UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007
Commission File No. 1-5998
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 36-2668272 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
1166 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036-2774
(Address of principal executive offices; Zip Code)
(212) 345-5000
Registrants telephone number, including area code
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
Name of each exchange on which registered | |
Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share |
New York Stock Exchange | |
Chicago Stock Exchange | ||
London Stock Exchange |
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes x No ¨.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ¨ No x .
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨.
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrants knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ¨ .
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (check one).
Large accelerated filer x |
Accelerated filer ¨ |
Non-accelerated filer ¨ |
Smaller reporting company ¨ | |||
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No x.
As of June 30, 2007, the aggregate market value of the registrants common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $16,601,578,250 based on the average of the high and low prices as reported on the New York Stock Exchange.
As of February 20, 2008, there were outstanding 521,024,442 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the registrant.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.s Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the 2008 Proxy Statement) are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K.
INFORMATION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements, which express managements 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. For example, we may use forward-looking statements when addressing topics such as: changes in our business strategies and methods of generating revenue; the development and performance of our services and products; market and industry conditions, including competitive and pricing trends; changes in the composition or level of MMCs revenues; our cost structure and the outcome of cost-saving initiatives; dividend policy and share repurchase programs; the expected impact of acquisitions and dispositions; pension obligations; cash flow and liquidity; future actions by regulators; the outcome of contingencies; the impact of changes in accounting rules; and changes in senior management.
Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements include:
n | our ability to achieve profitable revenue growth in our risk and insurance services segment by providing both traditional insurance brokerage services and additional risk advisory services; |
n | our ability to retain existing clients and attract new business, and our ability to retain key employees; |
n | the impact on risk and insurance services commission revenues of changes in the availability of, and the premiums insurance carriers charge for, insurance and reinsurance products, including the impact on premium rates and market capacity attributable to catastrophic events such as hurricanes; |
n | the impact on renewals in our risk and insurance services segment of pricing trends in particular insurance markets, fluctuations in the general level of economic activity and decisions by insureds with respect to the level of risk they will self-insure; |
n | revenue fluctuations in risk and insurance services relating to the effect of new and lost business production and the timing of policy inception dates; |
n | the impact of fluctuations in the value of Risk Capital Holdings investments on profitability in our risk and insurance services segment; |
n | the impact on our consulting segment of pricing trends, utilization rates, legislative changes affecting client demand, and the general economic environment, including threatened or actual recession in the U.S. or other economies; |
n | our ability to control expenses and achieve operating efficiencies; |
n | the impact of competition, including with respect to pricing and the emergence of new competitors; |
n | the economic and reputational impact of litigation and regulatory proceedings described in the notes to our financial statements; |
n | our exposure to potential liabilities arising from errors and omissions claims against us; |
n | our ability to meet our financing needs by generating cash from operations and accessing external financing sources, including the potential impact of rating agency actions on our cost of financing or ability to borrow; |
n | our ability to make strategic acquisitions and dispositions and to integrate, and realize expected synergies, savings or strategic benefits from, the businesses we acquire; |
n | the impact on net income of foreign exchange and/or interest rate fluctuations; |
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n | changes in applicable tax or accounting requirements, and potential income statement effects from the application of FIN 48 (Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes) and SFAS 142 (Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets); and |
n | the impact of, and potential challenges in complying with, legislation and regulation in the jurisdictions in which we operate, particularly given the global scope of our businesses and the possibility of conflicting regulatory requirements across the jurisdictions in which we do business. |
The factors identified above are not exhaustive. MMC and its subsidiaries operate in a dynamic business environment in which new risks may emerge frequently. Accordingly, MMC cautions readers not to place undue reliance on its forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the dates on which they are made. MMC 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 MMC and its businesses, including information about factors that could materially affect our results of operations and financial condition, is contained in the Risk Factors section in Part I, Item 1A of this report.
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MARSH & McLENNAN COMPANIES, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007
References in this report to we, us and our are to Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (MMC) and one or more of its subsidiaries, as the context requires.
GENERAL
MMC is a global professional services firm providing advice and solutions in the areas of risk, strategy and human capital. It is the parent company of a number of the worlds leading risk experts and specialty consultants, including: Marsh, the insurance broker, intermediary and risk advisor; Guy Carpenter, the risk and reinsurance specialist; Kroll, the risk consulting firm; Mercer, the provider of HR and related financial advice and services; and Oliver Wyman Group, the management consultancy. With approximately 56,000 employees worldwide and 2007 consolidated revenue exceeding $11 billion, MMC provides analysis, advice and transactional capabilities to clients in more than 100 countries.
MMC conducts business through three operating segments:
n | Risk and Insurance Services includes risk management activities (risk advice, risk transfer and risk prevention and mitigation solutions) as well as insurance and reinsurance broking and services. We conduct business in this segment through Marsh and Guy Carpenter. This segment also includes Marsh & McLennan Risk Capital Holdings. |
n | Consulting includes human resource consulting and related outsourcing and investment services, and specialized management and economic consulting services. We conduct business in this segment through Mercer and Oliver Wyman Group. |
n | Risk Consulting and Technology includes risk consulting and related investigative, quantitative, intelligence, financial, security and technology services. We conduct business in this segment through Kroll. |
We describe our operating segments in further detail below. We provide financial information about our segments in our consolidated financial statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this report.
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OUR BUSINESSES
Risk and Insurance Services
Risk and Insurance Services, comprising Marsh and Guy Carpenter, is MMCs largest business segment. This segment generated 49% of MMCs total operating segments revenue in 2007 and employs approximately 29,000 colleagues worldwide. This segment also includes Marsh & McLennan Risk Capital Holdings.
Marsh
Marsh generated 40% of MMCs total operating segments revenue in 2007. Operating through a global network of approximately 400 offices in over 100 countries, Marsh is a world leader in delivering risk and insurance services and solutions. More than 26,000 Marsh colleagues provide risk management, insurance broking, consulting and insurance program management services to a wide range of businesses, government entities and professional service organizations around the world. Marshs clients vary by size, industry, geography and risk exposure.
Client Relationships. In its main risk consulting and insurance broking practice, Marsh employs a team approach to address its clients individual risk management and insurance needs. Each client relationship is coordinated by a client executive who assembles the resources needed to analyze, measure and manage the clients various risks. The client executive draws from colleagues who specialize in specific industries (e.g., financial services, telecom, life sciences, health care, construction, transportation) and/or risk specialty areas (e.g., property, casualty, workers compensation, environmental, political risk, financial and professional liability).
Risk Analysis. Marshs risk and insurance professionals identify, analyze and estimate risks that arise from client operations and assets. These client risks may relate to physical damage to property, various liability exposures, and other factors that could result in financial loss, as well as large and complex risks that require access to world insurance and financial markets. Marsh professionals address traditional property and liability risks and a widening range of financial, strategic and operating exposures, including those relating to employment practices, the development and operation of technology resources, intellectual property, the remediation of environmental pollution, mergers and acquisitions, the interruption of revenue streams derived from leasing and credit operations and political risks.
Risk Advice and Consulting. Marsh professionals use a risk-based approach to help clients identify critical functions of their businesses, analyze exposures and evaluate existing risk treatment practices and strategies. Marsh advises clients in structuring programs for retaining, mitigating, financing, and transferring risk in combinations that vary according to the clients particular needs and circumstances. In addition to placing insurance, Marsh might help a client develop risk management strategies that include loss-control services (such as business continuity planning, ergonomic and workplace safety programs and loss information management), or alternative risk financing (such as the securitization of risk, the placement of risk with the capital markets and self-insured programs). Marshs professionals help clients implement their risk management and mitigation strategies by negotiating and executing transactions with the worldwide insurance and capital markets, establishing and managing specialized insurance companies owned by clients (sometimes known as captive insurance companies) and implementing various loss-control programs.
Global Consumer Practice. In addition to its main risk management and broking practice described above, Marsh operates a global consumer practice that provides advice, broking, intermediary and program management services to corporate and association clients globally and to individual and small business clients primarily in the United States. Marsh professionals in this practice design, market and administer a variety of insurance and insurance-related products and services, such as consumer property and casualty programs and life insurance, purchased by an associations or professional groups members or provided to employees of corporate clients as part of a voluntary
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payroll deduction program. Other areas of the consumer practice include: private client services, which provides specialized risk and insurance programs to high-net-worth individuals and family offices; Marsh financial services, which offers key-person and executive benefit programs, as well as planning and wealth preservation solutions to affluent individuals; and a small commercial practice, which offers standardized insurance programs to small businesses and franchise operations.
Support Services. Marsh subsidiaries also provide insurance support services such as claims collection, claims advocacy, injury management, claims administration, and other insurance- and risk- related services. Marsh provides technological support to risk management professionals and the property & casualty industry by delivering integrated software and services that support risk management, claims, administration, compliance management, bill review and data management.
Subsidiaries in the Risk and Insurance Services segment, under various names apart from Marsh, provide underwriting management services to insurers in the United States and Canada, primarily for professional liability coverages.
Guy Carpenter
Guy Carpenter generated 8% of MMCs total operating segments revenue in 2007. More than 2,500 Guy Carpenter professionals create and execute reinsurance and risk management solutions for clients worldwide, by providing risk assessment analytics, actuarial services, highly specialized product knowledge, and trading relationships with reinsurance markets. Client services also include contract and claims management and fiduciary accounting. Run-off services and other reinsurance and insurance administration solutions are offered through Guy Carpenter affiliates on a fee basis.
Acting as a broker or intermediary on all classes of reinsurance, Guy Carpenter places two main types of property and casualty reinsurance: treaty reinsurance, which involves the transfer of a portfolio of risks; and facultative reinsurance, which entails the transfer of part or all of the coverage provided by a single insurance policy.
Guy Carpenter also provides reinsurance services in a broad range of specialty practice areas, including accident and health, agriculture, alternative risk transfer, environmental, general casualty, investment banking, life and annuity, marine and energy, professional liability, program manager solutions, property, retrocessional reinsurance (reinsurance between reinsurers), structured risk, surety, terror risk, and workers compensation. In addition, Guy Carpenter provides its clients with numerous reinsurance-related services, such as actuarial, enterprise risk management, financial and regulatory consulting and portfolio analysis. Guy Carpenters Instrat® unit delivers advanced risk assessment analytics, catastrophe modeling and exposure management tools to assist clients in the reinsurance decision-making process.
Guy Carpenter offers run-off services for inactive clients in North America and elsewhere through Reinsurance Solutions LLC and Reinsurance Solutions Limited, respectively. These affiliates also offer reinsurance and insurance administration solutions on a fee basis.
Marsh & McLennan Risk Capital Holdings
MMC owns investments in private equity funds and insurance and financial services firms through its subsidiary Marsh & McLennan Risk Capital Holdings (Risk Capital Holdings). Risk Capital Holdings generated 1% of MMCs total operating segments revenue in 2007.
Compensation for Services in Risk and Insurance Services
Marsh and Guy Carpenter are compensated for brokerage and consulting services primarily through fees paid by clients and commissions paid out of premiums charged by insurance and reinsurance companies. Commission rates vary in amount depending upon the type of insurance or reinsurance coverage provided, the particular insurer or reinsurer, the capacity in which the broker acts and negotiations with clients. For billing and other administrative services, Marsh and Guy Carpenter receive interest income on certain funds (such as premiums and claims proceeds) held in a fiduciary capacity for others.
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We also receive certain investment-related revenues from Risk Capital Holdings. For a more detailed discussion of revenue sources and factors affecting revenue in our Risk and Insurance Services segment, see Part II, Item 7 (Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations) of this report.
Consulting
Consulting is MMCs second-largest business segment, generating 43% of total operating segments revenue in 2007 and employing approximately 22,000 colleagues worldwide. MMC conducts business in this segment through Mercer and Oliver Wyman Group.
Mercer
With more than 18,000 professionals active in 41 countries, Mercer is a leading global provider of human resource consulting and related outsourcing and investment services. Clients include a majority of the companies in the Fortune 1000 and FTSE 100, as well as medium- and small-market organizations. Mercer generated 30% of MMCs total operating segments revenue in 2007.
Mercer operates in four areas:
Retirement & Investments. The lines of business within Retirement & Investments work together to offer clients a full suite of retirement advice and solutions.
Mercer provides a wide range of strategic and compliance-related retirement services and solutions to corporate, governmental and institutional clients. Mercer assists clients worldwide in the design and governance of defined benefit, defined contribution and hybrid retirement plans. Mercers financial approach to retirement services enables clients to consider the benefits, accounting, funding and investment aspects of plan design and management in the context of business objectives and governance requirements.
Mercer also provides investment consulting services to the fiduciaries of pension funds, foundations, endowments and other investors in more than 35 countries. Mercer advises clients on all stages of the institutional investment process, from strategy, structure and implementation to ongoing portfolio management.
Mercers dedicated investment management business provides multi-manager investment solutions, primarily for retirement plan assets, to institutional investors (such as retirement plan sponsors and trustees), and to individual investors (in Australia and prospectively in other countries). These solutions include one-stop investment advisory and asset management solutions for plan sponsors, bundled services for frozen defined benefit plans utilizing our expertise in liability-driven investment and actuarial techniques, and personal wealth solutions. The investment management business offers a diverse range of investment options to meet a full spectrum of risk/return preferences and manages 85 investment vehicles across a range of investment strategies in four geographic regions (US, Canada, Europe and Australia/New Zealand). As of December 31, 2007, Mercers investment management business had assets under management of over $18 billion worldwide.
Health & Benefits. In its Health & Benefits business, Mercer assists public and private sector employers in the design, management and administration of employee health care programs; compliance with local benefits-related regulations; and the establishment of health and welfare insurance coverage for employees. Mercer provides advice and solutions to employers on: total health management strategies; global health brokerage solutions; vendor performance and audit; life and disability management; and measurement of healthcare provider performance. These services are provided through traditional consulting as well as commission-based brokerage services in connection with the selection of insurance companies and healthcare providers.
Talent. The lines of business within Talent work together to offer consulting services and related content products to help clients optimize workforce performance.
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Mercers human capital business advises organizations on the engagement, management and rewarding of employees; the design of executive remuneration programs; and improvement of human resource (HR) effectiveness.
Through proprietary survey data and decision support tools, Mercers information products solutions business provides clients with human capital information and analytical capabilities to improve strategic human capital decision making.
Mercers communication business helps clients to plan and implement HR programs and other organizational change in order to maximize employee engagement, drive desired employee behavior and achieve improvements in business performance.
Outsourcing. Through its Outsourcing business, Mercer provides benefits outsourcing to clients globally. By delivering services across benefit domains and international borders, Mercer helps clients more efficiently manage their benefits programs. Mercers Outsourcing business offers total benefits outsourcing, including administration and delivery for wealth, health and flexible benefits; total retirement outsourcing, including administration and delivery for retirement benefits; and stand-alone services for defined benefit administration, defined contribution administration, health benefits administration and flexible benefits programs.
Oliver Wyman Group
With over 3,500 professionals based in 18 countries, Oliver Wyman Group delivers advisory services to clients through three operating units, each of which is a leader in its field: Oliver Wyman; Lippincott; and NERA Economic Consulting. Oliver Wyman Group generated 13% of MMCs total operating segments revenue in 2007.
Oliver Wyman is a leading global management consulting firm. Oliver Wymans consultants specialize by industry and functional area, allowing clients to benefit from both deep sector knowledge and specialized expertise in strategy, operations, risk management, organizational transformation, and leadership development. Industry groups include:
n | Automotive; |
n | Aviation, Aerospace and Defense; |
n | Communications, Media and Technology; |
n | Energy; |
n | Financial services, including corporate and institutional banking, insurance, and retail and business banking; |
n | Industrial products and services; |
n | Health and life sciences; |
n | Retail and consumer products; and |
n | Surface transportation. |
Oliver Wyman overlays its industry knowledge with expertise in the following functional specializations:
n | Business Transformation. Oliver Wyman advises clients who face major strategic discontinuities and risks on business model transformation. |
n | Delta Organization & Leadership. The Delta business provides consulting services and customized programs to help CEOs and other senior corporate leaders improve their individual and organizational capabilities. Services include organizational design and transformation; enterprise leadership and board effectiveness; and the Executive Learning Center, which provides customized executive education programs to help organizations develop the leaders they need to compete and grow. |
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n | Finance and Risk. Oliver Wyman works with CFOs and other senior finance and risk management executives of leading corporations and financial institutions to help them meet the challenges presented by their evolving roles and the needs of their organizations. Key areas of focus include risk, capital and performance measurement; performance and value-based management; and risk governance amid regulatory changes. Oliver Wyman also offers actuarial consulting services to public and private enterprises, self-insured group organizations, insurance companies, government entities, insurance regulatory agencies and other organizations. |
n | Marketing and Sales. Oliver Wyman advises leading firms in the areas of offer/pricing optimization; product/service portfolio management; product innovation; marketing spend optimization; value-based customer management; and sales & distribution model transformation. |
n | Operations and Technology. Oliver Wyman offers market-leading IT organization design, IT economics management, Lean Six Sigma principles and methodologies, and sourcing expertise to clients across a broad range of industries. |
n | Strategy. Oliver Wyman is a leading provider of corporate strategy advice and solutions in the areas of growth strategy and corporate portfolio; non-organic growth and M&A; performance improvement; business design and innovation; corporate center and shared services; and strategic planning. |
Lippincott is a brand strategy and design consulting firm which advises corporations around the world in a variety of industries on corporate branding, identity and image. Lippincott has helped create some of the worlds most recognized brands.
NERA Economic Consulting provides economic analysis and advice to public and private entities to achieve practical solutions to highly complex business and legal issues arising from competition, regulation, public policy, strategy, finance and litigation. NERA professionals operate worldwide assisting clients including corporations, governments, law firms, regulatory agencies, trade associations, and international agencies. NERAs specialized practice areas include: antitrust; securities; complex commercial litigation; energy; environmental economics; network industries; intellectual property; product liability and mass torts; and transfer pricing.
Compensation for Services in Consulting
Mercer and the Oliver Wyman Group businesses are compensated for advice and services primarily through fees paid by clients. Mercers health & benefits business is compensated through commissions from insurance companies for the placement of insurance contracts (comprising more than half of the revenue in the health & benefits business) and consulting fees. Mercers discretionary investment management business and certain of Mercers defined contribution administration services are compensated typically through fees based on assets under administration and/or management. For a more detailed discussion of revenue sources and factors affecting revenue in the Consulting segment, see Part II, Item 7 (Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations) of this report.
Risk Consulting & Technology
MMCs Risk Consulting and Technology segment, which conducts business through Kroll, generated 9% of MMCs total operating segments revenue in 2007.
Kroll is the worlds leading risk intelligence company. With more than 4,000 colleagues in 27 countries, and a worldwide network of consultants with specialized expertise, Kroll provides a wide range of consulting-based services and technology-enabled solutions to a global client base of law firms, financial institutions, corporations, non-profits, government agencies, and individuals.
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Consulting and Related Services. Kroll provides consulting and related services through three business groups. Krolls Consulting Services Group helps clients mitigate business, financial and physical risks and achieve their legal, operational and financial objectives. Krolls business intelligence and investigations unit provides information gathering and analysis; investigative services; litigation support; assistance in locating misappropriated assets; and programs to protect intellectual property, prevent money laundering and ensure the integrity of vendors. Krolls financial advisory services unit provides a full range of forensic accounting, litigation consulting, and valuation services to help clients uncover fraud, comply with securities and corporate governance regulations, value businesses and assess financial damages for insurance claims and litigation.
The Corporate Advisory & Restructuring Group provides professional services with the objective of maximizing the value of financially-troubled companies for the benefit of their stakeholders. Working on behalf of companies or creditors in North America and Europe, this group provides: interim and crisis management; strategic advice related to operational turnarounds, corporate finance and financial restructuring; and asset recovery and liquidation services.
The Security Group serves clients worldwide, including multinational corporations, government agencies, high-net-worth individuals, architectural firms, and private and public sector organizations. Services include: security consulting; architectural security engineering; outsourced security operations and management; executive protection; high risk environment intelligence and protective services; crisis and kidnap response; travel safety training programs; and training programs for executives, security professionals and military personnel. The Security Group also includes Krolls U.S. government services business, which conducts security clearance investigations of government personnel and monitors law enforcement agencies and other public and private entities compliance with federal consent decrees and other government mandates.
Technology Services. Krolls Technology Services unit provides technology-enabled solutions through Kroll Ontrack and Kroll Factual Data, as well as Krolls background screening and substance abuse testing businesses. Kroll Ontrack provides large-scale electronic and paper-based discovery, computer forensics, and data recovery solutions for companies, law firms, and government agencies. Kroll Factual Data offers information services to mortgage and consumer lending businesses, landlords, employers and other business customers in the United States. Krolls background screening business provides employee and vendor background investigations and identity theft services to a wide range of business and non-profit clients worldwide. The substance abuse testing business provides employee testing services to corporate, institutional and government clients in the United States, Canada and Europe.
Compensation for Services in Risk Consulting and Technology
Kroll receives compensation in the form of fees paid by clients. These fees are typically earned on an hourly, project, fixed fee or per-unit basis. For a more detailed discussion of revenue sources and factors affecting revenue in our Risk Consulting & Technology segment, see Part II, Item 7 (Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations) of this report.
