and 1% from acquisitions.
At Marsh, revenue in the first quarter of 2021 was $2.3 billion, an increase of 13% when compared to the same period last year. This reflects an increase in underlying revenue of 8%, a 3% increase from the impact of foreign exchange translation, and a 2% increase from acquisitions. The increase in underlying revenue is a result of growth in new business, strong retention of existing clients, and to a lesser extent, benefits from pricing in the marketplace. In U.S./Canada, underlying revenue rose 9%. International operations produced underlying revenue growth of 6%, reflecting growth of 8% in Asia Pacific, 6% in EMEA and 6% in Latin America. Interest earned on fiduciary funds decreased $18 million compared to the first quarter of 2020.
Expense
Expenses in the Risk and Insurance Services segment increased 5% in the first quarter of 2021 compared with the same period last year. Expenses were essentially flat on an underlying basis reflecting the impact of lower travel and entertainment and meeting costs resulting from the Company’s restrictions on travel and cost containment measures taken in light of COVID-19, offset by higher incentive compensation and increase in headcount. Expenses also reflect lower JLT integration and restructuring costs, which are winding down in 2021.
Consulting
The results of operations for the Consulting segment are presented below:
| For the Three Months Ended March 31, | Three Months | |||||||
| (In millions) | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||
| Revenue | $ | 1,873 | $ | 1,762 | ||||
| Compensation and Benefits | 1,074 | 991 | ||||||
| Other Operating Expenses | 438 | 489 | ||||||
| Expense | 1,512 | 1,480 | ||||||
| Operating Income | $ | 361 | $ | 282 | ||||
| Operating Income Margin | 19.3 | % | 16.0 | % | ||||
Revenue
Consulting revenue in the first quarter of 2021 was $1.9 billion, an increase of 6% compared to the same period last year. This reflects increases of 3% in underlying revenue and 4% from the impact of foreign currency translation offset by a decrease of 1% from the disposition of businesses.
Mercer's revenue of approximately $1.3 billion in the first quarter of 2021 increased 3% compared to the same period last year. This reflects an increase of 4% from the impact of foreign currency, a slight increase in underlying revenue, offset by a 1% decrease from dispositions. On an underlying basis, revenue in Health was flat, while Wealth and Career each increased 1% as compared to prior year. Oliver Wyman's revenue increased 14% to $585
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million, reflecting a increase of 11% on an underlying basis and a 3% increase from the impact of foreign currency translation. The increase in Oliver Wyman primarily reflects the impact of new project based services in the U.S.
Expense
Consulting expenses in the first quarter of 2021 increased 2% as compared to the first quarter of 2020. This reflects an increase of 3% from the impact of foreign currency translation offset by a 1% decrease on an underlying basis. The decrease in underlying expense reflects lower travel and entertainment, meeting costs and outside services resulting from the Company’s restrictions on travel and cost containment measures taken in light of COVID-19 and lower recoverable expenses, offset by higher incentive compensation expense.
Corporate and Other
Corporate expenses were $63 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared with $66 million in the same period of 2020. The decrease is primarily due to lower JLT integration and restructuring costs offset by higher incentive compensation.
Interest
Interest expense decreased $9 million in the first quarter of 2021 compared with the first quarter of 2020 due to lower average debt levels in 2021 compared with the same period last year.
Investment Income (Loss)
The caption "Investment income (loss)" in the consolidated statements of income comprises realized and unrealized gains and losses from investments. It includes, when applicable, other-than-temporary declines in the value of securities, mark-to-market increases or decreases in equity investments with readily determinable fair values and equity method gains or losses on its investments in private equity funds. The Company's investments may include direct investments in insurance, consulting or other strategically linked companies and investments in private equity funds.
The Company recorded net investment income of $11 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to a net investment loss of $2 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2020. The increase is primarily due to higher gains from its investments in private equity funds.
Income and Other Taxes
The Company's effective tax rate in the first quarter of 2021 was 24.5% compared with 23.8% in the first quarter of 2020. The tax rates in both periods reflect the impact of discrete tax matters such as excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation, enacted tax legislation, changes in uncertain tax positions, deferred tax adjustments and non-taxable adjustments to contingent acquisition consideration. The excess tax benefit related to share-based payments is the most significant discrete item, reducing the effective tax rate by 1.1% and 2.6% in the first quarters of 2021 and 2020, respectively.