Regulation
MMCs activities are subject to licensing requirements and extensive regulation under United States federal and state laws, as well as laws of other countries in which MMCs subsidiaries operate. See Part I, Item 1A (Risk Factors) below for a discussion of how actions by regulatory authorities or changes in legislation and regulation in the jurisdictions in which we operate may have an adverse effect on our businesses.
Risk and Insurance Services. While laws and regulations vary from location to location, every state of the United States and most foreign jurisdictions require insurance market intermediaries and related service providers (such as insurance brokers, agents and consultants, reinsurance brokers, managing general agents and third party administrators) to hold an individual and/or company license
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from a governmental agency or self-regulatory organization. Some jurisdictions issue licenses only to individual residents or locally-owned business entities; in this case, if MMC has no licensed subsidiary, we may maintain arrangements with residents or business entities licensed to act in such jurisdiction.
Beginning in January 2005, all European Union member states were required to implement the Insurance Mediation Directive. This Directive aims to apply consistent minimum professional standards to insurance intermediaries, including a licensing system based on an assessment of factors such as professional competence, financial capacity and professional indemnity insurance. As member states of the European Union adopt regulations to comply with the Directive, our insurance intermediary operations in the European Union have become subject to enhanced regulatory requirements. In January 2005, as part of the implementation of the Directive in the United Kingdom, the power and responsibilities of the Financial Services Authority, or FSA, were expanded to include regulation of insurance and reinsurance intermediaries in the United Kingdom.
Insurance authorities in the United States and certain other jurisdictions in which MMCs subsidiaries do business, including the FSA in the United Kingdom, also have enacted laws and regulations governing the investment of funds, such as premiums and claims proceeds, held in a fiduciary capacity for others. These laws and regulations typically provide for segregation of these fiduciary funds and limit the types of investments that may be made with them.
Certain of MMCs risk and insurance services activities are governed by other regulatory bodies, such as investment, securities and futures licensing authorities. In the United States, Marsh and Guy Carpenter use the services of MMC Securities Corp., a US-registered broker-dealer and investment adviser, member FINRA/SIPC, primarily in connection with investment banking-related services and advising on alternative risk financing transactions. Also in the United States, Marsh uses the services of Interlink Securities Corp., primarily in connection with variable insurance products. Guy Carpenter provides advice on securities or investments in the European Union through GC Securities Ltd., authorized and regulated by the FSA. MMC Securities Corp., Interlink Securities Corp. and GC Securities Ltd. are indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of MMC.
In some jurisdictions, insurance-related taxes may be due either directly from clients or from the insurance broker. In the latter case, the broker customarily looks to the client for payment.
Consulting. Certain of Mercers retirement-related consulting services are subject to pension law and financial regulation in many countries, including by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, in the United States and the FSA in the United Kingdom. In addition, the trustee services, investment services (including advice to individuals on the investment of personal pension assets and assumption of discretionary investment management responsibilities) and retirement and employee benefit program administrative services provided by Mercer and its subsidiaries and affiliates are subject to investment and securities regulations in various jurisdictions. The benefits insurance consulting and brokerage services provided by Mercer and its subsidiaries and affiliates are subject to the same licensing requirements and regulatory oversight as the insurance market intermediaries described above regarding our Risk and Insurance Services businesses. In the United States, Mercer and Oliver Wyman Group use the services of MMC Securities Corp. primarily in connection with the sale of retirement and employee benefit plans, and investment banking services, respectively.
Risk Consulting & Technology. Certain of Krolls risk consulting and investigative activities are licensed and regulated at the federal, state and local level in the United States and abroad. Many of these activities also involve the use of data from outside sources, including third party vendors and governmental records. As a result, changes in existing, or the implementation of new, laws and regulations, particularly relating to privacy, could interfere with Krolls historical access to and use of such data. Substance abuse testing laboratories operated by a Kroll subsidiary are certified on the federal level and licensed in a number of states.
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Competitive Conditions
MMC faces strong competition in all of its business segments from providers of similar products and services. MMC also encounters strong competition throughout its businesses from both public corporations and private firms in attracting and retaining qualified employees. In addition to the discussion below, see Risks Relating to MMC Generally Competitive Risks, in Part I, Item 1A of this report.
Risk and Insurance Services. MMCs combined insurance and reinsurance services businesses are global in scope. The principal bases upon which our insurance and reinsurance businesses compete include the range, quality and cost of the services and products provided to clients. MMC encounters strong competition in the risk and insurance services business from other insurance and reinsurance brokerage firms that operate on a nationwide or worldwide basis, from a large number of regional and local firms in the United States, the European Union and elsewhere, from insurance and reinsurance companies that market and service their insurance products without the assistance of brokers or agents and from other businesses, including commercial and investment banks, accounting firms and consultants, that provide risk-related services and products. Although the major global insurance brokerage firms against whom Marsh competes have, like us, stopped using market service arrangements, many specialist, regional and local firms have not done so. The continuing acceptance of market service or contingent commission revenue by certain of Marshs competitors may provide them greater pricing flexibility and put Marsh at a competitive disadvantage.
Certain insureds and groups of insureds have established programs of self insurance (including captive insurance companies) as a supplement or alternative to third-party insurance, thereby reducing in some cases their need for insurance placements. There are also many other providers of affinity group and private client services, including specialized firms, insurance companies and other institutions.
The continuing impact of legal and regulatory proceedings concerning our insurance brokerage operations also could affect Marshs competitive position. These proceedings are discussed in more detail in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this report. Please also read our discussion of the risks associated with these proceedings and their impact under Part I, Item 1A (Risk Factors) below.
Consulting. MMCs consulting and HR outsourcing businesses face strong competition from other privately and publicly held worldwide and national companies, as well as regional and local firms. These businesses compete generally on the basis of the range, quality and cost of the services and products provided to clients. Competitors include independent consulting and outsourcing firms, as well as consulting and outsourcing operations affiliated with accounting, information systems, technology and financial services firms.
Mercers investment consulting business faces competition from many sources, including multi-manager services offered by other investment consulting firms and financial institutions. Mercers investment management business, which was recently established, in particular faces significant competition from better-established rivals with greater experience in that market.
In many cases, clients have the option of handling the services provided by Mercer internally, without assistance from outside advisors.
Risk Consulting & Technology. In risk consulting and technology, we face competition from local, regional, national and international firms that provide similar services in the fields of accounting, corporate advisory and restructuring services, investigative and security services, consulting and technology services. Krolls Consulting Services Group faces competition from local, regional, national and international accounting firms and forensic accounting, litigation support, investigative and other specialist and consulting firms. Krolls Corporate Advisory & Restructuring Group faces competition from national and international accounting firms and specialist recovery firms. Krolls Security Group faces competition from international and local security firms, government security contractors, and architectural engineering firms. Krolls Technology Services Group faces competition from a variety of law firms, independent service providers and technology companies.
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Segmentation of Activity by Type of Service and Geographic Area of Operation.
Financial information relating to the types of services provided by MMC and the geographic areas of its operations is incorporated herein by reference to Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this report.
Employees
As of December 31, 2007, MMC and its consolidated subsidiaries employed approximately 56,000 people worldwide, including approximately 29,000 in risk and insurance services, approximately 22,000 in consulting and approximately 4,400 in risk consulting and technology. Approximately 600 individuals are employed by MMC at the parent-company level.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF MMC
The executive officers of MMC are appointed annually by MMCs board of directors. As of February 29, 2008, the following individuals were executive officers of MMC:
Matthew B. Bartley, age 51, is executive vice president and chief financial officer of MMC. Prior to assuming his current position in September 2006, Mr. Bartley was treasurer of MMC, a position he held since joining MMC in April 2001. Previously, Mr. Bartley was vice president of taxes at Engelhard Corporation, a multinational specialty chemicals and precious metals company, with responsibility for tax and transaction planning, execution and reporting. Prior to that role, he served for close to ten years in senior international treasury and tax positions at PepsiCo, Inc., where he was responsible for global strategic transaction planning and execution across international operating businesses.
Peter J. Beshar, age 46, is executive vice president and general counsel of MMC. Before joining MMC in November 2004, Mr. Beshar was a litigation partner in the law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. Mr. Beshar joined Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in 1995 after serving as an Assistant Attorney General in the New York Attorney Generals office.
M. Michele Burns, age 50, is chairwoman and chief executive officer of Mercer. Ms. Burns joined MMC as executive vice president on March 1, 2006, assumed the position of chief financial officer of MMC on March 31, 2006 and moved to her current position with Mercer on September 25, 2006. Prior to joining MMC, Ms. Burns was executive vice president and chief financial officer since May 2004, and chief restructuring officer since August 2004, of Mirant Corporation, an energy company. Prior to joining Mirant, she was executive vice president and chief financial officer of Delta Air Lines, Inc. from August 2000 to April 2004. She held various other positions in the finance and tax departments of Delta beginning in January 1999. Delta filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in September 2005.
Mathis Cabiallavetta, age 63, is vice chairman, office of the CEO of MMC, chairman of MMC International and chairman of Marsh AG, Switzerland. He is also a member of the boards of directors of Kessler & Co, Switzerland, Altria Group, Inc. and BlackRock, Inc. Mr. Cabiallavetta is vice president of the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Advisory Board of General Atlantic Partners in New York. Prior to joining MMC in 1999, Mr. Cabiallavetta was chairman of the board of UBS AG, which he joined in 1971.
John Drzik, age 45, is president and chief executive officer of Oliver Wyman Group, a position he assumed in June 2006. From 2003 to 2006, Mr. Drzik was president of Mercer Oliver Wyman, which was formed following MMCs acquisition of Oliver, Wyman & Company in 2003. He joined Oliver, Wyman & Company in 1984, became president in 1995, and was appointed chairman in 2000.
Brian Duperreault, age 60, is president and chief executive officer of MMC, a position he assumed in January 2008. Prior to joining MMC, Mr. Duperreault served as chairman and chief executive officer of ACE Limited from 1994 to 2004, and continued as chairman through the end of 2007. Prior to ACE, Mr. Duperreault was with American International Group (AIG) for more than 20 years, holding numerous positions and eventually becoming executive vice president of AIG Foreign General Insurance and chairman and chief executive of AIGs American International Underwriters (AIU).
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Simon Freakley, age 46, is president and chief executive officer of Kroll, a position he has held since October 2004. Mr. Freakley had been a director of Kroll since June 2003 and head of Krolls Consulting Group since April 2004. He was president of Krolls Corporate Advisory & Restructuring Group from September 2002 until its consolidation with Krolls Consulting Services Group in April 2004. From 1996 until his appointment as Krolls chief executive officer, Mr. Freakley was also managing partner of Kroll Ltd. (previously Kroll Buchler Phillips and Buchler Phillips), Krolls U.K.-based corporate advisory and restructuring subsidiary. Mr. Freakley joined Buchler Phillips in 1992. The firm was acquired by Kroll in 1999.
E. Scott Gilbert, age 52, is senior vice president and chief compliance officer of MMC. Prior to joining MMC in January 2005, he had been the chief compliance counsel of the General Electric Company since September 2004. Prior thereto, he was counsel, litigation and legal policy at GE. Between 1986 and 1992, when he joined GE, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Daniel S. Glaser, age 47, is chairman and chief executive officer of Marsh, a position he assumed in December 2007. Previously, he had been managing director of AIG Europe (U.K.) Limited, and the regional president of AIGs American International Underwriters (AIU) U.K./Ireland division. He joined AIG in 2000 as president of the firms Global Energy Division. He was named managing director of AIG Europe (U.K.) in 2002. Mr. Glaser began his career in the insurance industry in 1982 as a Marsh broker. He worked at Marsh for a decade, serving in roles in New York, London and Saudi Arabia. Thereafter, he spent eight years at Willis, where he served as president and chief operating officer of Willis Risk Solutions, the Willis large accounts practice.
David Nadler, age 59, is vice chairman, office of the CEO of MMC. Dr. Nadler founded the Delta Consulting Group, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in executive leadership and organizational change, in 1980. He served as chairman and chief executive officer of that firm until its acquisition by Mercer in 2000, when it became Mercer Delta Consulting, LLC. Dr. Nadler served as chairman and chief executive officer of Oliver Wymans Delta Organization & Leadership business through December 2005 and remains chairman and senior partner of that firm.
Michael A. Petrullo, age 39, is senior vice president and chief administrative officer of MMC. After MMCs acquisition of Kroll in July 2004, Mr. Petrullo became chief financial officer for the risk consulting businesses of Marsh and Kroll until assuming his current position with MMC in January 2005. Mr. Petrullo was chief operating officer and executive vice president of Kroll from December 2002 to July 2004. Prior thereto, he was deputy chief operating officer of Kroll from June through December of 2002, the acting chief financial officer of Kroll from November 2001 to June 2002, and vice president and controller of Kroll from August 2001 to November 2001. He was vice president-finance of Krolls Investigations and Intelligence Group from February 1999 until August 2001. He joined Kroll Associates in 1995, serving as assistant controller through February 1998.
Peter Zaffino, age 41, is president and chief executive officer of Guy Carpenter. Prior to assuming this position in February 2008, he had served since 2007 as executive vice president and head of Guy Carpenters U.S. treaty operations. Previously, Mr. Zaffino was responsible for treaty operations in Guy Carpenters U.S. eastern region and prior to that led the firms global specialty practices business. Before joining Guy Carpenter in 2001, Mr. Zaffino served in an executive role with a GE Capital portfolio company specializing in casualty treaty reinsurance.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
MMC is subject to the informational reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In accordance with the Exchange Act, MMC files with the SEC annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. MMC makes these reports available free of charge through its website, www.mmc.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with the SEC. The public may read and copy such materials at the SECs Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC, 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains an Internet
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site at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers, like MMC, that file electronically with the SEC.
MMC also posts on its website the following documents with respect to corporate governance:
n | Guidelines for Corporate Governance; |
n | Code of Business Conduct and Ethics; |
n | procedures for addressing complaints and concerns of employees and others; and |
n | the charters of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Compliance Committee and Directors and Governance Committee of MMCs Board of Directors. |
All of the above documents are available in printed form to any MMC stockholder upon request.
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You should consider the risks described below in conjunction with the other information presented in this report. These risks have the potential to materially adversely affect MMCs business, results of operations or financial condition.
RISKS RELATING TO MMC GENERALLY
Senior Management Transition
Our success depends in part on successful transitions in MMCs and Marshs senior leadership.
MMC and its insurance services subsidiary Marsh are both in the midst of senior leadership transitions. MMC announced the departure of Marshs prior chief executive officer in September 2007, and announced the appointment of Daniel S. Glaser as Marshs new chief executive officer in December 2007. MMC announced the departure of MMCs prior chief executive officer in December 2007, and announced the appointment of Brian Duperreault as MMCs new chief executive officer in January 2008. MMCs and Marshs future performance will depend in part on the ability of Messrs. Duperreault and Glaser and their respective senior management teams, which include newly hired executives in some positions, to develop and successfully implement their business strategies.
Legal and Regulatory Issues
We are subject to legal proceedings and other contingencies which, if determined unfavorably to us, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.
As more fully described in Note 16 to our consolidated financial statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this report, we are subject to a number of legal proceedings, regulatory actions and other contingencies. An adverse outcome in connection with one or more of these matters could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition in any given quarterly or annual period. In addition, regardless of any eventual monetary costs, these matters could have a material adverse effect on MMC by exposing us to negative publicity, reputational damage, harm to our client or employee relationships, or diversion of personnel and management resources.
We are subject to significant uninsured exposures arising from errors and omissions claims.
MMCs operating companies provide numerous brokerage, consulting and other services for clients around the world. As a result of these activities, we are potentially subject to errors and omissions, or E&O, claims by clients and third parties who may allege that they were damaged as a result of MMCs failure to perform its duties as expected. These claims in any given case might be significant and could subject MMC, in addition to potential liability for monetary damages, to reputational harm and diversion of personnel and management resources.
Since 2001, the worldwide market for professional liability insurance against E&O claims has contracted significantly, which has caused MMC to assume increasing levels of self-insurance for its potential E&O exposures. MMC has established loss reserves which it believes are adequate to provide for this self-insured retention. Nevertheless, given the unpredictability of E&O claims and of litigation that could flow from them, it is possible that an adverse outcome in a particular matter could have a material adverse effect on MMCs results of operations or financial condition in a given quarterly or annual period.
Actions by regulatory authorities or changes in legislation and regulation in the jurisdictions in which we operate may have an adverse effect on our business.
Our activities are subject to extensive regulation under the laws of the United States and its various states, the European Union and its member states, and the other jurisdictions in which we
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operate. Some of this regulation has only recently been instituted; for example, in January 2005, our insurance and reinsurance services activities, as well as certain of our consulting activities, in the United Kingdom came under the jurisdiction of the Financial Services Authority. Certain of the U.S. laws and regulations to which we are subject relate to the conduct of business abroad by American companies; examples are the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the rules relating to trade sanctions administered by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control.
In most jurisdictions, government regulatory authorities have the power to interpret or amend applicable laws and regulations, and have discretion to grant, renew and revoke various licenses and approvals we need to conduct our activities. If we violate applicable laws or regulations in a particular jurisdiction, we might be subject to adverse consequences, such as the loss of an operating license or approval, the suspension of individual employees, limitations on engaging in a particular business, redress to clients or fines. In some areas of our businesses, we act on the basis of our own or the industrys interpretations of applicable laws or regulations, which may conflict from state to state or country to country. In the event those interpretations eventually prove different from those of regulatory authorities, we might be penalized or precluded from carrying on our previous activities. Any significant impairment of our ability to conduct our business as we historically have done could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.
Improper disclosure of personal data could result in legal liability or harm our reputation.
One of our significant responsibilities is to maintain the security and privacy of our clients confidential and proprietary information and the personal data of their employees and plan participants. We maintain policies, procedures and technological safeguards designed to protect the security and privacy of this information. Nonetheless, we cannot entirely eliminate the risk of improper access to or disclosure of personally identifiable information. Such disclosure could harm our reputation and subject us to liability under our contracts and laws that protect personal data, resulting in increased costs or loss of revenue.
Further, data privacy is subject to frequently changing rules and regulations, which sometimes conflict among the various jurisdictions and countries in which we provide services. Our failure to adhere to or successfully implement processes in response to changing regulatory requirements in this area could result in legal liability or impairment to our reputation in the marketplace.
International Operations
We are exposed to multiple risks associated with the global nature of our operations.
We do business worldwide. In 2007, 51 percent of MMCs total operating segments revenue was generated from operations outside the United States, and over one-half of our employees are located abroad. We expect to expand our non-U.S. operations further.
The geographic breadth of our activities subjects us to significant legal, economic, operational and market risks. These include, among others, risks relating to:
n | economic and political conditions in foreign countries; |
n | local investment or other financial restrictions that foreign governments may impose; |
n | potential costs and difficulties in complying, or monitoring compliance, with rules relating to trade sanctions administered by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control, the requirements of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or other U.S. laws and regulations applicable to business operations abroad; |
n | limitations that foreign governments may impose on the conversion of currency or the payment of dividends or other remittances to us from our non-U.S. subsidiaries; |
n | withholding or other taxes that foreign governments may impose on the payment of dividends or other remittances to us from our non-U.S. subsidiaries; |
n | the length of payment cycles and potential difficulties in collecting accounts receivable; |
n | engaging and relying on third parties to perform services on behalf of MMC; |
n | potential difficulties in monitoring employees in geographically dispersed locations; and |
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n | potential costs and difficulties in complying with a wide variety of foreign laws and regulations (including tax systems) administered by foreign government agencies, some of which may conflict with U.S. or other sources of law. |
In addition, we are subject to exchange rate risk because some of our subsidiaries receive revenue other than in their functional currencies, and because we generally must translate the financial results of our foreign subsidiaries into U.S. dollars. For example, most of MMCs total operating segments revenue generated outside of the U.S. is denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. As a consequence, significant changes in exchange rates may have a material effect on our reported financial results for any given period.
Competitive Risks
Each of MMCs businesses operates in a highly competitive environment. If we fail to compete effectively, our business and results of operations will suffer.
As a global professional services firm, MMC experiences acute and continuous competition in each of its operating segments. Our ability to compete successfully depends on a variety of factors, including our geographic reach, the sophistication and quality of our services, and our pricing relative to our competitors. If we are unable to respond successfully to the competition we face, our business and results of operations will suffer.
In our risk and insurance services segment, we compete intensely against two other major global brokerage firms, Aon and Willis, for both client business and employee talent. We also face competition from a wide range of other insurance brokerage firms that operate on a regional, national or local scale; many of these firms, unlike Marsh, Aon and Willis, have not stopped using market service arrangements, and thus may have greater pricing flexibility than we do. We compete as well with insurance and reinsurance companies that market and service their insurance products without the assistance of brokers or other market intermediaries, and with various other companies that provide risk-related services. The above competition is intensified by an emerging industry trend toward a syndicated or distributed approach to the purchase of insurance brokerage services, whereby a client engages multiple brokers to service different portions of the clients account.
In our consulting and risk consulting and technology segments, we compete for business and employee talent with numerous independent consulting firms and organizations affiliated with accounting, information systems, technology and financial services firms around the world. Kroll also competes with law firms for certain of its services.
The loss of key professionals could hurt our ability to retain existing client revenues and generate revenues from new business.
Across all of our businesses, our personnel are crucial to developing and retaining the client relationships on which our revenues depend. It is therefore very important for us to retain significant revenue-producing employees and the key managerial and other professionals who support them. We face numerous challenges in this regard, including:
n | the intense competition for talent in all of our businesses; |
n | the general mobility of professionals in our businesses; and |
n | the difficulties we may face in offering compensation of a type and amount (including equity-based compensation) sufficient to attract, motivate and retain valuable employees. |
Losing employees who manage or support substantial client relationships or possess substantial experience or expertise could adversely affect our ability to secure and complete client engagements, which would adversely affect our results of operations. In addition, if any of our key professionals were to join an existing competitor or form a competing company, some of our clients could choose to use the services of that competitor instead of our services.
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Our businesses face rapid technological changes and our failure to adequately anticipate or respond to these changes could adversely affect our business and results of operations.
To remain competitive in many of our business areas, we must identify the most current technologies and methodologies and integrate them into our service offerings. For example, Guy Carpenters risk-modeling services are increasingly dependent on implementing advanced software and data-compilation tools; Krolls e-discovery business depends on advanced search technology and computerized document processing; and Mercers ability to price its outsourcing services competitively is highly dependent on technology. If we do not make the correct technology choices or investments, or if our choices or investments are insufficiently prompt or cost-effective, our business and results of operations could suffer.
Financial Risks
Credit rating downgrades could negatively affect our financing costs and subject us to operational risk.
Both Moodys and Standard & Poors downgraded MMCs senior debt credit rating in late 2004 and S&P announced a further downgrade in December 2007. Currently, MMCs senior debt is rated Baa2 by Moodys and BBB- by S&P. These ratings are the next-to-lowest investment grade rating for Moodys, and the lowest investment-grade rating for S&P.
If we need to raise capital in the future (for example, in order to fund maturing debt obligations or finance acquisitions or other initiatives), any further credit rating downgrade could negatively affect our financing costs, and likely would limit our access to financing sources. Further, we believe that a downgrade to a rating below investment-grade could result in greater operational risks through increased operating costs and increased competitive pressures.
Our pension obligations may cause MMCs earnings to fluctuate.
MMC has significant pension obligations to its current and former employees, totaling approximately $10 billion at December 31, 2007. The magnitude of our worldwide pension plans means that our earnings are comparatively sensitive to factors such as equity and bond market returns, the assumed interest rates we use to discount our pension liabilities, rates of inflation and mortality assumptions. Variations in any of these factors could cause significant fluctuation in our earnings from year to year.
Acquisitions and Dispositions
We face risks when we acquire and dispose of businesses.
We have a history of making acquisitions, including our $1.9 billion acquisition of Kroll in July 2004 and a total of 31 acquisitions in the period 2005-2007 for aggregate purchase consideration of $427 million. We have also exited various businesses, including Putnam in August 2007. We expect that targeted acquisitions and dispositions will continue to be part of our business strategy. Our success in this regard will depend on our ability to identify appropriate acquisition and disposition candidates and to complete with favorable results the transactions we decide to pursue.
While we intend that our acquisitions will improve our competitiveness and profitability, we cannot be certain that our past or future acquisitions will be accretive to earnings or otherwise meet our operational or strategic expectations. Acquisitions involve special risks, including the potential assumption of unanticipated liabilities and contingencies and difficulties in integrating acquired businesses, and acquired businesses may not achieve the levels of revenue, profit or productivity we anticipate or otherwise perform as we expect. In addition, if the operating performance of an acquired business deteriorates significantly, we may need to write down the value of the goodwill and other acquisition-related intangible assets recorded on our balance sheet. Given the significant size of MMCs goodwill and intangible assets, a write-down of this sort could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations in any given period. As of December 31, 2007, MMCs consolidated balance sheet reflected $7.8 billion of goodwill and intangible assets, representing approximately 45 percent of MMCs total consolidated assets and allocated by reporting segment as follows: risk and insurance services, $3.8 billion; consulting, $1.9 billion; and risk consulting & technology, $1.7 billion.
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When we dispose of businesses we are subject to the risk, contractually agreed or otherwise, of post-transaction liabilities. For example, as described in Note 16 to our consolidated financial statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this report, we have retained certain contingent litigation liabilities relating to Putnam.
RISKS RELATING TO OUR RISK AND INSURANCE SERVICES SEGMENT
Our risk and insurance services segment, conducted through Marsh and Guy Carpenter and including Risk Capital Holdings, represented 49 percent of MMCs total operating segments revenue in 2007. Our business in this segment is subject to particular risks.
Volatility or declines in premiums and other market trends may significantly impede our ability to improve revenues and profitability.
A significant portion of our risk and insurance services revenue consists of commissions paid to us out of the premiums that insurers and reinsurers charge our clients for coverage. We have no control over premium rates, and our revenues and profitability are subject to change to the extent that premium rates fluctuate or trend in a particular direction. The potential for changes in premium rates is significant, due to the general phenomenon of pricing cyclicality in the commercial insurance and reinsurance markets.
For example, for several years through late 2000, competition among insurers for market share and increased underwriting capacity helped create a so-called soft market, in which premium rates were driven downward and Marshs and Guy Carpenters commission revenues were pressured. Subsequently, due in part to the events of September 11, 2001, the insurance industry transitioned into a hard market, in which premium rates increased. These rate increases continued until 2005, at which point average U.S. commercial property-casualty rates began to decline on a year-over-year basis. According to industry sources, these soft market conditions have continued and generally intensified through the end of 2007.
In addition to movements in premium rates, our ability to generate premium-based commission revenue may be challenged by the growing availability of alternative methods for clients to meet their risk-protection needs. This trend includes a greater willingness on the part of corporations to self-insure; the use of so-called captive insurers; and the advent of capital markets-based solutions to traditional insurance and reinsurance needs.
We may not be as successful as we hope in implementing Marshs evolving business model and otherwise coping with changing modes of compensation in the insurance brokerage industry.
Since late 2004, Marsh has made significant changes to its business model, including the elimination of market service agreements with insurers. The elimination of market service revenue has negatively affected our financial results. In 2004, we recognized market service revenue of $516 million, relating to insurance placements made before October 1, 2004. By contrast, in 2005, 2006 and 2007 respectively, we recognized $114 million, $43 million and $3 million of market service revenue relating to placements made before October 1, 2004.
Although Aon and Willis have similarly terminated the use of market service agreements, many specialist, regional and local insurance brokers have not. To date, there has been no regulatory action to end the use of market service arrangements throughout the brokerage industry, and it is therefore unclear to what extent many of our competitors will continue to accept market service or contingent commission revenue. It is possible that Marsh will continue indefinitely to suffer competitive disadvantage compared to the brokers that have not given up the use of market service arrangements. If that occurs, Marsh would continue to face pressure on its revenues, operating margin and market share.
In addition to the possibility of continued competitive disadvantage as described above, Marsh faces risks relating to the implementation of its post-2004 business model. Marsh currently seeks to increase revenue through higher commissions and fees that are disclosed to its clients, and to generate profitable revenue growth by focusing on the provision of value-added risk advisory services
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beyond traditional brokerage activities. Marshs current business and compensation model continues to evolve and in some respects remains untested. We cannot be certain that it will generate the profitable revenue growth we are targeting. The inability to derive adequate revenues from Marshs current business and compensation model may significantly impede improvement in our operating results and profitability.
Our operating income and margins in risk and insurance services may be affected by quarterly changes in the value of Risk Capital Holdings investments in private equity funds.
Through its risk and insurance services subsidiary Risk Capital Holdings, MMC owns, among other investments, minority interests in certain private equity funds. Risk Capital Holdings records as revenue its proportionate share of changes in the quarterly fair value of these funds underlying investments. These changes in value, the size and timing of which Risk Capital Holdings generally does not control, can have a significant effect on risk and insurance services revenue from one quarter to another. In turn, because a large proportion of Risk Capital Holdings revenues flow directly to net operating income in risk and insurance services, changes in the value of Risk Capital Holdings private equity fund investments can have a significant effect on segment operating income and margins from quarter to quarter.
Results in our risk and insurance services segment may be adversely affected by a general decline in economic activity.
Demand for many types of insurance and reinsurance generally rises and falls as economic growth expands or slows. This dynamic affects the level of commissions and fees generated by Marsh and Guy Carpenter. To the extent our clients become adversely affected by declining business conditions, they may choose to limit their purchases of insurance coverage, which would inhibit our ability to generate commission revenue; and may decide not to purchase our risk advisory services, which would inhibit our ability to generate fee revenue. Moreover, a growing number of insolvencies associated with an economic downturn, especially insolvencies in the insurance industry, could adversely affect our brokerage business through the loss of clients or by hampering our ability to place insurance and reinsurance business.
RISKS RELATING TO OUR CONSULTING AND RISK CONSULTING AND TECHNOLOGY SEGMENTS
Our consulting segment, conducted through Mercer and Oliver Wyman Group, represented 43 percent of our total operating segments revenue in 2007. Our risk consulting and technology segment, conducted through Kroll, represented 9 percent of our total operating segments revenue in 2007. Our businesses in these two segments are subject to particular risks.
Demand for our services might decrease for various reasons, including a general economic downturn, a decline in a clients or an industrys financial condition, or changes in government regulation.
Our consulting and risk consulting and technology segments generally have achieved significant revenue growth over the last three years. Despite this history, however, we cannot be certain that demand for our consulting and risk consulting and technology services will continue to grow. The evolving needs or financial circumstances of our clients also may challenge our ability to increase revenues and profitability; in particular, economic downturns affecting particular clients or industry groups could reduce demand for our services.
In addition, demand for many of Mercers benefits services is affected by government regulation and tax rules, which drive our clients needs for benefits-related services. For example, significant changes in government regulations affecting the value, use or delivery of benefits and human resources programs, including changes in regulations relating to health and welfare plans, defined contribution plans, or defined benefit plans, may adversely affect the demand for or profitability of Mercers services.
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Our profitability may suffer if we are unable to achieve or maintain adequate utilization and pricing rates for our consultants.
The profitability of our consulting and risk consulting and technology businesses depends in part on ensuring that our consultants maintain adequate utilization rates (i.e., the percentage of our consultants working hours devoted to billable activities). Our utilization rates are affected by a number of factors, including:
n | our ability to transition consultants promptly from completed projects to new assignments, and to engage newly hired consultants quickly in revenue-generating activities; |
n | our ability to continually secure new business engagements, particularly because a portion of our work is project-based rather than recurring in nature; |
n | our ability to forecast demand for our services and thereby maintain an appropriate headcount in each of our geographies and workforces; |
n | unanticipated changes in the scope of client engagements; |
n | the potential for conflicts of interest that might require us to decline client engagements that we otherwise would have accepted; and |
n | our need to devote time and resources to sales, training, professional development and other non-billable activities. |
In recent periods, we have maintained a utilization rate that is high by our historical standards. We cannot be certain that we will maintain this level of utilization in future periods, particularly if economic growth slows. If the utilization rate for our consulting professionals were to decline, our profit margin and profitability could suffer.
In addition, the profitability of our consulting and risk consulting and technology businesses depends on the prices we are able to charge for our services. Our pricing power is affected by a number of factors, including:
n | clients perception of our ability to add value through our services; |
n | market demand for the services we provide; |
n | our ability to develop new services and the introduction of new services by competitors; |
n | the pricing policies of our competitors; |
n | changes in the extent to which our clients develop in-house or other capabilities to perform the services that they might otherwise purchase from us; and |
n | general economic conditions. |
If we are unable to achieve and maintain adequate billing rates for our consultants, our profit margin and profitability could suffer.
Our quarterly revenues and profitability may fluctuate significantly.
Quarterly variations in Mercers, Oliver Wyman Groups and Krolls revenues and operating results may occur due to several factors. These include:
n | the significance of client engagements commenced and completed during a quarter; |
n | the unpredictability of the timing and amount of success fees; |
n | the possibility that clients may decide to delay or terminate a current or anticipated project as a result of factors unrelated to our work product or progress; |
n | fluctuations in consultant hiring and utilization rates and clients ability to terminate engagements without penalty; |
n | seasonality at Mercer due to the impact of regulatory deadlines and other timing factors to which our clients are subject; |
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n | the success of our strategic acquisitions, alliances or investments; and |
n | general economic conditions, since results of operations in our consulting and risk consulting and technology businesses are directly affected by the levels of business activity of our clients, which in turn are affected by the level of economic activity in the industries and markets that they serve. |
A significant portion of total operating expenses at Mercer, Oliver Wyman Group and Kroll is relatively fixed. Therefore, a variation in the number of client assignments or in the timing of the initiation or the completion of client assignments can cause significant variations in quarterly operating results for these businesses.
Acceleration of the shift by employers from defined benefit plans to defined contribution plans could adversely affect Mercers operating results.
Mercer currently provides clients with actuarial and consulting services relating to both defined benefit and defined contribution plans. Defined benefit pension plans generally require more services than defined contribution plans because defined benefit plans typically involve large asset pools, complex calculations to determine employer costs, funding requirements and sophisticated analysis to match liabilities and assets over long periods of time. Recent regulatory initiatives in the United States and certain European countries may result in companies either discontinuing or curtailing defined benefit programs in favor of defined contribution plans. If organizations shift to defined contribution plans more rapidly than we anticipate and we do not successfully adjust our service offerings to take account of that change, Mercers operating results could be adversely affected.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
There are no unresolved comments to be reported pursuant to Item 1B.
MMC and its subsidiaries maintain their corporate headquarters in and around New York City. We also maintain other offices around the world, primarily in leased space. In certain circumstances, we may have space that we sublet to third parties, depending upon our needs in particular locations.
MMC and certain of its subsidiaries own, directly and indirectly through special-purpose subsidiaries, a 55% condominium interest covering approximately 900,000 square feet in a 44-story building in New York City. MMCs owned interest is financed by a loan that is non-recourse to MMC (except in the event of certain prohibited actions) and secured by a first mortgage lien on the condominium interest and a first priority assignment of leases and rents. In the event of a default in the payment of the loan and certain credit rating downgrade events, MMC would be obligated to pay rent for the entire occupancy of the mortgaged property.
Information regarding legal proceedings is set forth in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements appearing under Part II, Item 8 (Financial Statements and Other Supplementary Data) of this report.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
None.
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Item 5. Market for MMCs Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
For information regarding dividends paid and the number of holders of MMCs common stock, see the table entitled Selected Quarterly Financial Data and Supplemental Information (Unaudited) below on the last page of Part II, Item 8 (Financial Statements and Other Supplementary Data) of this report.
MMCs common stock is listed on the New York, Chicago and London Stock Exchanges. The following table indicates the high and low prices (NYSE composite quotations) of MMCs common stock during 2007 and 2006 and each quarterly period thereof:
2007 Stock Price Range |
2006 Stock Price Range |
||||||||||
High | Low | High | Low | ||||||||
First Quarter |
$ | 31.75 | 28.30 | $ | 32.73 | 28.94 | |||||
Second Quarter |
$ | 33.90 | 29.06 | $ | 31.29 | 25.90 | |||||
Third Quarter |
$ | 31.60 | 24.02 | $ | 29.49 | 24.00 | |||||
Fourth Quarter |
$ | 27.00 | 23.12 | $ | 32.47 | 27.27 | |||||
Full Year |
$ | 33.90 | 23.12 | $ | 32.73 | 24.00 |
On February 26, 2008, the closing price of MMCs common stock on the NYSE was $26.38.
In 2007, MMC repurchased and placed into Treasury a total of 37,340,798 shares of its common stock. The table below sets forth information regarding MMCs repurchases of its common stock during the fourth quarter of 2007:
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 | |||||
Oct. 1-31, 2007 |
| | | $ | 700 million (1)(2) | ||||
Nov. 1-30, 2007 |
| | | $ | 700 million (1)(2) | ||||
Dec. 1-31, 2007 |
| | | $ | 700 million (1)(2) | ||||
Total 4Q 2007 |
| | | $ | 700 million (1)(2) |
(1) | MMCs Board of Directors announced a share repurchase authorization in August 2007, allowing up to $1.5 billion in repurchases. In August 2007, MMC entered into an $800 million accelerated share repurchase agreement with a financial institution counterparty under this authorization. Pursuant to the repurchase agreement, MMC took delivery of an initial tranche of 21,320,530 shares in August 2007. MMC expects to take delivery of a second and final tranche of approximately 10.7 million shares under the repurchase agreement in March 2008, for no additional payment. |
(2) | The $800 million accelerated share repurchase transaction described in note (1) was effected under the $1.5 billion share repurchase authorization announced in August 2007. Accordingly, MMC remains authorized to repurchase further shares of its common stock up to a dollar value of $700 million. There is no time limit on this authorization. |
21
Item 6. Selected Financial Data.
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
FIVE-YEAR STATISTICAL SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS
For the Years Ended December 31, (In millions, except per share figures) |
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | Compound Growth Rate 2002-2007 |
|||||||||||||||||
Revenue: |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Service Revenue |
$ | 11,187 | $ | 10,350 | $ | 9,902 | $ | 9,877 | $ | 9,156 | 7 | % | |||||||||||
Investment Income (Loss) |
163 | 197 | 180 | 149 | 97 | 8 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Total Revenue |
11,350 | 10,547 | 10,082 | 10,026 | 9,253 | 7 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Expenses: |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Compensation and Benefits |
7,030 | 6,515 | 6,327 | 6,073 | 5,094 | 10 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Other Operating Expenses |
3,301 | 2,877 | 3,135 | 2,853 | 2,226 | 12 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Regulatory and Other Settlements |
| | 30 | 618 | | ||||||||||||||||||
Total Expenses |
10,331 | 9,392 | 9,492 | 9,544 | 7,320 | 10 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Operating Income |
1,019 | (a) | 1,155 | (a) | 590 | (a) | 482 | 1,933 | (9 | )% | |||||||||||||
Interest Income |
95 | 60 | 44 | 20 | 23 | ||||||||||||||||||
Interest Expense |
(267 | ) | (303 | ) | (332 | ) | (219 | ) | (185 | ) | |||||||||||||
Income Before Income Taxes and Minority Interest |
847 | 912 | 302 | 283 | 1,771 | (11 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
Income Taxes |
295 | 272 | 95 | 100 | 555 | ||||||||||||||||||
Minority Interest, Net of Tax |
14 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||
Income From Continuing Operations |
538 | 632 | 201 | 175 | 1,208 | (12 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax |
1,937 | 358 | 203 | 1 | 332 | 39 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Net Income |
$ | 2,475 | $ | 990 | $ | 404 | $ | 176 | $ | 1,540 | 13 | % | |||||||||||
Basic Income Per Share Information: |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Income From Continuing Operations |
$ | 1.00 | $ | 1.15 | $ | 0.37 | $ | 0.33 | $ | 2.27 | (11 | )% | |||||||||||
Income From Discontinued Operations |
$ | 3.60 | $ | 0.65 | $ | 0.38 | $ | | $ | 0.62 | 40 | % | |||||||||||
Net Income |
$ | 4.60 | $ | 1.80 | $ | 0.75 | $ | 0.33 | $ | 2.89 | 13 | % | |||||||||||
Average Number of Shares Outstanding |
539 | 549 | 538 | 526 | 533 | ||||||||||||||||||
Diluted Income Per Share Information: |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Income From Continuing Operations |
$ | 0.99 | $ | 1.14 | $ | 0.37 | $ | 0.33 | $ | 2.21 | (11 | )% | |||||||||||
Income From Discontinued Operations |
$ | 3.54 | $ | 0.62 | $ | 0.37 | $ | | $ | 0.60 | 40 | % | |||||||||||
Net Income |
$ | 4.53 | $ | 1.76 | $ | 0.74 | $ | 0.33 | $ | 2.81 | 13 | % | |||||||||||
Average Number of Shares Outstanding |
546 | 557 | 543 | 535 | 548 | ||||||||||||||||||
Dividends Paid Per Share |
$ | 0.76 | $ | 0.68 | $ | 0.68 | $ | 1.30 | $ | 1.18 | (7 | )% | |||||||||||
Return on Average Stockholders Equity |
36 | % | 18 | % | 8 | % | 3 | % | 29 | % | |||||||||||||
Year-end Financial Position: |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Working capital |
$ | 1,961 | $ | 1,058 | $ | 1,390 | $ | (258 | ) | $ | 920 | ||||||||||||
Total assets |
$ | 17,359 | $ | 18,137 | $ | 17,892 | $ | 18,498 | $ | 15,053 | |||||||||||||
Long-term debt |
$ | 3,604 | $ | 3,860 | $ | 5,044 | $ | 4,691 | $ | 2,910 | |||||||||||||
Stockholders equity |
$ | 7,822 | $ | 5,819 | $ | 5,360 | $ | 5,056 | $ | 5,451 | |||||||||||||
Total shares outstanding (net of treasury shares) |
520 | 552 | 546 | 527 | 527 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other Information: |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of employees |
56,100 | 52,600 | 51,900 | 59,300 | 55,200 | ||||||||||||||||||
Stock price ranges |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. exchanges High |
$ | 33.90 | $ | 32.73 | $ | 34.25 | $ | 49.69 | $ | 54.97 | |||||||||||||
Low |
$ | 23.12 | $ | 24.00 | $ | 26.67 | $ | 22.75 | $ | 38.27 |
(a) |
Includes net restructuring costs of $98 million, $87 million and $317 million in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. |
See Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, appearing under Part II, Item 7 of this report, for discussion of significant items affecting our results of operations in 2007, 2006 and 2005.