The effective tax rate may vary significantly from period to period for the foreseeable future. The effective tax rate is sensitive to the geographic mix and repatriation of the Company's earnings, which may result in higher or lower effective tax rates. Thus, a shift in the mix of profits among jurisdictions, or changes in the Company’s repatriation strategy to access offshore cash, can affect the effective tax rate.
In addition, losses in certain jurisdictions cannot be offset by earnings from other operations, and may require valuation allowances that affect the rate in a particular period, depending on estimates of the value of associated deferred tax assets which can be realized. A valuation allowance was recorded to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that the Company believes is more likely than not to be realized. The effective tax rate is also sensitive to changes in unrecognized tax benefits, including the impact of settled tax audits and expired statutes of limitation.
Changes in tax laws, rulings, policies or related legal and regulatory interpretations occur frequently and may have a significant favorable or adverse impact on our effective tax rate.
As a U.S. domiciled parent holding company, Marsh McLennan is the issuer of essentially all of the Company's external indebtedness, and incurs the related interest expense in the U.S. The Company’s interest expense deductions are not currently limited. Further, most senior executive and oversight functions are conducted in the U.S. and the associated costs are incurred primarily in the United States. Some of these expenses may not be deductible in the U.S., which may impact the effective tax rate.
The quasi-territorial U.S. tax regime provides an opportunity for the Company to repatriate foreign earnings more tax efficiently and there is less incentive for permanent reinvestment of these earnings. However, permanent reinvestment continues to be a component of the Company’s global capital strategy. For post-2017 years, including 2021, the Company continues to evaluate its global investment and repatriation strategy in light of its capital
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requirements, considering the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "TCJA") and the quasi-territorial tax regime for future foreign earnings.
The Company has established liabilities for uncertain tax positions in relation to potential assessments in the jurisdictions in which it operates. The Company believes the resolution of tax matters will not have a material effect on the consolidated financial position of the Company, although a resolution of tax matters could have a material impact on the Company's net income or cash flows and on its effective tax rate in a particular future period. It is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will decrease between zero and approximately $35 million within the next twelve months due to settlement of audits and expiration of statutes of limitation.
During the first quarter of 2021, the U.K. proposed legislation that includes an increase in the corporate tax rate from 19% to 25% effective April 1, 2023. Full enactment of the legislation is expected to be provided in the third quarter of 2021, at which time the Company will be required to revalue our inventory of U.K. deferred taxes. The Company is evaluating the impact to its financial statements.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the "CARES Act") was signed into law on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act provided over $2 trillion in economic relief to individuals, governmental agencies and companies, to deal with the public health and economic impacts of COVID-19. Pursuant to the CARES Act, payroll taxes due from March 27, 2020 through December 31, 2020 were deferred until 2021 and 2022 (50% to be paid each year) without interest or penalties.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company is organized as a legal entity separate and distinct from its operating subsidiaries. As the Company does not have significant operations of its own, the Company is dependent upon dividends and other payments from its operating subsidiaries to pay principal and interest on its outstanding debt obligations, pay dividends to stockholders, repurchase its shares and pay corporate expenses. The Company can also provide financial support to its operating subsidiaries for acquisitions, investments and certain parts of their business that require liquidity, such as the capital markets business of Guy Carpenter. Other sources of liquidity include borrowing facilities discussed below in financing cash flows.
The Company derives a significant portion of its revenue and operating profit from operating subsidiaries located outside of the United States. Funds from those operating subsidiaries are regularly repatriated to the United States out of annual earnings. At March 31, 2021, the Company had approximately $813 million of cash and cash equivalents in its foreign operations, which includes $250 million of operating funds required to be maintained for regulatory requirements or as collateral under certain captive insurance arrangements. The Company expects to continue its practice of repatriating available funds from its non-U.S. operating subsidiaries out of current annual earnings. Where appropriate, a portion of the current year earnings will continue to be permanently reinvested. With respect to repatriating 2018 and prior earnings, the Company has evaluated such factors as its short- and long-term capital needs, acquisition and borrowing strategies, and the availability of cash for repatriation for each of its subsidiaries. The Company has determined that, in general, its permanent reinvestment assertions, in light of the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, should allow the Company to repatriate previously taxed earnings from the deemed repatriations as cash becomes available.