22
Item 7. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
General
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. and Subsidiaries (MMC) is a global professional services firm providing advice and solutions in the areas of risk, strategy, and human capital. MMCs subsidiaries include Marsh, which provides risk and insurance services; Guy Carpenter, which provides reinsurance services; Kroll, which provides risk consulting and technology services; Mercer, which provides human resource and related financial advice and services; and the Oliver Wyman Group, which provides management consulting and other services. MMCs approximately 56,000 employees worldwide provide analysis, advice and transactional capabilities to clients in over 100 countries.
MMCs business segments are based on the services provided. Risk and Insurance Services includes risk management and insurance and reinsurance broking and services, provided primarily by Marsh and Guy Carpenter. This segment also includes Risk Capital Holdings, which owns investments in private equity funds and insurance and financial services firms. Consulting, which comprises the activities of Mercer and Oliver Wyman Group, includes human resource consulting and related services, and specialized management and economic and brand consulting services. Risk Consulting & Technology, conducted through Kroll, includes risk consulting and related investigative, intelligence, financial, security and technology services.
We describe the primary sources of revenue and categories of expense for each segment below, in our discussion of segment financial results. Management evaluates performance based on segment operating income, which reflects expenses directly related to segment operations, but not MMC corporate-level expenses. A reconciliation of segment operating income to total operating income is included in Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this report. The accounting policies used for each segment are the same as those used for the consolidated financial statements.
This 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.
Significant Developments
MMCs financial results and financial position reflect, among other items:
n | the disposal of Putnam on August 3, 2007. MMCs cash proceeds following the payment of taxes approached $2.5 billion. An after-tax gain of $1.9 billion on the sale of Putnam along with its 2007 and comparative results of operations are included in discontinued operations; |
n | the execution of two accelerated share repurchase transactions totaling $1.3 billion. The first transaction, for $500 million, was initiated in May 2007 and completed in July 2007 with MMC receiving a total of 16.02 million shares. The second transaction, for $800 million, was initiated in August 2007. MMC received an initial delivery of 21.32 million shares in August 2007, which were reflected as a reduction in shares outstanding upon receipt. MMC expects to receive an additional 10.7 million shares when the repurchase period for this transaction concludes in March 2008; |
n | restructuring charges and savings related to a number of restructuring initiatives; |
n | the continued decline in market service revenues in the risk and insurance services segment for business placed prior to October 1, 2004. Market services revenue declined to $3 million in 2007 as compared with $43 million and $114 million in 2006 and 2005, respectively; and |
n | compensation charges resulting from the departure of MMCs former CEO and Marshs former CEO. |
23
Consolidated Results of Operations
For the Years Ended December 31, (In millions, except per share figures) |
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||
Revenue: |
|||||||||
Service revenue |
$ | 11,187 | $ | 10,350 | $ | 9,902 | |||
Investment income (loss) |
163 | 197 | 180 | ||||||
Operating revenue |
11,350 | 10,547 | 10,082 | ||||||
Expense: |
|||||||||
Compensation and benefits |
7,030 | 6,515 | 6,327 | ||||||
Other operating expenses |
3,301 | 2,877 | 3,165 | ||||||
Operating expenses |
10,331 | 9,392 | 9,492 | ||||||
Operating income |
$ | 1,019 | $ | 1,155 | $ | 590 | |||
Income from Continuing Operations |
$ | 538 | $ | 632 | $ | 201 | |||
Discontinued Operations, net of tax |
1,937 | 358 | 203 | ||||||
Net income |
$ | 2,475 | $ | 990 | $ | 404 | |||
Income from Continuing Operations Per Share: |
|||||||||
Basic |
$ | 1.00 | $ | 1.15 | $ | 0.37 | |||
Diluted |
$ | 0.99 | $ | 1.14 | $ | 0.37 | |||
Net Income Per Share: |
|||||||||
Basic |
$ | 4.60 | $ | 1.80 | $ | 0.75 | |||
Diluted |
$ | 4.53 | $ | 1.76 | $ | 0.74 | |||
Average number of shares outstanding: |
|||||||||
Basic |
539 | 549 | 538 | ||||||
Diluted |
546 | 557 | 543 | ||||||
Shares outstanding at December 31, |
520 | 552 | 546 |
Consolidated operating income was $1 billion in 2007, a decrease of $136 million or 12% from the prior year.
An increase in consulting segment operating income of 30% to $606 million was more than offset by decreases in risk and insurance services and risk consulting and technology. In addition, corporate expenses increased $63 million over the prior year, primarily due to a credit of $74 million in the prior year related to the gain on disposal of five floors in MMCs New York headquarters building, and $14 million of incremental compensation costs in the current year related to the departure of MMCs former CEO.
Consolidated net income increased to $2.5 billion in 2007 compared with $1.0 billion in the prior year, resulting from a $1.9 billion gain on the disposal of Putnam recorded in discontinued operations. In 2006, the net gain from disposals of discontinued operations was $172 million, primarily related to SCMS.
24
Consolidated Revenues and Expenses
MMC conducts business in many countries, as a result of which the impact of foreign exchange rate movements may impact period-to-period comparisons of revenue. Similarly, the revenue impact of acquisitions and dispositions may impact period-to-period comparisons of revenue. Underlying revenue measures the change in revenue from one period to another by isolating these impacts. The impact of foreign currency exchange fluctuations, acquisitions and dispositions on MMCs operating revenues by segment is as follows:
Year Ended | Components of Revenue Change | |||||||||||||||||||
December 31, | % Change | Acquisitions/ | ||||||||||||||||||
(In millions, except percentage figures) | 2007 | 2006 | GAAP Revenue |
Currency Impact |
Dispositions Impact |
Underlying Revenue |
||||||||||||||
Risk and Insurance Services |
||||||||||||||||||||
Insurance Services |
$ | 4,500 | $ | 4,390 | 3 | % | 4 | % | | (1 | )% | |||||||||
Reinsurance Services |
902 | 880 | 2 | % | 1 | % | | 1 | % | |||||||||||
Risk Capital Holdings (a) |
163 | 193 | (16 | )% | | | (16 | )% | ||||||||||||
Total Risk and Insurance Services |
5,565 | 5,463 | 2 | % | 3 | % | | (1 | )% | |||||||||||
Consulting |
||||||||||||||||||||
Mercer |
3,368 | 3,021 | 11 | % | 4 | % | | 7 | % | |||||||||||
Oliver Wyman Group |
1,516 | 1,204 | 26 | % | 5 | % | 3 | % | 18 | % | ||||||||||
Total Consulting |
4,884 | 4,225 | 16 | % | 5 | % | 1 | % | 10 | % | ||||||||||
Risk Consulting & Technology |
995 | 979 | 2 | % | 2 | % | (1 | )% | 1 | % | ||||||||||
Total Operating Segments |
$ | 11,444 | $ | 10,667 | 7 | % | 4 | % | | 3 | % | |||||||||
Corporate/Eliminations |
(94 | ) | (120 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Total Revenue |
$ | 11,350 | $ | 10,547 | 8 | % | 4 | % | | 4 | % |
Year Ended | Components of Revenue Change | |||||||||||||||||||
December 31, | % Change | Acquisitions/ | ||||||||||||||||||
(In millions, except percentage figures) | 2006 | 2005 | GAAP |
Currency Impact |
Dispositions Impact |
Underlying Revenue |
||||||||||||||
Risk and Insurance Services |
||||||||||||||||||||
Insurance Services |
$ | 4,390 | $ | 4,567 | (4 | )% | | (2 | )% | (2 | )% | |||||||||
Reinsurance Services |
880 | 836 | 5 | % | | | 5 | % | ||||||||||||
Risk Capital Holdings (a) |
193 | 189 | 2 | % | | (5 | )% | 7 | % | |||||||||||
Total Risk and Insurance Services |
5,463 | 5,592 | (2 | )% | | (2 | )% | | ||||||||||||
Consulting |
||||||||||||||||||||
Mercer |
3,021 | 2,794 | 8 | % | 1 | % | | 7 | % | |||||||||||
Oliver Wyman Group |
1,204 | 1,008 | 19 | % | 1 | % | 2 | % | 16 | % | ||||||||||
Total Consulting |
4,225 | 3,802 | 11 | % | 1 | % | 1 | % | 9 | % | ||||||||||
Risk Consulting & Technology |
979 | 872 | 12 | % | | 3 | % | 9 | % | |||||||||||
Total Operating Segments |
$ | 10,667 | $ | 10,266 | 4 | % | | | 4 | % | ||||||||||
Corporate/Eliminations |
(120 | ) | (184 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Total Revenue |
$ | 10,547 | $ | 10,082 | 5 | % | | | 5 | % |
(a) |
Risk Capital Holdings owns MMCs investments in private equity funds, insurance and financial services firms. |
Revenue
Consolidated revenue for 2007 increased 8% to $11.4 billion compared with 2006, reflecting a 4% increase in underlying revenue and a 4% positive impact of foreign currency translation.
Revenue in the risk and insurance services segment increased 2% compared with 2006. Underlying revenue decreased 1% for the total risk and insurance services segment, reflecting a 1% increase in Reinsurance Services, a 1% decrease in Insurance Services partially reflecting a $40 million decrease
25
in market service revenue, and a 16% decrease in Risk Capital Holdings. Consulting revenue increased 16%, resulting from an 11% increase in Mercers businesses and 26% growth in the Oliver Wyman Group businesses. On an underlying basis, revenue increased 7% in Mercer, 18% in Oliver Wyman Group and 10% for the consulting segment in total. Revenue increased 2% in risk consulting & technology, 1% on an underlying basis.
In 2006, risk and insurance services revenue decreased 2% compared with 2005 and was flat on an underlying basis. A 5% increase in underlying revenue in reinsurance services was offset by a 2% decrease in insurance services, partly resulting from a $71 million decline in market service revenue. Risk consulting & technology revenue increased 12% due to growth in Krolls corporate advisory and restructuring, technology services and security businesses. Consulting revenue increased 11%, resulting from a 19% increase in the Oliver Wyman Group businesses and an 8% increase at Mercer.
Operating Expenses
Consolidated operating expenses in 2007 increased 10% compared with 2006. Operating expenses increased 5% on an underlying basis in 2007 compared with 2006. The increase in underlying expenses is due to higher compensation and benefit costs driven by consulting due to increased volume across all operating companies, increased advertising, primarily in insurance services, and favorable professional liability experience in 2006.
Consolidated operating expenses in 2006 decreased 1% from 2005. The decrease in operating expenses reflects cost savings from restructuring activities; a decrease in net restructuring and related charges; lower settlement, legal and regulatory costs related to proceedings involving MMC and certain of its subsidiaries; and lower costs related to employee retention awards, partly offset by higher compensation costs, primarily in the consulting segment due to increased headcount and higher incentive compensation. Expenses in 2006 also reflect lower costs related to professional liability claims. These decreases in 2006 were partly offset by higher expenses related to stock options. Due to the adoption of SFAS 123(R) on July 1, 2005, expenses related to stock options were recorded for only six months in 2005 while 2006 includes stock option expense for the full year. In 2006, the costs related to stock options are included in segment results. In 2005, the costs related to stock options are included in Corporate.
Restructuring and Related Activities
MMC initiated restructuring activities in the first quarter of 2005 (the 2005 Plan) and the third quarter of 2006. In 2007 we incurred net restructuring costs of $98 million and related charges of $21 million, primarily accelerated amortization, from actions taken under these restructuring plans. The costs and annualized savings relating to the plans are discussed below.
2005 Plan
MMCs actions under the 2005 Plan are complete. MMC is currently realizing annualized savings of approximately $400 million attributable to the 2005 Plan relating primarily to the risk and insurance services segment. In early 2006, MMC began implementing its plan to eliminate excess space in its corporate headquarters building in mid-town New York. Costs related to its headquarters building incurred through June 30, 2006 (approximately $40 million) and savings generated from those actions (approximately $10 million) were recognized as part of the 2005 Plan.
2006 Cost-Savings Initiative
In September 2006, MMC announced a cost-savings initiative related to firm-wide infrastructure, organization structure and operating company business processes. The first phase of this initiative began in September 2006.
As previously reported, MMCs actions under the first phase are substantially complete, except for certain actions related to MMCs headquarters building. From inception through December 31, 2007, MMC incurred total costs of $56 million related to the first phase, consisting of $20 million of
26
restructuring charges ($10 million of which were incurred in 2007) and related charges totaling $36 million ($21 million of which were incurred in 2007, primarily related to accelerated amortization of leasehold improvements). The restructuring charges are net of a $74 million gain on the sale of 5 floors of MMCs New York headquarters building recorded in the fourth quarter of 2006. The actions completed under this first phase of the 2006 cost-savings initiatives have resulted in annualized savings of approximately $135 million.
Separate from the 2006 cost-savings initiative, Marsh identified actions that resulted in the elimination of approximately 170 employee positions through staff reductions and attrition. These actions have resulted in annualized savings of approximately $40 million. Through December 31, 2007 these actions by Marsh have resulted in charges of $53 million; $39 million of these charges were recorded in 2007.
In the fourth quarter of 2007, Marsh took additional actions that resulted in the elimination of 84 positions and annualized savings of $12 million. These actions resulted in charges of $16 million for severance and related benefits.
Putnam Transaction
On August 3, 2007, Great-West Lifeco Inc. completed its purchase of Putnam Investments Trust for $3.9 billion in cash. The purchase includes Putnams interest in the T.H. Lee private equity business. After the payment of taxes in December 2007, the cash proceeds to MMC after minority interest approached $2.5 billion. The transaction resulted in a pre-tax gain of $3.0 billion ($1.9 billion after tax), which is included in discontinued operations. Putnams results of operations through August 2, 2007 and results for prior years are included in discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. Putnams assets and liabilities are reported as discontinued operations in the accompanying balance sheet at December 31, 2006.
Other Businesses Exited
During 2006, MMC completed the sale of several businesses: SCMS in January 2006; Price Forbes in September 2006; and KSI in December 2006. The gain or loss on disposal of these businesses, including any charges to reduce the carrying value to fair value less cost to sell, are included in discontinued operations in 2006.
The operating results of each of the businesses, through the date of sale or disposal, are included in discontinued operations in 2005 except for the 2005 results of Price Forbes, which were insignificant to MMCs results for that year.
In 2005, Marsh completed the sale of Crump Group Inc. The gain on disposal of Crump, as well as its results of operations through the date of disposal, are included in discontinued operations in 2005.
Risk and Insurance Services
In the Risk and Insurance Services segment, MMCs subsidiaries and other affiliated entities act as brokers, agents or consultants for insureds, insurance underwriters and other brokers in the areas of risk management, insurance broking and insurance program management services, primarily under the name of Marsh; and engage in reinsurance broking, catastrophe and financial modeling services and related advisory functions, primarily under the name of Guy Carpenter. Risk Capital Holdings owns investments in private equity funds and insurance and financial firms.
Marsh and Guy Carpenter are compensated for brokerage and consulting services primarily through fees paid by clients and/or commissions paid out of premiums charged by insurance and reinsurance companies. Commission rates vary in amount depending upon the type of insurance or reinsurance coverage provided, the particular insurer or reinsurer, the capacity in which the broker acts and negotiations with clients. Revenues are affected by premium rate levels in the insurance/reinsurance markets, the amount of risk retained by insurance and reinsurance clients themselves and by the value of the risks that have been insured since commission based compensation is frequently related to the premiums paid by insureds/reinsureds. In many cases, compensation may be negotiated in advance, based on the types and amounts of risks to be analyzed by MMC and ultimately placed into the
27
insurance market or retained by the client. The trends and comparisons of revenue from one period to the next will therefore be affected by changes in premium rate levels, fluctuations in client risk retention, and increases or decreases in the value of risks that have been insured, as well as new and lost business, and the volume of business from new and existing clients.
Effective October 1, 2004, Marsh eliminated contingent compensation, or market services agreements with insurers, under which it had received revenues based upon such factors as the overall volume, growth and, in some cases, profitability, of the total business placed by Marsh with a given insurer.
Marsh and Guy Carpenter receive interest income on certain funds (such as premiums and claims proceeds) held in a fiduciary capacity for others. The investment of fiduciary funds is regulated by state and other insurance authorities. These regulations typically provide for segregation of fiduciary funds and limit the types of investments that may be made with them. Interest income from these investments varies depending on the amount of funds invested and applicable interest rates, both of which vary from time to time.
Following the sale of MMC Capitals business in May 2005, we no longer receive fees in connection with the private equity investments previously managed by MMC Capital, nor do we receive management fees or origination fees related to this business, except that MMC retained the right to receive certain performance fees relating to the Trident II private equity partnership. We continue to receive dividends and to recognize capital appreciation or depreciation on the investments held by Risk Capital Holdings, as well as revenue on Risk Capital Holdings sales of investments from time to time. Based on recent security market levels, revenue for Risk Capital Holdings is expected to continue to be volatile on a quarter-to-quarter basis and substantially lower in 2008 as compared to 2007.
The results of operations for the risk and insurance services segment are presented below:
(In millions of dollars) | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||||
Service Revenue |
$ | 5,402 | $ | 5,267 | $ | 5,412 | ||||||
Investment Income (loss) |
163 | 196 | 180 | |||||||||
Revenue |
5,565 | 5,463 | 5,592 | |||||||||
Compensation and Benefits |
3,353 | 3,238 | 3,399 | |||||||||
Other Operating Expenses |
1,705 | 1,548 | 1,888 | |||||||||
Expense |
5,058 | 4,786 | 5,287 | |||||||||
Operating Income |
$ | 507 | $ | 677 | $ | 305 | ||||||
Operating Margin |
9.1 | % | 12.4 | % | 5.5 | % |
Revenue
Revenue in risk and insurance services increased 2% in 2007 compared with 2006, reflecting the positive impact of foreign currency exchange fluctuations, partly offset by a 1% decrease in underlying revenue.
In insurance services, revenue increased 3% from last year, reflecting a 4% positive impact of currency translation and a 1% decrease in underlying revenue. For the full year, Marshs new business production increased 5% on an underlying basis in 2007 compared with 2006. Premium rate declines in the commercial insurance marketplace continued to accelerate during the year. On a geographic basis, Marsh revenue included $2.4 billion in the Americas, $1.7 billion in EMEA and $388 million in Asia Pacific, compared with $2.4 billion, $1.6 billion and $348 million in the respective geographies in 2006.
Reinsurance services revenue increased 2% in 2007 compared to 2006 and 1% on an underlying basis. These results were achieved despite a significant decline in U.S. property catastrophe rates as well as higher risk retentions by clients.
Risk Capital Holdings revenue was $163 million in 2007 compared with $193 million in 2006. Risk Capital Holdings revenue in 2007 relates primarily to mark-to-market gains on private equity fund investments and gains from the sales of investments. Revenue from Risk Capital Holdings is expected
28
to continue to be volatile on a quarter-to-quarter basis and substantially lower in 2008 as compared to 2007.
Effective January 1, 2007, Marsh managed certain businesses (formerly part of Risk Consulting & Technology) which had revenue of $16 million in 2007. Revenue from these businesses was $25 million in 2006, and is reflected as part of Risk Consulting & Technology.
Revenue in risk and insurance services decreased 2% in 2006 compared with 2005 and was flat on an underlying basis. Higher revenue in reinsurance services and Risk Capital Holdings was offset by a decrease in insurance services.
In December 2006, MMC, through its subsidiary Risk Capital Holdings, contributed its limited partnership interest in Trident III, valued at $182 million, to MMCs U.K. pension fund. The transaction was recorded at the estimated fair value of MMCs investment on the date of the contribution. Risk Capital Holdings revenue in 2006 included $38 million of mark-to-market gains for Trident III recognized through the date of the contribution.
Expense
Expenses in the risk and insurance services segment increased 6% in 2007 over the prior year. The increase in expenses reflects higher salary costs due to increased headcount during the second half of the year; the impact of foreign currency exchange fluctuations; costs associated with Marshs advertising campaign initiated in the Spring of 2007; incremental expenses related to the departure of Marshs former CEO; and the effect of favorable professional liability experience in 2006. These increases were partly offset by lower restructuring and related costs versus 2006 and reduced incentive compensation accruals.
In 2006, expenses in the risk and insurance services segment decreased 9% over the prior year. The decrease reflects cost savings from restructuring; a decrease in restructuring charges from $257 million in 2005 to $100 million in 2006; a decrease of $45 million in settlement, legal and regulatory costs related to market services agreements and associated shareholder and policyholder litigation; and a decrease of $78 million related to employee retention awards. In addition, 2006 expenses reflect lower incentive compensation costs and lower costs related to professional liability claims. Partly offsetting these decreases were costs of $47 million in 2006 related to employee stock options which were not charged to the segment in 2005.
Consulting
MMC conducts business in its Consulting segment through two main business groups. Mercer includes practice groups specializing in retirement and investments, outsourcing, health and benefits and talent. The Oliver Wyman Group provides specialized management and economic and brand consulting services.
The major component of Consultings revenue, in both Mercer and the Oliver Wyman Group, is fees paid by clients for advice and services. Mercer, principally through its health & benefits line of business, also earns revenue in the form of commissions received from insurance companies for the placement of group (and occasionally individual) insurance contracts, primarily life, health and accident coverages. Revenue for Mercers discretionary investment management business and certain of Mercers outsourcing business defined contribution administration services consists principally of fees based on assets under administration.
Revenue in the consulting segment is affected by, among other things, global economic conditions, including changes in clients particular industries and markets. Revenue is also subject to competition due to the introduction of new products and services, broad trends in employee demographics, the effect of government policies and regulations, and fluctuations in interest and foreign exchange rates. Revenues from the provision of discretionary investment management services and retirement trust and administrative services are significantly affected by securities market performance.
29
The results of operations for the consulting segment are presented below:
(In millions of dollars) | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||||
Service Revenue |
$ | 4,884 | $ | 4,224 | $ | 3,802 | ||||||
Investment Income |
| 1 | | |||||||||
Revenue |
4,884 | 4,225 | 3,802 | |||||||||
Compensation and Benefits |
2,951 | 2,647 | 2,330 | |||||||||
Other Operating Expenses |
1,327 | 1,112 | 1,021 | |||||||||
Expense |
4,278 | 3,759 | 3,351 | |||||||||
Operating Income |
$ | 606 | $ | 466 | $ | 451 | ||||||
Operating Margin |
12.4 | % | 11.0 | % | 11.9 | % |
Revenue
Consulting revenue in 2007 increased 16% compared with 2006 comprising 11% growth at Mercer and 26% growth at Oliver Wyman Group. Revenue for the segment increased 10% on an underlying basis. Within Mercer, the revenue increase of 11%, reflects growth in retirement and investment of 13%, health and benefits of 6%, outsourcing of 15% and talent of 10%. Mercer grew 7% on an underlying basis. The Oliver Wyman Group grew 26%, or 18% on an underlying basis, compared with the same period last year. Management, economic and brand consulting all produced double digit growth.
Consulting revenue in 2006 increased 11% compared with 2005. Revenue for Mercer increased 8%, or 7% on an underlying basis driven by strong growth in retirement and investments, and talent. Oliver Wyman Group revenues grew 19%, 16% on an underlying basis. Each of the Oliver Wyman Group practices contributed to this performance, led by management consulting which increased underlying revenues 18%.
Expense
Consulting expenses increased 14% in 2007 compared with 2006, reflecting higher compensation costs due to an increased volume of business, higher incentive compensation commensurate with improved operating performance and the impact of foreign currency translation.
Consulting expenses increased 12% in 2006 compared with 2005. The expense increase reflects restructuring charges of $27 million, the impact of acquisitions and higher compensation costs due in part to increased staff levels. In addition, expenses in 2006 include costs of $41 million related to employee stock options which were not charged to the segment in 2005.
Risk Consulting & Technology
MMCs Risk Consulting & Technology segment primarily consists of Kroll and its subsidiaries. Kroll services fall into two major product lines: consulting services, which includes risk consulting, corporate advisory & restructuring and security; and technology enabled solutions.
Kroll receives compensation primarily in the form of fees paid by clients. These fees are typically earned on an hourly, project, fixed fee or per-unit basis. Krolls revenue is subject to changes in international economic and regulatory conditions. Some of Krolls revenue sources are counter-cyclical to the performance of the economy in general. These sources may include, for example, fees from restructuring, turnaround and forensic engagements relating to commercial bankruptcies and bond defaults. Kroll is also subject to normal competitive forces such as pricing pressures, demand for professional staff and new product development on the part of competitors, particularly in technology services.
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The results of operations for the risk consulting & technology segment are presented below:
(In millions of dollars) | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||||
Revenue |
$ | 995 | $ | 979 | $ | 872 | ||||||
Compensation and Benefits |
506 | 466 | 406 | |||||||||
Other Operating Expenses |
383 | 364 | 345 | |||||||||
Expense |
889 | 830 | 751 | |||||||||
Operating Income |
$ | 106 | $ | 149 | $ | 121 | ||||||
Operating Margin |
10.7 | % | 15.2 | % | 13.9 | % |
Revenue
Risk consulting and technology revenues increased 2% compared with 2006, and 1% on an underlying basis. Revenue in Krolls technology operations rose 13% to $569 million, led by the Kroll Ontrack legal technology unit and Krolls background screening business. Revenues in Krolls consulting business decreased 10% to $426 million. The decline in Krolls consulting revenue reflects continued weak demand for Krolls corporate restructuring services, including lower client success fees for completed engagements compared with 2006.
Risk consulting & technology revenues increased 12% in 2006 compared with 2005, and 9% on an underlying basis. The technology services group, Krolls largest business unit, increased revenues by 12%.
Effective January 1, 2007, Kroll transferred to Marsh certain businesses which had revenue of $25 million in 2006. Revenue for the risk consulting and technology segment in 2006 has not been restated for this transfer.
In the fourth quarter of 2006, Kroll completed the sale of KSI, an international security operation that provided high-risk asset and personal protection services. The financial results of KSI are included in discontinued operations and are not included in the segments results for any year presented.
Expense
Risk consulting and technology expenses in 2007 increased 7% compared with 2006 partially due to the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations. The increase reflects higher compensation related to the increased volume of business for Krolls Ontrack and background screening operations, as well as higher compensation in the corporate advisory and restructuring business to retain key professional staff in anticipation of future increased activity. Also, expenses in 2006 included a credit related to the early termination of a licensing agreement.
Risk consulting & technology expenses increased 11% in 2006 compared with 2005. Approximately half of the increase results from acquisitions and the impact of foreign currency fluctuation. The remaining increase reflects higher compensation in the corporate advisory and restructuring and the background screening businesses, as well as increased costs for outside services in the background screening business due to a higher volume of business. The increases discussed above are partly offset by a credit in 2006 related to the early termination of a licensing agreement.
Discontinued Operations
Results of discontinued operations includes the gain on the sale of Putnam as well as Putnams operating income through August 2, 2007 and the operating income from Putnam, SCMS, KSI and Price Forbes for 2006 and 2005. The gain on the disposal of Crump and Crumps operating income are included in discontinued operations in 2005. In addition, discontinued operations in 2006 also includes the gain on disposal of SCMS and a charge to reduce the carrying value of Price Forbes assets to fair value.
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The following depicts the results of discontinued operations including revenue and expense detail for Putnam:
(In millions of dollars) | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||
Putnam: |
||||||||||
Revenue |
$ | 798 | $ | 1,385 | $ | 1,506 | ||||
Expense |
636 | 1,082 | 1,243 | |||||||
Operating Income |
162 | 303 | 263 | |||||||
Minority interest and other discontinued operations |
(2 | ) | 1 | 43 | ||||||
Provision for income tax |
71 | 118 | 117 | |||||||
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax |
89 | 186 | 189 | |||||||
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations |
2,965 | 298 | 55 | |||||||
Provision for income tax |
1,117 | 126 | 41 | |||||||
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of tax |
1,848 | 172 | 14 | |||||||
Discontinued operations, net of tax |
$ | 1,937 | $ | 358 | $ | 203 |
MMCs gain on the Putnam transaction increased diluted earnings per share $3.38 for the year ended December 31, 2007. In 2006, discontinued operations included an after-tax net gain of $179 million related to the gain on disposal of SCMS and charges related to Price Forbes and KSI, which increased diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2007 by approximately $0.32.
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Corporate Items
Corporate Expenses
Corporate expenses were $200 million in 2007, compared to $137 million in 2006. These costs include $42 million for restructuring and related charges in 2007, compared with a credit of $31 million of such items in 2006 that included a $74 million gain on the sale of five floors in MMCs headquarters building. In 2007, corporate expenses included incremental costs of $14 million related to the departure of MMCs former CEO that were offset by a credit from an accrual adjustment related to the separation of former MMC senior executives.
Corporate expenses of $137 million in 2006 were $150 million lower than in 2005. The decrease is primarily due to the impact of stock option expense, which was recorded as a corporate charge in 2005 and was charged to the business segments in 2006, and lower net restructuring charges, largely resulting from a gain on the disposal of five floors in MMCs headquarters building, partly offset by higher professional services fees.
Interest
Interest income earned on corporate funds amounted to $95 million in 2007, an increase of $35 million from 2006. The increase in interest income reflects generally higher average interest rates in 2007 compared with 2006, and higher invested balances during the second half of the year resulting from the receipt of proceeds from the Putnam transaction. Interest expense of $267 million in 2007 decreased from $303 million from 2006. The decrease in interest expense is primarily due to a decrease in the average level of debt compared to the prior year.
Interest income earned on corporate funds amounted to $60 million in 2006, an increase of $16 million from 2005. The increase in interest income reflected the combination of higher average corporate cash balances and generally higher average interest rates in 2006 compared with the prior year. Interest expense of $303 million in 2006 decreased from $332 million in 2005. The decrease in interest expense is primarily due to $34 million recorded in the third quarter of 2005 for the prepayment charge incurred in connection with the refinancing of the mortgage on MMCs headquarters building in New York.
Income Taxes
MMCs consolidated effective tax rate was 34.9% in 2007 compared to 29.8% in 2006. The change primarily reflects the unfavorable impact of international tax law changes in 2007 and the release of valuation allowances on certain deferred tax assets in 2006.
MMCs consolidated effective tax rate was 29.8% in 2006 compared to 31.4% in 2005. The change primarily reflects the release of valuation allowances on certain deferred tax assets, partly offset by a change in the geographic mix of MMCs earnings and an adjustment of the 2005 tax provision estimates to the tax return amount.
The effective tax rate is sensitive to the geographic mix of MMCs earnings, which may have a favorable or unfavorable impact on the rate. Furthermore, losses in certain jurisdictions cannot be offset by earnings from other operations, and may result in the need for valuation allowances against deferred taxes which would affect the rate.
MMC adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (FIN 48), which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income tax positions. Uncertain tax positions are evaluated based upon the facts and circumstances that exist at each reporting period. Subsequent changes in judgment resulting from new information may lead to changes in recognition, derecognition, and measurement. Adjustments may result, for example, upon resolution of an issue with the taxing authorities, or expiration of a statute of limitations barring an assessment for an issue. Such adjustments could have a material impact on MMCs effective tax rate, net income, and cash flows in a particular future period.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
MMCs routine liquidity needs are primarily for current operating expenses, capital expenditures, servicing debt, pension obligations, paying dividends on outstanding stock and funding acquisitions. As a holding company, our primary source for meeting these requirements is cash flows from our operating subsidiaries. Other sources of liquidity include borrowing facilities discussed below in Financing Cash Flows.
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 sheet 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 MMC.
Operating Cash Flows
MMC used $231 million of cash for operations in 2007 compared with generating $878 million in 2006. These amounts reflect the net income earned by MMC during those periods, excluding gains or losses from the disposition of businesses and the gain on the sale of five floors from the MMC headquarters building; adjusted for non-cash charges and changes in working capital which relate, primarily, to the timing of payments for accrued liabilities or receipts of assets. Payment of accrued liabilities in 2007 includes approximately $170 million for regulatory settlements and tax payments of $933 million related to the disposition of businesses, primarily Putnam. Comparable items in 2006 include payments of approximately $270 million for regulatory settlements and tax payments of $136 million related to the disposition of businesses. Although the cash proceeds from the Putnam transaction are included in investing cash flows, SFAS 95 specifies that the related payment of taxes be included in operating cash flows and not allocated to other cash flow categories.
MMC has funding requirements for its U.S. non-qualified and non-U.S. pension plans in 2008 of approximately $20 million and $255 million, respectively. MMCs policy for funding its tax qualified defined benefit retirement plans is to contribute amounts at least sufficient to meet the funding requirements set forth in U.S. and applicable foreign law. There currently is no ERISA funding requirement for the U.S. qualified plan in 2007 or in 2008. Funding requirements for non-U.S. plans vary by country. Contribution rates are determined by the local actuaries based on local funding practices and requirements. Funding amounts may be influenced by future asset performance, the level of discount rates and other variables impacting the assets and/or liabilities of the plan. In addition, amounts funded in the future, to the extent not due under regulatory requirements, may be affected by alternative uses of MMCs cash flows, including dividends, investments, and share repurchases.
During 2007, MMC contributed approximately $20 million to the U.S. pension plans and $189 million to the significant non-U.S. pension plans, compared with $20 million for U.S. plans and $319 million for significant non-U.S. plans in 2006. The contribution to the non-U.S. plans in 2006 includes a non-cash contribution of MMCs investment in Trident III, a private equity limited partnership. The contribution was recorded based on the estimated fair value on the date of the contribution of $182 million.
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS 158. SFAS 158 requires that MMC recognize on a prospective basis the funded status of its overfunded defined benefit pension and retiree medical plans (the Plans) as a net benefit plan asset and its unfunded and underfunded Plans as a net benefit plan liability. The offsetting adjustment to the amount of assets and liabilities required to be recognized is recorded in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, net of tax, in MMCs 2006 year-end balance sheet. Subsequent changes in the funded status will be recognized through the income statement and other comprehensive income in the year in which they occur as appropriate. MMC adopted the provisions of SFAS 158, prospectively, on December 31, 2006. The impact of adopting SFAS 158 resulted in a reduction in assets of $660 million and an increase in liabilities of $245 million, including a related adjustment to tax benefits of $423 million. The net impact of adopting SFAS 158 was a reduction of MMCs stockholders equity of $905 million in 2006 (or $804 million including an adjustment for the impact of recording a reduction to the minimum pension liability prior to the adoption of SFAS 158). In 2007, the improved funded status of the Plans resulted in a net increase to equity of $708 million. The change in funded status of the Plans is impacted by numerous items, including actual
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results compared with prior estimates and assumptions, contributions to the Plans, and changes in assumptions to reflect information available at the respective measurement dates. In 2007, the funded status of MMCs Plans was significantly impacted by an increase in the discount rates used in the measurement of the pension liabilities at December 31, 2007, reflecting a general widening of credit spreads on high quality corporate debt obligations and by contributions and asset returns.
Financing Cash Flows
Net cash used for financing activities was $2.6 billion in 2007 compared with $759 million of net cash used for financing activities in 2006. During 2007, MMC repurchased $1.3 billion of its common stock and reduced outstanding debt by approximately $1.1 billion. These actions are discussed more fully below.
Share Repurchases
In August 2007, MMC entered into an $800 million accelerated share repurchase agreement with a financial institution counterparty. Under the terms of the agreement, MMC paid the full $800 million purchase price and took delivery from the counterparty of an initial tranche of 21,320,530 shares of MMC common stock, which were reflected as an increase in Treasury shares (a decrease in shares outstanding) on the delivery date. This number of shares was the quotient of the $800 million purchase price divided by a contractual cap price of $37.5225 per share. Based on the final average share price during the settlement period less a discount, it is expected that approximately 10.7 million additional shares will be delivered to MMC in March 2008. This transaction was effected under a $1.5 billion share repurchase authorization granted by MMCs Board of Directors in August 2007. MMC remains authorized to repurchase additional shares of its common stock up to a value of $700 million. There is no time limit on this authorization.
In May 2007, MMC entered into a $500 million accelerated share repurchase agreement with a financial institution counterparty. Under the terms of the agreement, MMC paid the full $500 million purchase price and took delivery from the counterparty of an initial tranche of 13,464,749 shares of MMC common stock. Based on the market price of MMCs common stock over the subsequent settlement period, in July 2007 the counterparty delivered to MMC an additional 2,555,519 shares for no additional payment and the transaction was concluded. MMC thus repurchased a total of 16,020,268 shares in the transaction, for a total cost of $500 million and an average price per share to MMC of $31.2105. The repurchased shares were reflected as an increase in Treasury shares (a decrease in shares outstanding) on the respective delivery dates. This transaction was effected under a $500 million share repurchase authorization granted by MMCs Board of Directors in May 2007.
MMC made no share repurchases in 2006.
Debt Repayment
During 2007, MMC utilized commercial paper and bank borrowings, as well as cash on hand, to manage liquidity, including the funding of maturing bonds and the repurchase of shares. In the first quarter of 2007, MMCs 5.375%, five-year $500 million senior notes matured. MMCs three-year floating rate $500 million senior notes matured in the third quarter of 2007. MMC used a portion of its proceeds from the Putnam transaction to pay down outstanding commercial paper and revolving credit facility borrowings. At December 31, 2007, no commercial paper or revolving credit facility borrowings were outstanding.
MMC and certain of its foreign subsidiaries maintain a $1.2 billion multi-currency revolving credit facility. Subsidiary borrowings under the facility are unconditionally guaranteed by MMC. The facility will expire in December 2010. There were no borrowings outstanding under this facility at December 31, 2007.
MMCs senior debt is currently rated Baa2 by Moodys and BBB- by Standard & Poors. MMCs short-term debt is currently rated P-2 by Moodys and A-3 by Standard & Poors. MMC carries a stable outlook from both Moodys and Standard & Poors. In December 2007, Standard & Poors lowered its rating on MMCs long-term debt from BBB to BBB- and lowered the rating on MMCs short-term debt from A-2 to A-3.
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MMC also maintains other credit facilities, guarantees and letters of credit with various banks, primarily related to operations located outside the United States, aggregating $265 million at December 31, 2007 and $269 million at December 31, 2006. There were no outstanding borrowings under these facilities at December 31, 2007.
Dividends
MMC paid total dividends of $413 million in 2007 ($0.76 per share) and $374 million ($0.68 per share) in 2006.
In January 2008, the board of directors approved an increase to MMCs quarterly cash dividend to 20 cents per share from 19 cents paid previously.
Investing Cash Flows
Net cash provided by investing activities amounted to $2.8 billion in 2007 primarily due to the Putnam transaction. This compares with $136 million of net cash used for investing activities in 2006. Cash generated by the sale of SCMS totaled $326 million in 2006. Cash used for acquisitions totaled $206 million in 2007 compared with $221 million in 2006. Remaining deferred cash payments of approximately $32 million related to acquisitions completed in 2007 and prior years are recorded in Accounts payable and accrued liabilities or in Other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2007. Cash provided by the sale of securities of $78 million in 2007 was partly offset by cash used to purchase investments of $44 million. In 2006, cash used to purchase investments of $193 million was partly offset by the sale of securities of $118 million in 2007.
MMCs additions to fixed assets and capitalized software, which amounted to $378 million in 2007 and $307 million in 2006, primarily relate to computer equipment purchases, the refurbishing and modernizing of office facilities and software development costs.
MMC has committed to potential future investments of approximately $81 million in connection with its investments in Trident II and other funds managed by Stone Point Capital, LLC. The majority of MMCs investment commitments for funds managed by Stone Point Capital, LLC are related to Trident II, the investment period for which is now closed for new investments. Any remaining capital calls for Trident II would relate to follow-on investments in existing portfolio companies or for management fees or other partnership expenses. Significant future capital calls related to Trident II are not expected. Although it is anticipated that Trident II will be harvesting its remaining portfolio in 2008 and thereafter, the timing of any portfolio company sales and capital distributions is unknown and not controlled by MMC.
Commitments and Obligations
MMCs contractual obligations of the types identified in the table below were of the following amounts as of December 31, 2007:
Payment due by Period | |||||||||||||||
Contractual Obligations (In millions of dollars) |
Total |
|
Within 1 Year |
|
1-3 Years |
|
4-5 Years |
|
After 5 Years | ||||||
Current portion of long-term debt |
$ | 260 | $ | 260 | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
Long-term debt |
3,608 | | 969 | 267 | 2,372 | ||||||||||
NYAG/NYSID settlement |
170 | 170 | | | | ||||||||||
Net operating leases |
3,028 | 370 | 645 | 520 | 1,493 | ||||||||||
Service agreements |
133 | 58 | 42 | 24 | 9 | ||||||||||
Other long-term obligations |
39 | 26 | 13 | | | ||||||||||
Total |
$ | 7,238 | $ | 884 | $ | 1,669 | $ | 811 | $ | 3,874 |
The above does not include unrecognized tax benefits of $351 million, accounted for under FIN 48, as MMC is unable to reasonably predict the timing of settlement of these liabilities, other than approximately $86 million that may become payable during 2008. The above does not include liabilities established under FIN 45 as MMC is unable to reasonably predict the timing of settlement of these liabilities.
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Market Risk and Credit Risk
Certain of MMCs 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
MMC has historically managed its net exposure to interest rate changes by utilizing a mixture of variable and fixed rate borrowings to finance MMCs asset base. During 2007, virtually all of MMCs variable rate borrowings were repaid.
Interest income generated from MMCs cash investments as well as invested fiduciary funds will vary with the general level of interest rates.
MMC had the following investments subject to variable interest rates:
(In millions of dollars) | December 31, 2007 | ||
Cash and cash equivalents invested in |
$ | 2,133 | |
Fiduciary cash and investments (Note 1) |
$ | 3,612 |
These investments and debt instruments are discussed more fully in the above-indicated Notes to the consolidated financial statements.
Based on the above balances, if short-term interest rates decrease by 10% or 45 basis points over the course of the year, annual interest income, including interest earned on fiduciary funds, would decrease by approximately $14 million.
In addition to interest rate risk, our cash investments and fiduciary fund investments are subject to potential loss of value due to counterparty credit risk. To minimize this risk, MMC and its subsidiaries invest pursuant to a Board approved investment policy. The policy mandates the preservation of principal and liquidity and requires broad diversification with counterparty limits assigned based primarily on credit rating and type of investment. MMC 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 funds are invested in short-term bank deposits and liquid money market funds.
Foreign Currency Risk
The translated values of revenue and expense from MMCs international risk and insurance services and consulting 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 50% of total revenue. Note 17 details revenue by geographic area. 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.