During the first three months of 2021, the Company recorded foreign currency translation adjustments which decreased net equity by $91 million. Continued strengthening of the U.S. dollar against foreign currencies would further decrease the translated U.S. dollar value of the Company’s net investments in its non-U.S. subsidiaries, as well as the translated U.S. dollar value of cash repatriations from those subsidiaries.
Cash on our consolidated balance sheets includes funds available for general corporate purposes. Funds held on behalf of clients in a fiduciary capacity are segregated and shown separately in the consolidated balance sheets as an offset to fiduciary liabilities. Fiduciary funds cannot be used for general corporate purposes, and should not be considered as a source of liquidity for the Company.
Operating Cash Flows
The Company used $408 million of cash from operations for the three month period ended March 31, 2021 compared to $638 million used by operations in the first three months of 2020. These amounts reflect the net income of the Company during those periods, excluding gains or losses from investments, adjusted for non-cash charges and changes in working capital which relate primarily to the timing of payments of accrued liabilities and pension plan contributions or receipts of assets. The Company paid $26 million and $61 million related to the JLT integration and restructuring activity for the three month periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
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Pension Related Items
Contributions
The Company's policy for funding its tax-qualified defined benefit plans is to contribute amounts at least sufficient to meet the funding requirements set forth in accordance with applicable law. During the first three months of 2021, the Company contributed $17 million to its non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans and $12 million to its U.S. defined benefit pension plans. In the first three months of 2020, the Company contributed $18 million to its non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans and $9 million to its U.S. defined benefit pension plans.
In the United States, contributions to the tax-qualified defined benefit plans are based on ERISA guidelines.
Outside the U.S., the Company has a large number of non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans, the largest of which are in the U.K., which comprise approximately 81% of non-U.S. plan assets at December 31, 2020. Contribution rates for non-U.S. plans are generally based on local funding practices and statutory requirements, which may differ significantly from measurements under U.S. GAAP. In the U.K., the assumptions used to determine pension contributions are the result of legally-prescribed negotiations between the Company and the plans' trustee that typically occur every three years in conjunction with the actuarial valuation of the plans. Currently, this results in a lower funded status compared to U.S. GAAP and may result in contributions irrespective of the U.S. GAAP funded status. For the Marsh McLennan U.K. Pension Fund, a new agreement was reached with the trustee in the fourth quarter of 2019 based on the surplus funding position at December 31, 2018. In accordance with the agreement, no deficit funding is required until 2023. The funding level will be re-assessed during 2022 to determine if contributions are required in 2023. In order to have greater influence over asset allocation and overall investment decisions, in November 2019, the Company renewed its agreement to support annual deficit contributions by the U.K. operating companies under certain circumstances, up to GBP 450 million over a seven-year period.
The Company expects to agree to a new deficit funding plan with the trustee of the U.K. JLT Pension Scheme to fund $41 million in 2021.
The Company expects to fund an additional $77 million to its non-U.S. defined benefit plans over the remainder of 2021, comprising approximately $30 million to plans outside of the U.K. and $47 million to the U.K. plans. The Company expects to fund an additional $23 million to its U.S. defined benefit plans during the remainder of 2021.
Financing Cash Flows
Net cash used for financing activities was $451 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2021, compared with $1.3 billion of net cash provided by such activities for the same period in 2020.
On April 9, 2021, the Company increased its short-term commercial paper financing program to $2.0 billion from $1.5 billion. The Company had no commercial paper outstanding at March 31, 2021.
Credit Facilities
On April 2, 2021, the Company entered into an amended and restated multi-currency unsecured $2.8 billion five-year revolving credit facility ("New Facility"). The interest rate on the New Facility is based on LIBOR plus a fixed margin which varies with the Company’s credit ratings. The New Facility expires in April 2026 and requires the Company to maintain certain coverage and leverage ratios which are tested quarterly. The New Facility includes provisions for determining a LIBOR successor rate in the event LIBOR reference rates are no longer available or in certain other circumstances which are determined to make using an alternative rate desirable.
In connection with the New Facility, the Company terminated its multicurrency unsecured $1.8 billion five-year revolving credit facility (“Old Facility”) and its unsecured $1 billion 364-day unsecured revolving credit facility (“364-day Facility). The Old Facility had similar interest rate, coverage and leverage ratios as the New Facility. The Company entered into the 364-day Facility in April 2020 with a term out option after one year. As of March 31, 2021, the Company had no borrowings under either of these facilities.
In January 2020, the Company closed on $500 million one-year and $500 million two-year term loan facilities. In the first quarter of 2020 the Company borrowed $1 billion against these facilities, which were subsequently repaid during the third and fourth quarters of 2020. These two facilities were terminated as of December 31, 2020 after repayment of the initial draw down.
Additional credit facilities, guarantees and letters of credit are maintained with various banks, primarily related to operations located outside the United States, aggregating $517 million at March 31, 2021 and $573 million at December 31, 2020. There were no outstanding borrowings under these facilities at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020.
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Debt
On April 15, 2021, the Company repaid $500 million of senior notes maturing in July 2021.
In May 2020, the Company issued $750 million of senior notes.
In March 2020, the Company repaid $500 million of maturing senior notes. In December 2020, the Company repaid $700 million of maturing senior notes and $300 million of floating rate notes with an original maturity of December 2021.
The Company's senior debt is currently rated A- by Standard & Poor's ("S&P") and Baa1 by Moody's. The Company's short-term debt is currently rated A-2 by S&P and P-2 by Moody's. The Company carries a Stable outlook with both S&P and Moody's.
Share Repurchases
During the first three months of 2021, the Company repurchased 1 million shares of its common stock for total consideration of approximately $119 million at an average price per share of $117.57, of which $112 million was paid during the first quarter of 2021. In November 2019, the Board of Directors authorized an increase in the Company’s share repurchase program, which supersedes any prior authorization, allowing management to buy back up to $2.5 billion of the Company’s common stock. As of March 31, 2021, the Company remained authorized to purchase shares of its common stock up to a value of approximately $2.3 billion. There is no time limit on this authorization. There were no repurchases of the Company's common stock during the three month period ending March 31, 2020.
Contingent Payments Related to Acquisitions
During the first three months of 2021, the Company paid $11 million of contingent payments related to acquisitions made in prior periods. These payments are split between financing and operating cash flows in the consolidated statements of cash flows. Payments of $10 million related to the contingent consideration liability that was recorded on the date of acquisition are reflected as financing cash flows. Payments related to increases in the contingent consideration liability subsequent to the date of acquisition of $1 million are reflected as operating cash flows. Remaining estimated future contingent consideration payments of $233 million for acquisitions completed in the first three months of 2021 and in prior years are recorded in accounts payable and accrued liabilities or other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2021.
The Company paid deferred purchase consideration related to prior years' acquisitions of $27 million in the first three months of 2021. Financing cash flows also reflect the receipt of contingent consideration of $5 million related to prior year dispositions. Remaining deferred cash payments of approximately $215 million for acquisitions completed in prior years are recorded in accounts payable and accrued liabilities or other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2021.
In the first three months of 2020, the Company paid $13 million of contingent payments related to acquisitions made in prior periods. Of this amount, $4 million was reported as financing cash flows and $9 million as operating cash flows.
Dividends
The Company paid dividends on its common shares of $237 million ($0.465 per share) during the first three months of 2021, as compared with $232 million ($0.455 per share) during the first three months of 2020.
Derivatives
Net Investment Hedge
The Company has investments in various subsidiaries with Euro functional currencies. As a result, the Company is exposed to the risk of fluctuations between the Euro and U.S. dollar exchange rates. As part of its risk management program to fund the JLT acquisition, the Company issued €1.1 billion Senior Notes, and designated the debt instruments as a net investment hedge of its Euro denominated subsidiaries. The hedge is re-assessed each quarter to confirm that the designated equity balance at the beginning of each period continues to equal or exceed 80% of the outstanding balance of the Euro debt instrument and that all the critical terms of the hedging instrument and the hedged net investment continue to match. If the hedge is highly effective, the change in the debt balance related to foreign exchange fluctuations will be recorded in foreign currency translation gains (losses) in the consolidated balance sheet. The U.S. dollar value of the Euro notes decreased by $53 million during 2021 related to
the change in foreign exchange rates. The Company concluded that the hedge was highly effective and recorded a decrease to accumulated other comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 31, 2021.
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Investing Cash Flows
Net cash used for investing activities amounted to $67 million in the first three months of 2021, compared with $245 million used during the same period in 2020.
The Company paid $200 million, net of cash acquired, for acquisitions it made during the first three months of 2020. The Company made no acquisitions in the first three months of 2021.
The Company used cash of $69 million to purchase fixed assets and capitalized software in the first three months of 2021, compared with $118 million in the first three months of 2020, primarily related to computer equipment and software purchases, software development costs and the refurbishing and modernizing of office facilities.