Equity Price Risk
MMC holds investments in public and private companies, as well as in certain private equity funds managed by Stone Point Capital. Publicly traded investments of $23 million are classified as available for sale under SFAS No. 115. Non-publicly traded investments of $43 million are accounted for using the cost method and $293 million are accounted for using the equity method under APB Opinion No. 18, The Equity Method of Accounting for Investments in Common Stock. The investments that are classified as available for sale or that are not publicly traded are subject to risk of changes in market value, which if determined to be other than temporary, could result in realized impairment losses. MMC periodically reviews the carrying value of such investments to determine if any valuation adjustments are appropriate under the applicable accounting pronouncements.
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Other
A significant number of lawsuits and regulatory proceedings are pending. See Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements.
Managements Discussion of Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Management considers the policies discussed below to be critical to understanding MMCs financial statements because their application places the most significant demands on managements judgment, and requires management to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Actual results may differ from those estimates.
Legal and Other Loss Contingencies
MMC and its subsidiaries are subject to numerous claims, lawsuits and proceedings. GAAP requires that liabilities for contingencies be recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred before the balance sheet date and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Significant management judgment is required to comply with this guidance. MMC analyzes its litigation exposure based on available information, including consultation with outside counsel handling the defense of these matters, to assess its potential liability.
In addition, to the extent that insurance coverage is available, significant management judgment is required to determine the amount of recoveries that are expected under MMCs various insurance programs.
Retirement Benefits
MMC maintains qualified and non-qualified defined benefit pension plans for its eligible U.S. employees and a variety of defined benefit and defined contribution plans for eligible non-U.S. employees. MMCs policy for funding its tax qualified defined benefit retirement plans is to contribute amounts at least sufficient to meet the funding requirements set forth in U.S. and applicable foreign laws.
In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS No. 158, Employers Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132 (R) (SFAS 158). SFAS 158 requires that MMC recognize the funded status of its overfunded defined benefit pension and retiree medical plans (the Plans) as a net benefit plan asset and its unfunded and underfunded plans as a net benefit plan liability. The gains or losses and prior service costs or credits that have not been recognized as components of net periodic costs are recorded as a component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (AOCI), net of tax, in MMCs consolidated balance sheets. MMC adopted the provisions of SFAS 158, prospectively, on December 31, 2006.
The determination of net periodic pension cost is based on a number of actuarial assumptions, including an expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, the discount rate and assumed rate of salary increase. Significant assumptions used in the calculation of net periodic pension costs and pension liabilities are disclosed in Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements. MMC believes the assumptions for each plan are reasonable and appropriate and will continue to evaluate actuarial assumptions at least annually and adjust them as appropriate. Based on its current assumptions, MMC expects pension expense to decrease by approximately $200 million in 2008 and currently expects to contribute approximately $275 million to the plans during 2008.
During 2005 MMC made changes to the U.S. pension plan that were designed to reduce MMCs benefits costs going forward. The changes, which were effective January 1, 2006, include changing the benefit formula from a final average salary to a career average salary as well as a change in the calculation for early retirement benefits. During 2006, MMC made similar changes to its U.K. pension plans.
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Future pension expense or credits will depend on plan provisions, future investment performance, future assumptions, and various other factors related to the populations participating in the pension plans. Holding all other assumptions constant, a half-percentage point change in the rate of return and discount rate assumptions would affect net periodic pension cost for the U.S. and U.K. plans, which comprise approximately 89% of total pension plan liabilities, as follows:
0.5 Percentage Point Increase |
0.5 Percentage Point Decrease |
||||||||||||||
(In millions of dollars) | U.S. | U.K. | U.S. | U.K. | |||||||||||
Assumed Rate of Return |
$ | (15.2 | ) | $ | (28.0 | ) | $ | 15.2 | $ | 28.0 | |||||
Discount Rate |
$ | (28.5 | ) | $ | (55.4 | ) | $ | 30.7 | $ | 57.3 |
Changing the discount rate and leaving the other assumptions constant may not be representative of the impact on expense, because the long-term rates of inflation and salary increases are often correlated with the discount rate.
MMC contributes to certain health care and life insurance benefits provided to its retired employees. The cost of these postretirement benefits for employees in the United States is accrued during the period up to the date employees are eligible to retire, but is funded by MMC as incurred. This postretirement liability is included in Other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. The key assumptions and sensitivity to changes in the assumed health care cost trend rate are discussed in Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements.
Income Taxes
MMCs 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 tax rate and in evaluating uncertain tax positions. On January 1, 2007 MMC adopted the provisions of FIN 48, to account for the uncertainty in income taxes. Accordingly, MMC reports a liability for unrecognized tax benefits resulting from uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The evaluation of a tax position in accordance with FIN 48 is a two-step process, the first step involves recognition. We determine whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon tax examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation, based on only the technical merits of the position. The technical merits of a tax position derive from both statutory and judicial authority (legislation and statutes, legislative intent, regulations, rulings, and case law) and their applicability to the facts and circumstances of the tax position. If a tax position does not meet the more likely than not recognition threshold, the benefit of that position is not recognized in the financial statements. The second step is measurement. A tax position that meets the more likely than not recognition threshold is measured to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the financial statements. The tax position is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate resolution with a taxing authority.
Uncertain tax positions are evaluated based upon the facts and circumstances that exist at each reporting period and involve significant management judgment. Subsequent changes in judgment based upon new information may lead to changes in recognition, derecognition, and measurement. Adjustments may result, for example, upon resolution of an issue with the taxing authorities, or expiration of a statute of limitations barring an assessment for an issue. Prior to January 1, 2007, MMC estimated its uncertain income tax obligations in accordance with SFAS 109 and SFAS 5. MMC recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense.
Tax law requires items be included in MMCs tax returns at different times than the items are reflected in the financial statements. As a result, the annual tax expense reflected in the consolidated statements of income is different than that reported in the tax returns. Some of these differences are permanent, such as expenses that are not deductible in the returns, and some differences are temporary and reverse over time, such as depreciation expense. Temporary differences create deferred tax assets and liabilities. Deferred tax liabilities generally represent tax expense recognized in
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the financial statements for which payment has been deferred, or expense for which a deduction has been taken already in the tax return but the expense has not yet been recognized in the financial statements. Deferred tax assets generally represent items that can be used as a tax deduction or credit in tax returns in future years for which a benefit has already been recorded in the financial statements. In assessing the need for and amount of a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets, the Company considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized and adjusts the valuation allowance accordingly. MMC evaluates all significant available positive and negative evidence, including the existence of losses in recent years and its forecast of future taxable income by jurisdiction, in assessing the need for a valuation allowance. MMC also considers tax-planning strategies that would result in realization of deferred tax assets, and the presence of taxable income in prior carryback years if carryback is permitted under the appropriate tax law. The underlying assumptions MMC uses in forecasting future taxable income require significant judgment and take into account MMCs recent performance. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent on the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which temporary differences are deductible or creditable. Valuation allowances are established for deferred tax assets when it is estimated that it is more likely than not future taxable income will be insufficient to fully use a deduction or credit in that jurisdiction.
Fair Value Determinations
Investment Valuation MMC holds investments in both public and private companies, as well as certain private equity funds. The majority of the public investments are accounted for as available for sale securities under SFAS No. 115. Certain investments, primarily investments in private equity funds, are accounted for using the equity method under APB Opinion No. 18. MMC periodically reviews the carrying value of its investments to determine if any valuation adjustments are appropriate under the applicable accounting pronouncements. MMC bases its review on the facts and circumstances as they relate to each investment. Fair value of investments in private equity funds is determined by the Funds investment managers. Factors considered in determining the fair value of private equity investments include: implied valuation of recently completed financing rounds that included sophisticated outside investors; performance multiples of comparable public companies; restrictions on the sale or disposal of the investments; trading characteristics of the securities; and the relative size of the holdings in comparison to other private investors and the public market float. In those instances where quoted market prices are not available, particularly for equity holdings in private companies, or formal restrictions limit the sale of securities, significant management judgment is required to determine the appropriate value of MMCs investments. MMC reviews with the fund manager the appropriateness of valuation results for significant private equity investments.
Goodwill Impairment Testing Under SFAS 142, MMC is required to assess goodwill and any indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually, or more frequently if circumstances indicate impairment may have occurred. MMC performs the annual impairment test for each of its reporting units during the third quarter of each year. Fair values of the reporting units are estimated using a market approach or a discounted cash flow model. Carrying values for the reporting units are based on balances at the prior quarter end and include directly identified assets and liabilities, as well as an allocation of those assets and liabilities not recorded at the reporting unit level. MMC completed its 2007 annual review in the third quarter of 2007 and concluded that goodwill is not impaired. The fair value estimates used in this assessment are dependent upon assumptions and estimates about the future profitability and other financial ratios of our reporting units, as well as relevant financial data, recent transactions and market valuations of comparable public companies. If in the future, the performance of our reporting units varies significantly from our projections or our assumptions or estimates about future profitability of our reporting units change, the estimated fair value of our reporting units could change materially and could result in an impairment of goodwill.
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Share-based Payment
Effective July 1, 2005, MMC adopted SFAS 123(R) Share-based Payment, which requires, among other things, that the estimated fair value of stock options be charged to earnings. Significant management judgment is required to determine the appropriate assumptions for inputs such as volatility and expected term necessary to estimate option values. In addition, management judgment is required to analyze the terms of the plans and awards granted thereunder to determine if awards will be treated as equity awards or liability awards, as defined by SFAS 123(R).
As of December 31, 2007, there was $34 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to stock option awards. The weighted-average periods over which the costs are expected to be recognized is 1.4 years. Also as of December 31, 2007, there was $289 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to MMCs restricted stock, restricted stock unit and deferred stock unit awards.
See Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding the adoption of SFAS 123(R).
New Accounting Pronouncements
New accounting pronouncements are discussed in Note 1 to MMCs consolidated financial statements.
On January 1, 2007, MMC adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (FIN 48), which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income tax positions. This interpretation requires that MMC recognize in its consolidated financial statements the impact of a tax position when it is more likely than not that the tax position would be sustained upon examination by the tax authorities based on the technical merits of the position. As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, MMC recognized an increase in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $13 million, which is accounted for as a reduction to the January 1, 2007 balance of retained earnings. The term unrecognized tax benefits in FIN 48 primarily refers to the differences between a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and the benefit measured and recognized in the financial statements in accordance with the guidelines of FIN 48. Including this increase, MMC had approximately $272 million of total gross unrecognized tax benefits at the beginning of 2007. Of this total, $218 million represents the amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would favorably affect the effective tax rate in any future periods. MMC classifies interest and penalties relating to uncertain tax positions in the financial statements as income taxes. The total gross amount of such accrued interest and penalties, before any applicable federal benefit, at January 1, 2007 was $40 million. See Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements for further discussion of FIN 48 and income taxes.
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (SFAS 157), which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands required disclosures about fair value measurements. The provisions of SFAS 157 are effective as of the beginning of MMCs 2008 fiscal year. MMC does not expect the adoption of SFAS 157 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (SFAS 159). SFAS 159 permits an entity to measure many financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected are reported in earnings. SFAS 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The adjustment to reflect the difference between fair value and the carrying amount would be accounted for as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the date of adoption. MMC did not elect to adopt the fair value option for any financial assets or liabilities as of January 1, 2008.
On December 4, 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations (SFAS 141(R)), and SFAS 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements (SFAS 160).
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SFAS 141(R) requires entities in a business combination to recognize all (and only) the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the transaction; establishes the acquisition-date fair value as the measurement objective for all assets acquired and liabilities assumed; and requires the acquirer to disclose all information needed by investors and other users to evaluate and understand the nature and financial effect of the business combination.
SFAS 160 clarifies that a noncontrolling or minority interest in a subsidiary is considered an ownership interest and accordingly, requires all entities to report such interests in subsidiaries as equity in the consolidated financial statements.
Both standards are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. Early adoption is not permitted.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
See the information set forth under the heading Market Risk and Credit Risk above under Part II, Item 7 (Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations).
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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income
For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
(In millions, except per share figures) | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||||
Revenue: |
||||||||||||
Service revenue |
$ | 11,187 | $ | 10,350 | $ | 9,902 | ||||||
Investment income (loss) |
163 | 197 | 180 | |||||||||
Operating revenue |
11,350 | 10,547 | 10,082 | |||||||||
Expense: |
||||||||||||
Compensation and benefits |
7,030 | 6,515 | 6,327 | |||||||||
Other operating expenses |
3,301 | 2,877 | 3,165 | |||||||||
Operating expenses |
10,331 | 9,392 | 9,492 | |||||||||
Operating income |
1,019 | 1,155 | 590 | |||||||||
Interest income |
95 | 60 | 44 | |||||||||
Interest expense |
(267 | ) | (303 | ) | (332 | ) | ||||||
Income before income taxes and minority interest |
847 | 912 | 302 | |||||||||
Income taxes |
295 | 272 | 95 | |||||||||
Minority interest, net of tax |
14 | 8 | 6 | |||||||||
Income from continuing operations |
538 | 632 | 201 | |||||||||
Discontinued operations, net of tax |
1,937 | 358 | 203 | |||||||||
Net income |
$ | 2,475 | $ | 990 | $ | 404 | ||||||
Basic net income per share Continuing operations |
$ | 1.00 | $ | 1.15 | $ | 0.37 | ||||||
Net income |
$ | 4.60 | $ | 1.80 | $ | 0.75 | ||||||
Diluted net income per share Continuing operations |
$ | 0.99 | $ | 1.14 | $ | 0.37 | ||||||
Net income |
$ | 4.53 | $ | 1.76 | $ | 0.74 | ||||||
Average number of shares outstanding Basic |
539 | 549 | 538 | |||||||||
Diluted |
546 | 557 | 543 | |||||||||
Shares outstanding at December 31, |
520 | 552 | 546 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.
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Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
December 31, (In millions of dollars) |
2007 | 2006 | ||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||
Current assets: |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 2,133 | $ | 2,015 | ||||
Receivables |
||||||||
Commissions and fees |
2,614 | 2,340 | ||||||
Advanced premiums and claims |
77 | 82 | ||||||
Other |
302 | 452 | ||||||
2,993 | 2,874 | |||||||
Less allowance for doubtful accounts and cancellations |
(119 | ) | (156 | ) | ||||
Net receivables |
2,874 | 2,718 | ||||||
Assets of discontinued operations |
| 1,921 | ||||||
Other current assets |
447 | 322 | ||||||
Total current assets |
5,454 | 6,976 | ||||||
Goodwill and intangible assets |
7,759 | 7,595 | ||||||
Fixed assets, net |
992 | 990 | ||||||
Pension related assets |
1,411 | 613 | ||||||
Other assets |
1,743 | 1,963 | ||||||
$ | 17,359 | $ | 18,137 | |||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY |
||||||||
Current liabilities: |
||||||||
Short-term debt |
$ | 260 | $ | 1,111 | ||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
1,670 | 2,486 | ||||||
Regulatory settlements current portion |
177 | 178 | ||||||
Accrued compensation and employee benefits |
1,290 | 1,230 | ||||||
Accrued income taxes |
96 | 131 | ||||||
Liabilities of discontinued operations |
| 782 | ||||||
Total current liabilities |
3,493 | 5,918 | ||||||
Fiduciary liabilities |
3,612 | 3,587 | ||||||
Less cash and investments held in a fiduciary capacity |
(3,612 | ) | (3,587 | ) | ||||
| | |||||||
Long-term debt |
3,604 | 3,860 | ||||||
Regulatory settlements |
| 173 | ||||||
Pension, postretirement and postemployment benefits |
709 | 1,085 | ||||||
Liability for errors and omissions |
596 | 624 | ||||||
Other liabilities |
1,135 | 658 | ||||||
Commitments and contingencies |
||||||||
Stockholders 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 in 2007 and 2006 |
|
561 |
|
|
561 |
| ||
Additional paid-in capital |
1,242 | 1,138 | ||||||
Retained earnings |
7,732 | 5,691 | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
(351 | ) | (1,272 | ) | ||||
9,184 | 6,118 | |||||||
Less treasury shares at cost, 40,249,598 in 2007 and 8,727,764 in 2006 |
(1,362 | ) | (299 | ) | ||||
Total stockholders equity |
7,822 | 5,819 | ||||||
$ | 17,359 | $ | 18,137 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.
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Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the Years Ended December 31, (In millions of dollars) |
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||||
Operating cash flows: |
||||||||||||
Net income |
$ | 2,475 | $ | 990 | $ | 404 | ||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash generated from operations: |
||||||||||||
Depreciation of fixed assets and capitalized software |
366 | 391 | 391 | |||||||||
Amortization of intangible assets |
76 | 97 | 99 | |||||||||
Provision for deferred income taxes |
12 | 60 | 36 | |||||||||
Net (gains) losses on investments |
(176 | ) | (222 | ) | (183 | ) | ||||||
Disposition of assets |
(1,833 | ) | (218 | ) | (19 | ) | ||||||
Stock-option compensation |
71 | 116 | 64 | |||||||||
Changes in assets and liabilities: |
||||||||||||
Net receivables |
(321 | ) | (157 | ) | 57 | |||||||
Other current assets |
370 | (651 | ) | 122 | ||||||||
Other assets |
203 | 19 | (229 | ) | ||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
(350 | ) | 682 | (35 | ) | |||||||
Accrued compensation and employee benefits |
(28 | ) | 94 | (167 | ) | |||||||
Accrued income taxes |
(1,141 | ) | (242 | ) | 4 | |||||||
Other liabilities |
(4 | ) | (184 | ) | (72 | ) | ||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes |
49 | 103 | (73 | ) | ||||||||
Net cash (used for) provided by operations |
(231 | ) | 878 | 399 | ||||||||
Financing cash flows: |
||||||||||||
Net decrease in commercial paper |
| | (129 | ) | ||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of debt |
3 | 322 | 2,341 | |||||||||
Other repayments of debt |
(1,120 | ) | (888 | ) | (1,990 | ) | ||||||
Purchase of treasury shares |
(1,300 | ) | | | ||||||||
Issuance of common stock |
186 | 181 | 269 | |||||||||
Dividends paid |
(413 | ) | (374 | ) | (363 | ) | ||||||
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities |
(2,644 | ) | (759 | ) | 128 | |||||||
Investing cash flows: |
||||||||||||
Capital expenditures |
(378 | ) | (307 | ) | (345 | ) | ||||||
Net sales (purchases) of long-term investments |
57 | (107 | ) | 318 | ||||||||
Proceeds from sales related to fixed assets |
11 | 136 | 46 | |||||||||
Dispositions |
3,357 | 375 | 156 | |||||||||
Acquisitions |
(206 | ) | (221 | ) | (74 | ) | ||||||
Other, net |
1 | (12 | ) | 52 | ||||||||
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities |
2,842 | (136 | ) | 153 | ||||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
77 | 73 | (43 | ) | ||||||||
Increase in cash and cash equivalents |
44 | 56 | 637 | |||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
2,089 | 2,033 | 1,396 | |||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
2,133 | 2,089 | 2,033 | |||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents reported as discontinued operations |
| (74 | ) | (130 | ) | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents continuing operations |
$ | 2,133 | $ | 2,015 | $ | 1,903 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.
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Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders Equity and Comprehensive Income
For the Years Ended December 31, (In millions, except per share figures) |
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||||
COMMON STOCK |
||||||||||||
Balance, beginning and end of year |
$ | 561 | $ | 561 | $ | 561 | ||||||
ADDITIONAL PAID-IN CAPITAL |
||||||||||||
Balance, beginning of year |
$ | 1,138 | $ | 1,143 | $ | 1,316 | ||||||
Acquisitions |
| | (15 | ) | ||||||||
SFAS 123(R) periodic compensation costs and implementation adjustment |
155 | 90 | 202 | |||||||||
Issuance of shares to MMC retirement plan |
| | (160 | ) | ||||||||
Issuance of shares under stock compensation plans and employee stock purchase plans and related tax benefits |
(51 | ) | (95 | ) | (200 | ) | ||||||
Balance, end of year |
$ | 1,242 | $ | 1,138 | $ | 1,143 | ||||||
RETAINED EARNINGS |
||||||||||||
Balance, beginning of year |
$ | 5,691 | $ | 4,989 | $ | 5,044 | ||||||
Net income (a) |
2,475 | 990 | 404 | |||||||||
Dividend equivalents paid |
(8 | ) | (8 | ) | (2 | ) | ||||||
Dividends declared (per share amounts: $.76 in 2007, $.51 in 2006, $.85 in 2005) |
(413 | ) | (280 | ) | (457 | ) | ||||||
FIN 48 cumulative charge |
(13 | ) | | | ||||||||
Balance, end of year |
$ | 7,732 | $ | 5,691 | $ | 4,989 | ||||||
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS |
||||||||||||
Balance, beginning of year |
$ | (1,272 | ) | $ | (756 | ) | $ | (370 | ) | |||
Foreign currency translation adjustments (b) |
235 | 305 | (271 | ) | ||||||||
Unrealized investment holding losses net of reclassification |
(22 | ) | (17 | ) | (85 | ) | ||||||
Net changes under SFAS 158, net of tax (d) |
708 | | | |||||||||
Initial adoption of SFAS 158, net of tax |
| (905 | ) | | ||||||||
Minimum pension liability adjustment (e) |
| 101 | (30 | ) | ||||||||
Balance, end of year |
$ | (351 | ) | $ | (1,272 | ) | $ | (756 | ) | |||
TREASURY SHARES |
||||||||||||
Balance, beginning of year |
$ | (299 | ) | $ | (577 | ) | $ | (1,495 | ) | |||
Purchase of treasury shares |
(1,300 | ) | | | ||||||||
Acquisitions |
| 2 | 82 | |||||||||
Issuance of shares to MMC retirement plan |
| | 365 | |||||||||
Issuance of shares under stock compensation plans and employee stock purchase plans |
237 | 276 | 471 | |||||||||
Balance, end of year |
$ | (1,362 | ) | $ | (299 | ) | $ | (577 | ) | |||
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY |
$ | 7,822 | $ | 5,819 | $ | 5,360 | ||||||
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (a+b+c+d+e) |
$ | 3,396 | $ | 1,379 | $ | 18 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.