In February 2020 the Company sold 49 million shares of the common stock of AF for proceeds of $14 million.
The Company has commitments for potential future investments of approximately $39 million in four private equity funds that invest primarily in financial services companies.
Commitments and Obligations
The Company’s contractual obligations of the types identified in the table below were of the following amounts as of March 31, 2021:
(In millions) | Payment due by Period | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contractual Obligations | Total | Within 1 Year | 1-3 Years | 4-5 Years | After 5 Years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Short-term debt | 1,015 | 1,015 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt | 10,309 | — | 1,635 | 1,736 | 6,938 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest on long-term debt | 5,255 | 445 | 806 | 644 | 3,360 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net operating leases | 2,480 | 407 | 690 | 530 | 853 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service agreements | 296 | 164 | 92 | 32 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other long-term obligations | 512 | 153 | 311 | 47 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 19,867 | $ | 2,184 | $ | 3,534 | $ | 2,989 | $ | 11,160 | |||||||||||||||||||
The above does not include unrecognized tax benefits of $96 million, as the Company is unable to reasonably predict the timing of settlement of these liabilities, other than approximately $22 million that may become payable within one year.
The above does not include the provisional estimate of remaining transitional tax payments related to the Tax Cuts and Job Act ("the TCJA") of $64.5 million.
Management’s Discussion of Critical Accounting Policies
The Company’s discussion of critical accounting policies that place the most significant demands on management’s judgment and requires management to make significant estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain are discussed in the MD&A in the 2020 Form 10-K.
New Accounting Guidance
Note 19 to the consolidated financial statements in this report contains a discussion of recently issued accounting guidance and their impact or potential future impact on the Company’s financial results, if determinable.
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Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Market Risk and Credit Risk
Certain of the Company’s revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities are exposed to the impact of interest rate changes and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and equity markets.
Interest Rate Risk and Credit Risk
Interest income generated from the Company's cash investments as well as invested fiduciary funds will vary with the general level of interest rates.
The Company had the following investments subject to variable interest rates:
| (In millions of dollars) | March 31, 2021 | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents invested in money market funds, certificates of deposit and time deposits | $ | 1,120 | |||
| Fiduciary cash and investments | $ | 8,782 | |||
Based on the above balances, if short-term interest rates increased or decreased by 10%, or 2 basis points, over the full year, annual interest income, including interest earned on fiduciary funds, would increase or decrease by approximately $2 million.
Changes in interest rates can also affect the discount rate and assumed rate of return on plan assets, two of the assumptions among several others used to measure net periodic pension expense. The assumptions used to measure plan assets and liabilities are typically assessed at the end of each year, and determine the expense for the subsequent year. Assumptions used to determine net periodic expense for 2021 are discussed in Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements included in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K. For a discussion on pension expense sensitivity to changes in these rates, see the "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Management’s Discussion of Critical Accounting Policies-Retirement Benefits" section of our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K.
In addition to interest rate risk, our cash investments and fiduciary fund investments are subject to potential loss of value due to counter-party credit risk. To minimize this risk, the Company invests pursuant to a Board approved investment policy. The policy mandates the preservation of principal and liquidity and requires broad diversification with counter-party limits assigned based primarily on credit rating and type of investment. The Company carefully monitors its cash and fiduciary fund investments and will further restrict the portfolio as appropriate to market conditions. The majority of cash and fiduciary fund investments are invested in short-term bank deposits and liquid money market funds.
Foreign Currency Risk
The translated values of revenue and expense from the Company’s international operations are subject to fluctuations due to changes in currency exchange rates. The non-U.S. based revenue that is exposed to foreign exchange fluctuations is approximately 53% of total revenue. We periodically use forward contracts and options to limit foreign currency exchange rate exposure on net income and cash flows for specific, clearly defined transactions arising in the ordinary course of business. Although the Company has significant revenue generated in foreign locations which is subject to foreign exchange rate fluctuations, in most cases both the foreign currency revenue and expenses are in the functional currency of the foreign location. As such, under normal circumstances, the U.S. dollar translation of both the revenues and expenses, as well as the potentially offsetting movements of various currencies against the U.S. dollar, generally tends to mitigate the impact on net operating income of foreign currency risk. However, there have been periods where the impact was not mitigated due to external market factors, and external macroeconomic events may result in greater foreign exchange rate fluctuations in the future. If foreign exchange rates of major currencies (Euro, Sterling, Australian dollar and Canadian dollar) moved 10% in the same direction against the U.S. dollar compared with the foreign exchange rates in 2021, the Company estimates that net operating income would increase or decrease by approximately $57 million. The Company has exposure to approximately 80 foreign currencies overall. If exchange rates at March 31, 2021 hold constant for the rest of 2021, the Company estimates the year-over-year impact from conversion of foreign currency earnings will increase full year net operating income by approximately $47 million.
In Continental Europe, the largest amount of revenue from renewals for the Risk and Insurance Services segment occurs in the first quarter.
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Equity Price Risk
The Company holds investments in both public and private companies as well as private equity funds, including investments of approximately $74 million that are valued using readily determinable fair values and approximately $33 million of investments without readily determinable fair values. The Company also has investments of approximately $289 million that are accounted for using the equity method. The investments are subject to risk of decline in market value, which, if determined to be other than temporary for assets without readily determinable fair values, could result in realized impairment losses. The Company periodically reviews the carrying value of such investments to determine if any valuation adjustments are appropriate under the applicable accounting pronouncements.
At March 31, 2021, the Company owns approximately 14% of the common stock of Alexander Forbes ("AF"), a South African company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, at a closing share price of 4.10 South African Rand per share. The investment in AF is accounted at fair value, with investment gains and losses recorded as investment income in the consolidated statement of income. The fair value of this investment at March 31, 2021 was approximately $55 million.
Other
A number of lawsuits and regulatory proceedings are pending. See Note 17 ("Claims, Lawsuits and Other Contingencies") to the consolidated financial statements in this report.
Item 4. Controls & Procedures.
a. Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Based on their evaluation, as of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) are effective.
b. Changes in Internal Control
There were no other changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by Rules 13a-15(d) or 15d-15(d) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that occurred during the Company’s last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
The Company and its subsidiaries are also party to a variety of other legal, administrative, regulatory and government proceedings, claims and inquiries arising in the normal course of business. Additional information regarding certain legal proceedings and related matters as set forth in Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements provided in Part I of this report is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
The Company and its subsidiaries face a number of risks and uncertainties. In addition to the other information in this report and our other filings with the SEC, readers should consider carefully the risk factors discussed in "Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
If any of the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K or such other risks actually occur, our business, results of operations or financial condition could be materially adversely affected.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
Issuer Repurchases of Equity Securities
The Company repurchased approximately 1 million shares of its common stock for $119 million during the first quarter of 2021. In November 2019, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the Company to repurchase up to $2.5 billion in shares of the Company's common stock, which superseded any prior authorizations. As of March 31, 2021, the Company remained authorized to repurchase up to approximately $2.3 billion in shares of its common stock. There is no time limit on the authorization.
| Period | (a) Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased | (b) Average Price Paid per Share (or Unit) | (c) Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs | (d) Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares (or Units) that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs | |||||||||||||||||||
| January 1-31, 2021 | — | $ | — | — | $ | 2,422,987,756 | |||||||||||||||||
| February 1-28, 2021 | — | $ | — | — | $ | 2,422,987,756 | |||||||||||||||||
| March 1-31, 2021 | 1,008,148 | $ | 117.57 | 1,008,148 | $ | 2,304,455,428 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total | 1,008,148 | 1,008,148 | $ | 2,304,455,428 | |||||||||||||||||||
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosure.
Not Applicable.
Item 5. Other Information.
None.
Item 6. Exhibits.
See the Exhibit Index immediately following the signature page of this report, which is incorporated herein by reference.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| Date: | April 27, 2021 | /s/ Mark C. McGivney | |||||||||
| Mark C. McGivney | |||||||||||
| Chief Financial Officer | |||||||||||
| Date: | April 27, 2021 | /s/ Stacy M. Mills | |||||||||
| Stacy M. Mills | |||||||||||
| Vice President & Controller | |||||||||||
| (Chief Accounting Officer) | |||||||||||
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EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit No. | Exhibit Name | ||||||||||
| 10.9 | |||||||||||
| 101.INS | XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. | ||||||||||
| 101.SCH | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema | ||||||||||
| 101.CAL | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase | ||||||||||
| 101.DEF | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase | ||||||||||
| 101.LAB | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase | ||||||||||
| 101.PRE | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase | ||||||||||
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