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Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Nature of Operations: Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (MMC), a global professional services firm, is organized based on the different services that it offers. Under this organizational structure, MMCs three business segments are risk and insurance services, consulting and risk consulting & technology. As noted below, on August 3, 2007 Great-West Lifeco Inc. completed its purchase of Putnam, MMCs former investment management segment.
As discussed in Note 5, MMC disposed of several businesses in 2007 and 2006, which are classified as discontinued operations in these financial statements.
The risk and insurance services segment provides risk management and insurance broking, reinsurance broking and insurance program management services for businesses, public entities, insurance companies, associations, professional services organizations, and private clients. MMC conducts business in this segment through Marsh, Guy Carpenter and Risk Capital Holdings.
The consulting segment provides advice and services to the managements of organizations in the areas of human resource consulting, comprising retirement and investments, health and benefits, outsourcing and talent; and strategy and risk management consulting, comprising management, economic and brand consulting. MMC conducts business in this segment through Mercer and Oliver Wyman Group.
The risk consulting & technology segment provides various risk consulting and related risk mitigation services to corporate, government, institutional and individual clients. These services fall into two main business groups: consulting, which includes corporate advisory & restructuring services, consulting services and security services; and technology-enabled services. MMC conducts business in this segment through Kroll.
On August 3, 2007, Great-West Lifeco Inc. completed the purchase of Putnam Investments Trust for $3.9 billion in cash. The purchase included Putnams interest in the T.H. Lee private equity business. The pre-tax gain of $3.0 billion ($1.9 billion net of tax), Putnams results through August 2, 2007, and Putnams comparative results are included in discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.
Principles of Consolidation: The accompanying consolidated financial statements include all wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.
Fiduciary Assets and Liabilities: In its capacity as an insurance broker or agent, MMC collects premiums from insureds and, after deducting its commissions, remits the premiums to the respective insurance underwriters. MMC also collects claims or refunds from underwriters on behalf of insureds.
Unremitted insurance premiums and claims are held by MMC in a fiduciary capacity. Interest income on these fiduciary funds, included in service revenue, amounted to $193 million in 2007, $180 million in 2006, and $151 million in 2005. Since fiduciary assets are not available for corporate use, they are shown in the balance sheet as an offset to fiduciary liabilities.
Net uncollected premiums and claims and the related payables were $9.2 billion and $8.7 billion at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. MMC is not a principal to the contracts under which the right to receive premiums or the right to receive reimbursement of insured losses arises. Net uncollected premiums and claims and the related payables are, therefore, not assets and liabilities of MMC and are not included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
In certain instances, MMC 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.
Revenue: Risk and Insurance Services revenue includes insurance commissions, fees for services rendered, interest income on certain fiduciary funds and market service fees from insurers earned on
47
placements made prior to October 2004. Effective October 1, 2004 Marsh agreed to eliminate market service fees with insurers. Insurance commissions and fees for risk transfer services generally are recorded as of the effective date of the applicable policies or, in certain cases (primarily in MMCs reinsurance operations), as of the effective date or billing date, whichever is later. Commissions are net of policy cancellation reserves, which are estimated based on historic and current data on cancellations. Fees for non-risk transfer services provided to clients are recognized over the period in which the services are provided, using a proportional performance model. Fees resulting from achievement of certain performance thresholds are recorded when such levels are attained and such fees are not subject to forfeiture. In 2005, MMC sold MMC Capitals private equity management business to Stone Point Capital, LLC and therefore no longer receives management fees or origination fees related to the private equity business, except that MMC retained the right to receive certain performance fees related to the Trident II private equity partnership. MMC will continue to receive dividends and to recognize capital appreciation or depreciation on its investment holdings.
MMC has deferred the recognition of performance fee revenue in connection with the management of certain private equity funds of $54 million at December 31, 2007. This revenue is based on the investment performance over the life of each private equity fund, and future decline in fund performance from current levels may result in the forfeiture of such revenue. As noted above, MMC only recognizes performance fee revenue when such fees are no longer subject to forfeiture, which for the $54 million noted above, may take a number of years to resolve.
Consulting revenue includes fees paid by clients for advice and services and commissions from insurance companies for the placement of individual and group contracts. Fee revenue for engagements where remuneration is based on time plus out-of-pocket expenses is recognized based on the amount of time consulting professionals expend on the engagement. For fixed fee engagements, revenue is recognized using a proportional performance model. Revenue from insurance commissions not subject to a fee arrangement is recorded over the effective period of the applicable policies. Revenues for asset based fees are recognized on an accrual basis by applying the daily/monthly rate as contractually agreed with the client to the net asset value. On a limited number of engagements, performance fees may also be earned for achieving certain pre-determined performance criteria. Such fees are recognized when the performance criteria have been achieved and agreed to by the client. Expenses incurred by professional staff in the generation of revenue are billed to the client and included in revenue.
Risk Consulting & Technology compensation consists of fees paid by clients. Such fees are typically charged on an hourly, project, or fixed fee basis, and sometimes on a per service or per unit basis. Revenue is recognized as the services are performed pursuant to the applicable contractual arrangements. Revenue related to time and materials arrangements is recognized in the period in which the services are performed. Revenue from hourly or daily rate engagements is recognized as hours are expended at the agreed-upon billing amounts. Revenue related to fixed price arrangements is recognized based upon a proportional performance model. Revenue provided from credit services is recognized when the information is delivered to the customer, either electronically or by other means. The impact of any revisions in estimated total revenue and direct contract costs is recognized in the period in which they become known. Expenses incurred by professional staff in the generation of revenue are billed to the client and included in revenue. Kroll records either billed or unbilled accounts receivable based on case-by-case invoicing determinations. Revenue from sales of software is recognized when the product is shipped, with the exception of royalty-based products, for which revenue is recognized as applicable royalty reports are received. Revenue from software sales is recorded net of estimated customer returns and allowances. Contingent fees are recognized as earned and upon satisfaction of all conditions to their payment.
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.
Fixed Assets: Fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Expenditures for improvements are capitalized. Upon sale or retirement, the cost and related accumulated depreciation and amortization are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is reflected in income. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred.
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Depreciation of buildings, building improvements, furniture, and equipment is provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of these assets. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the periods covered by the applicable leases or the estimated useful life of the improvement, whichever is less. MMC periodically reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes indicate that the carrying value of assets may not be recoverable.
The components of fixed assets are as follows:
December 31, (In millions of dollars) |
2007 | 2006 | ||||||
Furniture and equipment |
$ | 1,257 | $ | 1,290 | ||||
Land and buildings |
410 | 397 | ||||||
Leasehold and building improvements |
699 | 719 | ||||||
2,366 | 2,406 | |||||||
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization |
(1,374 | ) | (1,416 | ) | ||||
$ | 992 | $ | 990 |
Investment Securities: MMC holds investments in both public and private companies, as well as certain private equity funds. Publicly traded investments are classified as available for sale in accordance with SFAS No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities (SFAS 115), and carried at market value. Non-publicly traded investments are carried at cost in accordance with APB Opinion No. 18 (APB 18). Changes in the fair value of available for sale securities are recorded in stockholders equity, net of applicable taxes, until realized. Securities classified as available for sale under SFAS 115, or carried at cost under APB 18, are considered long-term investments and are included in Other assets in the consolidated balance sheets.
Certain investments, primarily investments in private equity funds, are accounted for using the equity method under APB 18 using a consistently applied three-month lag period. The underlying private equity funds follow investment company accounting, where securities within the fund are carried at fair value. MMC records its proportionate share of the change in fair value of the funds in earnings. Securities recorded using the equity method are included in Other assets in the consolidated balance sheets.
Gains, net of incentive compensation, or losses recognized in earnings from the investment securities described above are included in Investment income (loss) in the consolidated statements of income. Costs related to management of MMCs investments, including incentive compensation partially derived from investment income and loss, are recorded in operating expenses.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets: Goodwill represents acquisition costs in excess of the fair value of net assets acquired. Goodwill is reviewed at least annually for impairment. MMC performs an annual impairment test for each of its reporting units during the third quarter of each year. Fair values of the reporting units are estimated using a market approach or a discounted cash flow model. Carrying values for the reporting units are based on balances at the prior quarter end and include directly identified assets and liabilities as well as an allocation of those assets and liabilities not recorded at the reporting unit level. Other intangible assets that are not deemed to have an indefinite life are amortized over their estimated lives and reviewed for impairment upon the occurrence of certain triggering events in accordance with applicable accounting literature.
Capitalized Software Costs: MMC capitalizes certain costs to develop, purchase, or modify software for the internal use of MMC. These costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over periods ranging from three to ten years. Costs incurred during the preliminary project stage and post implementation stage are expensed as incurred. Costs incurred during the application development stage are capitalized. Costs related to updates and enhancements are only capitalized if they will result in additional functionality. Computer software costs of $242 million and $229 million, net of accumulated amortization of $450 million and $465 million at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, are included in Other assets in the consolidated balance sheets.
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Legal and Other Loss Contingencies: MMC and its subsidiaries are subject to a significant number of claims, lawsuits and proceedings. MMC records liabilities for contingencies including legal costs when it is probable that a liability has been incurred before the balance sheet date and the amount can be reasonably estimated. To the extent such losses can be recovered under MMCs insurance programs, estimated recoveries are recorded when losses for insured events are recognized. Significant management judgment is required to estimate the amounts of such contingent liabilities and the related insurance recoveries. MMC analyzes its litigation exposure based on available information, including consultation with outside counsel handling the defense of these matters, to assess its potential liability. Contingent liabilities are not discounted.
Income Taxes: MMCs 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 tax rate and in evaluating uncertain tax positions. On January 1, 2007 MMC adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (FIN 48), to account for the uncertainty in income taxes. Accordingly, MMC reports a liability for unrecognized tax benefits resulting from uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The evaluation of a tax position in accordance with FIN 48 is a two-step process, the first step involves recognition. We determine whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon tax examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation, based on only the technical merits of the position. The technical merits of a tax position derive from both statutory and judicial authority (legislation and statutes, legislative intent, regulations, rulings, and case law) and their applicability to the facts and circumstances of the tax position. If a tax position does not meet the more likely than not recognition threshold, the benefit of that position is not recognized in the financial statements. The second step is measurement. A tax position that meets the more likely than not recognition threshold is measured to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the financial statements. The tax position is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate resolution with a taxing authority.
Uncertain tax positions are evaluated based upon the facts and circumstances that exist at each reporting period. Subsequent changes in judgment based upon new information may lead to changes in recognition, derecognition, and measurement. Adjustments may result, for example, upon resolution of an issue with the taxing authorities, or expiration of a statute of limitations barring an assessment for an issue. Prior to January 1, 2007, MMC estimated its uncertain income tax obligations in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes (SFAS 109), and SFAS 5. MMC recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense.
Tax law requires items be included in MMCs tax returns at different times than the items are reflected in the financial statements. As a result, the annual tax expense reflected in the consolidated statements of income is different than that reported in the tax returns. Some of these differences are permanent, such as expenses that are not deductible in the returns, and some differences are temporary and reverse over time, such as depreciation expense. Temporary differences create deferred tax assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets generally represent items that can be used as a tax deduction or credit in tax returns in future years for which benefit has already been recorded in the financial statements. Valuation allowances are established for deferred tax assets when it is estimated that future taxable income will be insufficient to use a deduction or credit in that jurisdiction. Deferred tax liabilities generally represent tax expense recognized in the financial statements for which payment has been deferred, or expense for which a deduction has been taken already in the tax return but the expense has not yet been recognized in the financial statements.
U.S. Federal income taxes are provided on unremitted foreign earnings except those that are considered permanently reinvested, which at December 31, 2007 amounted to approximately $1.8 billion. However, if these earnings were not considered permanently reinvested, the incremental tax liability which otherwise might be due upon distribution, net of foreign tax credits, would be approximately $90 million.
Derivative Instruments: All derivatives, whether designated in hedging relationships or not, are recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. If the derivative is designated as a fair value hedge, the
50
changes in the fair value of the derivative and of the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk are recognized in earnings. If the derivative is designated as a cash flow hedge, the effective portions of changes in the fair value of the derivative are recorded in other comprehensive income and are recognized in the income statement when the hedged item affects earnings. Change in the fair value attributable to the ineffective portion of cash flow hedges are recognized in earnings.
Concentrations of Credit Risk: Financial instruments which potentially subject MMC to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, commissions and fees receivable and insurance recoverables. MMC maintains a policy providing for the diversification of cash and cash equivalent investments and places its investments in a large number of high quality financial institutions to limit the amount of credit risk exposure. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to receivables are generally limited due to the large number of clients and markets in which MMC does business, as well as the dispersion across many geographic areas.
Per Share Data: Basic net income per share and income from continuing operations per share are calculated by dividing the respective after tax income by the weighted average number of shares of MMCs common stock outstanding, excluding unvested restricted stock. Diluted net income per share and income from continuing operations per share are calculated by dividing the respective after tax income by the weighted average common shares outstanding, which have been adjusted for the dilutive effect of potentially issuable common shares. Reconciliation of net income to net income for diluted earnings per share and basic weighted average common shares outstanding to diluted weighted average common shares outstanding is presented below. The reconciling items, related to the calculation of diluted weighted average common shares outstanding, are the same for continuing operations.
For the Years Ended December 31, (In millions) |
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||||
Net income |
$ | 2,475 | $ | 990 | $ | 404 | ||||||
Less: Potential minority interest expense associated with Putnam Class B common shares |
(4 | ) | (13 | ) | (5 | ) | ||||||
Add: Dividend equivalent expense related to common stock equivalents |
| | 1 | |||||||||
Net income for diluted earnings per share |
$ | 2,471 | $ | 977 | $ | 400 | ||||||
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding |
539 | 549 | 538 | |||||||||
Dilutive effect of potentially issuable common shares |
7 | 8 | 5 | |||||||||
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding |
546 | 557 | 543 | |||||||||
Average stock price used to calculate common stock equivalents |
$ | 28.59 | $ | 29.06 | $ | 29.65 |
There were 58.8 million, 64.4 million and 66.3 million stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The calculation above includes 3 million of common stock equivalents related to stock options in each of three years presented.
Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may vary from those estimates.
New Accounting Pronouncements: On January 1, 2007, MMC adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (FIN 48), which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income tax positions. This interpretation requires that MMC recognizes in its consolidated financial statements the impact of a tax position when it is more likely than not that the tax position would be sustained upon examination by the tax authorities based on the technical merits of the position. As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, MMC recognized an increase in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $13 million, which is accounted for as a reduction to the January 1, 2007 balance of retained earnings. The term unrecognized tax benefits in FIN 48 primarily refers to the differences between a tax position
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taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and the benefit measured and recognized in the financial statements in accordance with the guidelines of FIN 48. Including this increase, MMC had approximately $272 million of total gross unrecognized tax benefits at the beginning of 2007. Of this total, $218 million represents the amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would favorably affect the effective tax rate in any future periods. MMC classifies interest and penalties relating to uncertain tax positions in the financial statements as income taxes. The total gross amount of such accrued interest and penalties, before any applicable federal benefit, at January 1, 2007 was $40 million. See Note 7 for further discussion of FIN 48 and income taxes.
MMC adopted the provisions of SFAS 158, prospectively, on December 31, 2006. SFAS 158 requires recognition of the funded status of defined benefit pension and retiree medical plans (the Plans) as a net benefit plan asset and its unfunded or underfunded Plans as a net benefit plan liability. The offsetting adjustment to the amount of assets and liabilities was recorded in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in MMCs 2006 year-end balance sheet. The impact of adopting SFAS 158 resulted in a reduction of assets of $660 million and an increase in liabilities of $245 million and a reduction in stockholders equity of $905 million in 2006 (or $804 million, including an adjustment for the impact of recording a reduction to the minimum pension liability prior to the adoption of SFAS 158). In 2007, the improved funded status of the Plans resulted in a net increase to equity of $708 million.
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (SFAS 157), which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands required disclosures about fair value measurements. The provisions of SFAS 157 are effective as of the beginning of MMCs 2008 fiscal year. MMC does not expect the adoption of SFAS 157 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (SFAS 159). SFAS 159 permits an entity to choose to measure many financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected are reported in earnings. SFAS 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The adjustment to reflect the difference between fair value and the carrying amount would be accounted for as a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the date of adoption. MMC did not elect to adopt the fair value option for any financial assets or liabilities as of January 1, 2008.
On December 4, 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations (SFAS 141(R)), and SFAS 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements (SFAS 160).
SFAS 141(R) requires entities in a business combination to recognize all (and only) the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the transaction; establishes the acquisition-date fair value as the measurement objective for all assets acquired and liabilities assumed; and requires the acquirer to disclose all information needed by investors and other users to evaluate and understand the nature and financial effect of the business combination.
SFAS 160 clarifies that a noncontrolling or minority interest in a subsidiary is considered an ownership interest and accordingly, requires all entities to report such interests in subsidiaries as equity in the consolidated financial statements.
Both standards are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The impact on MMCs financial statements will depend on the number and/or size of acquisitions completed in periods subsequent to the standards effective date. Early adoption is not permitted.
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2. Supplemental Disclosures
The following schedule provides additional information concerning acquisitions, interest and income taxes paid:
For the Years Ended December 31, (In millions of dollars) |
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||||
Purchase acquisitions: |
||||||||||||
Assets acquired, excluding cash |
$ | 173 | $ | 200 | $ | 68 | ||||||
Liabilities assumed |
| | | |||||||||
Issuance of debt and other obligations |
(11 | ) | (32 | ) | (8 | ) | ||||||
Deferred purchase consideration |
44 | 53 | 80 | |||||||||
Shares issuable |
| | (66 | ) | ||||||||
Net cash outflow for acquisitions |
$ | 206 | $ | 221 | $ | 74 | ||||||
Interest paid |
$ | 290 | $ | 300 | $ | 307 | ||||||
Income taxes paid |
$ | 1,192 | $ | 597 | $ | 156 |
The consolidated cash flow statements include the cash flow impact of discontinued operations in each cash flow category. The cash flow impact of discontinued operations from the operating, financing and investing cash flow categories is as follows:
For the Years Ended December 31, (In millions of dollars) |
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||||
Net cash provided by (used for) operations |
$ | 17 | $ | 22 | $ | (18 | ) | |||||
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities |
$ | (8 | ) | $ | (52 | ) | $ | 24 | ||||
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities |
$ | 8 | $ | (26 | ) | $ | (20 | ) |
An analysis of the allowance for doubtful accounts is as follows:
For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
(In millions of dollars) | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||||
Balance at beginning of year |
$ | 156 | $ | 157 | $ | 142 | ||||||
Provision charged to operations |
4 | 11 | 49 | |||||||||
Accounts written-off, net of recoveries |
(22 | ) | (23 | ) | (25 | ) | ||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes and other |
(19 | ) | 11 | (9 | ) | |||||||
Balance at end of year |
$ | 119 | $ | 156 | $ | 157 |
In December 2006, MMC contributed its limited partnership interest in the Trident III private equity fund, valued at $182 million, to its pension plan in the United Kingdom.
In September 2005, MMC contributed 8 million shares of MMC common stock valued at $205 million, to the U.S. qualified retirement plan.
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3. Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
The components of other comprehensive income (loss) are as follows:
For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
(In millions of dollars) | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments |
$ | 235 | $ | 305 | $ | (271 | ) | |||||
Unrealized investment holding gains, net of income tax liability of $2, $2 and $10 in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively | 4 | 7 | 18 | |||||||||
Less: Reclassification adjustment for realized gains included in |
(26 | ) | (24 | ) | (103 | ) | ||||||
Net changes under SFAS 158, net of income tax liability of $327 in 2007 |
708 | | | |||||||||
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of income tax liability (benefit) of $51 in 2006 and $(3) in 2005 | | 101 | (30 | ) | ||||||||
$ | 921 | $ | 389 | $ | (386 | ) |
The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss are as follows:
December 31, | ||||||||
(In millions of dollars) | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments |
$ | 512 | $ | 278 | ||||
Net unrealized investment gains |
14 | 36 | ||||||
Net changes under SFAS 158 |
(877 | ) | (1,586 | ) | ||||
$ | (351 | ) | $ | (1,272 | ) |
4. Acquisitions and Dispositions
During 2007, MMC made six acquisitions, for total purchase consideration of $159 million and also paid $14 million of contingent purchase consideration related to prior acquisitions. The allocation of purchase consideration resulted in acquired goodwill and other intangible assets, amounting to $119 million and $36 million, respectively, and other assets of $18 million. Estimated fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed are subject to adjustment when purchase accounting is finalized.
5. Discontinued Operations
On August 3, 2007, Great-West Lifeco Inc. completed its purchase of Putnam Investments Trust. The pre-tax gain of $3.0 billion ($1.9 billion net of tax), Putnams results through August 2, 2007, and comparative results are included in discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. Putnams assets and liabilities are reported in discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2006.
As part of the disposal of Putnam, MMC provided indemnities to GWL with respect to certain Putnam-related litigation and regulatory matters described in Note 16, and certain indemnities related to contingent tax liabilities (the indemnified matters). In accordance with the guidelines of FASB Interpretation No. 45 (FIN 45), MMC estimated the fair value of the indemnities based on a (i) probability weighted assessment of possible outcomes; or, (ii) in circumstances where the probability or amounts of potential outcomes could not be determined, an analysis of similar but not identical circumstances prepared by an MMC-affiliated professional economic valuation firm. As required by FIN 45, the amounts recognized are the greater of the estimated fair value of the indemnity or the amount required to be recorded under SFAS No. 5 or FIN 48 (for tax-related matters). MMC recorded a liability of approximately $257 million related to these indemnities (the FIN 45 liability). The FIN 45 liability considers the potential settlement amount as well as related defense costs. The matters for which indemnities have been provided are inherently uncertain as to their eventual outcome. The process of estimating fair value as required by FIN 45 entails necessarily uncertain
54
assumptions about such future outcomes. Consequently, the ultimate resolution of the matters for which indemnities have been provided may well vary significantly from the liabilities calculated under FIN 45.
The indemnities described above do not have a stated expiration date. MMC is released from risk under the indemnity as the indemnified matters are settled or otherwise resolved. Since MMC is not released from risk under the indemnities simply based on the passage of time, future costs of settlements and/or legal fees related to the indemnified matters will be charged against the FIN 45 liability, so long as they are consistent with the estimated exposure contemplated for such matters in establishing the FIN 45 liability. MMC will assess the status of the indemnified matters each reporting period to determine whether to cease reduction of the FIN 45 liability and/or whether additional accruals are appropriate under either SFAS 5 (for non-tax related matters) or FIN 48 (for tax related matters). Any future charges or credits resulting from the settlement or resolution of the indemnified matters, or any adjustments to the liabilities related to such matters will be recorded in discontinued operations, in accordance with SFAS 144.
During 2006, MMC completed the sale of several businesses: SCMS in January 2006, Price Forbes in September 2006, and KSI in December 2006. The gain or loss on disposal of these businesses, including any charges to reduce the carrying value to fair value less cost to sell, is included in discontinued operations in 2006.
The operating results of each of the businesses, through the date of sale or disposal, are included in discontinued operations in 2005 except for the 2005 results of Price Forbes, which were insignificant to MMCs results for that year.
In 2005, Marsh completed the sale of Crump Group Inc. The gain on disposal of Crump, as well as its results of operations through the date of disposal, are included in discontinued operations in 2005.
Price Forbes, Crump and SCMS were part of MMCs risk and insurance services segment, while KSI was part of MMCs risk consulting & technology segment. Putnam represented the entire investment management segment.
Summarized Statements of Income data for discontinued operations are as follows:
For the Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||
(In millions of dollars) | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||
Revenue |
$ | 798 | $ | 1,533 | $ | 2,037 | |||
Income before provision for income tax |
$ | 160 | $ | 304 | $ | 306 | |||
Provision for income tax |
71 | 118 | 117 | ||||||
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax |
89 | 186 | 189 | ||||||
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations |
2,965 | 298 | 55 | ||||||
Provision for income tax |
1,117 | 126 | 41 | ||||||
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of tax |
1,848 | 172 | 14 | ||||||
Discontinued operations, net of tax |
$ | 1,937 | $ | 358 | $ | 203 |
MMCs gain on the Putnam transaction increased diluted earnings per share by $3.38 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2007. In 2006, discontinued operations included an after-tax net gain of $179 million related to the gain on disposal of SCMS and charges related to Price Forbes, which increased diluted earnings per share for the twelve months ended December 31, 2006 by approximately $0.32.
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Summarized Balance Sheet data for discontinued operations is as follows:
For the Year Ended December 31, | ||||||
(In millions of dollars) | 2007 | 2006 | ||||
Assets of discontinued operations: |
||||||
Current assets |
$ | | $ | 779 | ||
Fixed assets, net |
| 53 | ||||
Goodwill and intangible assets |
| 180 | ||||
Long-term investments |
| 473 | ||||
Other assets |
| 436 | ||||
Total assets of discontinued operations |
$ | | $ | 1,921 | ||
Liabilities of discontinued operations |
$ | | $ | 782 |
6. Goodwill and Other Intangibles
Under SFAS 142, MMC is required to assess goodwill and any indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually, or more frequently if circumstances indicate impairment may have occurred. MMC performs the annual impairment test for each of its reporting units during the third quarter of each year. Fair values of the reporting units are estimated using a market approach or a discounted cash flow model. Carrying values for the reporting units are based on balances at the prior quarter end and include directly identified assets and liabilities as well as an allocation of those assets and liabilities not recorded at the reporting unit level. MMC completed its 2007 annual review in the third quarter of 2007 and concluded that goodwill is not impaired. Other intangible assets that are not deemed to have an indefinite life are amortized over their estimated lives and reviewed for impairment upon the occurrence of certain triggering events in accordance with applicable accounting literature.
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill are as follows:
(In millions of dollars) | 2007 | 2006 | |||||
Balance as of January 1 |
$ | 7,206 | $ | 7,121 | |||
Goodwill acquired |
119 | 132 | |||||
Other adjustments (a) |
63 | (47 | ) | ||||
Balance as of December 31 |
$ | 7,388 | $ | 7,206 |
(a) |
Primarily foreign exchange and purchase accounting adjustments. |
Goodwill allocable to each of MMCs reportable segments is as follows: Risk and Insurance Services $3.8 billion; Consulting $1.9 billion; and Risk Consulting & Technology $1.7 billion. Amortized intangible assets consist of the cost of client lists, client relationships and trade names acquired. The gross cost and accumulated amortization by major intangible asset class is as follows:
2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||||||
December 31, (In millions of dollars) |
Gross Cost |
Accumulated Amortization |
Net Carrying Amount |
Gross Cost |
Accumulated Amortization |
Net Carrying Amount | ||||||||||||
Total amortized intangibles |
$ | 706 | $ | 335 | $ | 371 | $ | 655 | $ | 266 | $ | 389 |
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Aggregate amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 was $66 million, $80 million and $82 million, respectively, and the estimated future aggregate amortization expense is as follows:
For the Years Ending December 31, | ||
(In millions of dollars) | Estimated Expense | |
2008 |
$ 65 | |
2009 |
55 | |
2010 |
47 | |
2011 |
40 | |
2012 |
38 | |
Subsequent years |
126 | |
$371 |
7. Income Taxes
Income before income taxes and minority interest shown below is based on the geographic location to which such income is attributable. Although income taxes related to such income may be assessed in more than one jurisdiction, the income tax provision corresponds to the geographic location of the income.
For the Years Ended December 31, (In millions of dollars) |
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||||
Income before income taxes and minority interest: |
||||||||||||
U.S. |
$ | 66 | $ | 233 | $ | (120 | ) | |||||
Other |
781 | 679 | 422 | |||||||||
$ | 847 | $ | 912 | $ | 302 | |||||||
Income taxes: |
||||||||||||
Current |
||||||||||||
U.S. Federal |
$ | (29 | ) | $ | (68 | ) | $ | (158 | ) | |||
Other national governments |
208 | 224 | 123 | |||||||||
U.S. state and local |
67 | 65 | 35 | |||||||||
246 | 221 | | ||||||||||
Deferred |
||||||||||||
U.S. Federal |
39 | 140 | 105 | |||||||||
Other national governments |
39 | (59 | ) | (7 | ) | |||||||
U.S. state and local |
(29 | ) | (30 | ) | (3 | ) | ||||||
49 | 51 | 95 | ||||||||||
Total income taxes |
$ | 295 | $ | 272 | $ | 95 |
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The significant components of deferred income tax assets and liabilities and their balance sheet classifications are as follows:
December 31, (In millions of dollars) |
2007 | 2006 | ||||
Deferred tax assets: |
||||||
Accrued expenses not currently deductible |
$ | 704 | $ | 544 | ||
Differences related to non-U.S. operations |
332 | 301 | ||||
Accrued retirement & postretirement benefits non-U.S. operations |
| 240 | ||||
Net operating losses (a) |
101 | 96 | ||||
Income currently recognized for tax |
51 | 57 | ||||
Other |
58 | 31 | ||||
$ | 1,246 | $ | 1,269 | |||
Deferred tax liabilities: |
||||||
Unrealized investment holding gains |
$ | 8 | $ | 13 | ||
Differences related to non-U.S. operations |
160 | 134 | ||||
Depreciation and amortization |
82 | 180 | ||||
Accrued retirement & postretirement benefitsnon-U.S. operations |
66 | | ||||
Accrued retirement benefits |
91 | 12 | ||||
Other |
73 | 126 | ||||
$ | 480 | $ | 465 |
(a) |
Net of valuation allowance of $38 million and $15 million, respectively. |
December 31, | ||||||
(In millions of dollars) | 2007 | 2006 | ||||
Balance sheet classifications: |
||||||
Current assets |
$ | 247 | $ | 128 | ||
Other assets |
$ | 519 | $ | 687 | ||
Other liabilities |
$ | | $ | 11 |
A reconciliation from the U.S. Federal statutory income tax rate to MMCs effective income tax rate is shown below.
For the Years Ended December 31, | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||
% | % | % | |||||||
U.S. Federal statutory rate |
35.0 | 35.0 | 35.0 | ||||||
U.S. state and local income taxes net of U.S. Federal income tax benefit |
2.9 | 2.5 | 7.0 | ||||||
Differences related to non-U.S. operations |
(3.0 | ) | (7.9 | ) | (10.3 | ) | |||
Meals and entertainment |
1.1 | 1.1 | 2.6 | ||||||
Dividends paid to employees |
(.8 | ) | (.5 | ) | (2.2 | ) | |||
Other |
(.3 | ) | (.4 | ) | (.7 | ) | |||
Effective tax rate |
34.9 | 29.8 | 31.4 |
Valuation allowances had a net increase of $23 million in 2007 compared with a net decrease of $53 million in 2006. During the respective years, adjustments of the beginning of the year balances of valuation allowances increased income tax expense by $13 million in 2007 and decreased income tax expense by $26 million in 2006. None of the cumulative valuation allowances relate to amounts which if realized would reduce goodwill or increase contributed capital in the future. Approximately 80% of MMCs net operating loss carryforwards expire over various periods from 2008 through 2027, and others are unlimited. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, MMC considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized and adjusts the valuation allowance accordingly. MMC evaluates all significant available positive and negative evidence, including the existence of losses in recent years and its forecast of future taxable income, in assessing the need for a valuation allowance. The underlying assumptions MMC
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uses in forecasting future taxable income require significant judgment and take into account MMCs recent performance. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent on the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which temporary differences are deductible. Based on the level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over the periods in which the deferred tax assets are deductible, and available tax planning strategies, MMC believes it is more likely than not that it will realize the benefits of the deferred tax assets, net of existing valuation allowances at December 31, 2007. The amount of the deferred tax assets considered realizable, however, could be reduced in the near term if estimates of future taxable income during the carryforward period are reduced.
The American Jobs Creation Act (the Act), adopted on October 22, 2004, provided for a special one-time tax deduction, or dividend received deduction, of 85% of qualifying foreign earnings that are repatriated in either a companys last tax year that began before the enactment date or the first tax year that begins during the one-year period beginning on the enactment date. In the fourth quarter of 2005, MMC recorded an income tax benefit of $8 million, attributable to the repatriation of approximately $585 million of qualifying earnings under the provisions of the Act. The $8 million tax benefit resulted from the reversal of deferred tax liabilities previously provided under SFAS No. 109, which were in excess of the tax liabilities from repatriation of these qualifying earnings.
On January 1, 2007, MMC adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (FIN 48), which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income tax positions. This interpretation requires that MMC recognize in its consolidated financial statements the impact of a tax position when it is more likely than not that the tax position would be sustained upon examination by the tax authorities based on the technical merits of the position. As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, MMC recognized an increase in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $13 million, which is accounted for as a reduction to the January 1, 2007 balance of retained earnings. The term unrecognized tax benefits in FIN 48 primarily refers to the differences between a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and the benefit measured and recognized in the financial statements in accordance with the guidelines of FIN 48. Including this increase, MMC had approximately $272 million of total gross unrecognized tax benefits at the beginning of 2007. Of this total, $218 million represents the amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would favorably affect the effective tax rate in any future periods. MMC classifies interest and penalties relating to uncertain tax positions in the financial statements as income taxes. The total gross amount of such accrued interest and penalties, before any applicable federal benefit, at January 1, 2007 was $40 million.
Following is a reconciliation of MMCs total gross unrecognized tax benefits for the year-to-date period ended December 31, 2007.
(In millions of dollars) | ||||
Balance at January 1, 2007 |
$ | 272 | ||
Additions, based on tax positions related to current year |
83 | |||
Additions for tax positions of prior years |
70 | |||
Reductions for tax positions of prior years |
(21 | ) | ||
Reductions due to reclassification to FIN 45 on the sale of Putnam |
(26 | ) | ||
Settlements |
(23 | ) | ||
Lapses in statutes of limitation |
(4 | ) | ||
Balance at December 31, 2007 |
$ | 351 |
Of the total $351 million of unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2007, $228 million represents the amount that, if recognized, would favorably affect the effective tax rate in any future periods. The total gross amount of accrued interest and penalties at December 31, 2007, before any applicable federal benefit, was $44 million.
As discussed in Note 5, MMC has provided certain indemnities related to contingent tax liabilities as part of the disposal of Putnam. The balance of gross unrecognized tax benefits at January 1, 2007 in
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the chart above includes balances related to Putnam. Following the close of the Putnam transaction, the unrecognized tax benefits of $26 million related to stand alone tax returns filed by Putnam (not as part of an MMC consolidated tax group) have been reclassified and are included as part of the fair value liability for contingent tax indemnities established in accordance with FIN 45. In addition, at January 1, and December 31, 2007, balances of $22 million and $80 million, respectively, included in the chart above relate to Putnam issues included in consolidated MMC tax returns. Since MMC remains primarily liable to the taxing authorities for resolution of uncertain tax positions related to consolidated returns, these balances will remain as part of MMCs consolidated liability for uncertain tax positions. Any future charges or credits that are directly related to the disposal of Putnam and the indemnified contingent tax issues, including interest accrued in accordance with FIN 48, will be charged or credited to discontinued operations as incurred.
MMC is routinely examined by the jurisdictions in which it has significant operations. The Internal Revenue Service is expected to complete its examination of 2003 through 2005 during 2008. New York is examining years 2003 through 2005 for various subsidiaries. California is examining years 2003 through 2005 and years 2000 through 2002 are in various stages of appeal. Massachusetts is examining years 2000 through 2004 for various subsidiaries. Inland Revenue in the United Kingdom is examining tax years 2002 through 2005 for various subsidiaries. Earlier years are closed in all of the foregoing jurisdictions. MMC regularly considers the likelihood of assessments in each of the taxing jurisdictions resulting from examinations. MMC has established appropriate liabilities for uncertain tax positions in relation to the potential assessments. MMC believes the resolution of tax matters will not have a material effect on the consolidated financial condition of MMC, although a resolution could have a material impact on MMCs net income or cash flows and on its effective tax rate in a particular future period. As of December 31, 2007 changes to our uncertain tax positions that are reasonably possible in the next 12 months are not estimated to be material.
8. Retirement Benefits
MMC maintains qualified and non-qualified defined benefit pension plans for its eligible U.S. employees and a variety of defined benefit and defined contribution plans for eligible non-U.S. employees. MMCs 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 U.S. and applicable foreign law.
Combined U.S. and non-U.S. Plans
The weighted average actuarial assumptions utilized for the U.S. and significant non-U.S. defined benefit plans as of the end of the year are as follows:
Pension Benefits | Postretirement Benefits |
||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||||
Weighted average assumptions: |
|||||||||||
Discount rate (for expense) |
5.4% | 5.1 | % | 5.8 | % | 5.6 | % | ||||
Expected return on plan assets |
8.2% | 8.2 | % | | | ||||||
Rate of compensation increase (for expense) |
3.8% | 3.8 | % | | | ||||||
Discount rate (for benefit obligation) |
6.1% | 5.4 | % | 6.5 | % | 5.8 | % | ||||
Rate of compensation increase (for benefit obligation) |
3.8% | 3.8 | % | | |
MMC uses Mercer actuaries to perform the valuations of its pension plans. The long-term rate of return assumption is selected for each plan based on the facts and circumstances that exist as of the measurement date, and the specific portfolio mix of each plans assets. MMC utilizes a model developed by its actuaries to assist in the setting of this assumption. The model takes into account several factors, including: actual and target portfolio allocation; investment, administrative and trading expenses incurred directly by the plan trust; historical portfolio performance; relevant forward-looking economic analysis; and expected returns, variances, and correlations for different asset classes. All returns utilized and produced by the model are geometric averages. These measures are used to
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determine probabilities using standard statistical techniques to calculate a range of expected returns on the portfolio. MMC generally does not adjust the rate of return assumption from year to year if, at the measurement date, it is within the best estimate range, defined as between the 25th and 75th percentile of the expected long-term annual returns in accordance with the American Academy of Actuaries Pension Practice Council Note May 2001 Selecting and Documenting Investment Return Assumptions and consistent with Actuarial Standards of Practice No. 27. The historical five- and ten-year average asset returns of each plan are also reviewed to ensure they are consistent and reasonable compared with the best estimate range. The expected return on plan assets is determined by applying the assumed long-term rate of return to the market-related value of plan assets as defined by SFAS No. 87. This market-related value recognizes investment gains or losses over a five-year period from the year in which they occur. Investment gains or losses for this purpose are the difference between the expected return calculated using the market-related value of assets and the actual return based on the market value of assets. Since the market-related value of assets recognizes gains or losses over a five-year period, the future market-related value of the assets will be impacted as previously deferred gains or losses are recorded.
The target asset allocation for the U.S. plans is 70% equities and 30% fixed income, and for the U.K. plans, which comprise approximately 83% of non-U.S. plan assets, is 58% equities and 42% fixed income. As of the measurement date, the actual allocation of assets for the U.S. plan was 73% to equities and 27% to fixed income, and for the U.K. plans was 56% to equities and 44% to fixed income. The assets of the Companys defined benefit plans are well-diversified and are managed in accordance with applicable laws and with the goal of maximizing the plans real return within acceptable risk parameters. MMC uses threshold-based portfolio rebalancing to ensure the actual portfolio remains consistent with target asset allocation ranges.
The U.S. qualified plan contains 8 million shares of MMC common stock. The shares were contributed in September 2005. Prior to this contribution, the U.S. qualified plan held no MMC securities.
The discount rate selected for each U.S. plan is based on a model bond portfolio with coupons and redemptions that closely match the expected liability cash flows from the plan. Discount rates for non-U.S. plans are based on appropriate bond indices such as the Markit iBoxx £ Corporates 15+ index in the U.K. Projected compensation increases reflect current expectations as to future levels of inflation.
The components of the net periodic benefit cost for combined U.S. and non-U.S. defined benefit plans and other postretirement plans are as follows:
For the Years Ended December 31, |
Pension Benefits | Postretirement Benefits | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(In millions of dollars) | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||||||||||||
Service cost |
$ | 230 | $ | 235 | $ | 245 | $ | 6 | $ | 6 | $ | 9 | ||||||||||||
Interest cost |
565 | 494 | 472 | 15 | 14 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||
Expected return on plan assets |
(799 | ) | (695 | ) | (640 | ) | | | | |||||||||||||||
Amortization of prior service credit |
(56 | ) | (54 | ) | (41 | ) | (13 | ) | (14 | ) | (3 | ) | ||||||||||||
Recognized actuarial loss |
207 | 237 | 177 | 2 | 4 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net periodic benefit cost |
$ | 147 | $ | 217 | $ | 213 | $ | 10 | $ | 10 | $ | 25 |
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U.S. Plans
The following schedules provide information concerning MMCs U.S. defined benefit pension plans and postretirement benefit plans:
December 31, (In millions of dollars)
|
U.S. Pension Benefits |
U.S. Postretirement Benefits |
||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||
Change in benefit obligation: |
||||||||||||||||
Benefit obligation at beginning of year |
$ | 3,264 | $ | 3,094 | $ | 192 | $ | 194 | ||||||||
Service cost |
82 | 83 | 4 | 4 | ||||||||||||
Interest cost |
196 | 182 | 11 | 11 | ||||||||||||
Amendments |
| | | | ||||||||||||
Actuarial (gain) loss |
(297 | ) | 33 | (19 | ) | (5 | ) | |||||||||
Benefits paid |
(134 | ) | (128 | ) | (15 | ) | (12 | ) | ||||||||
Benefit obligation at end of year |
$ | 3,111 | $ | 3,264 | $ | 173 | $ | 192 | ||||||||
Change in plan assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year |
$ | 3,382 | $ | 3,015 | $ | | $ | | ||||||||
Actual return on plan assets |
264 | 475 | | | ||||||||||||
Employer contributions |
20 | 20 | 15 | 12 | ||||||||||||
Benefits paid |
(134 | ) | (128 | ) | (15 | ) | (12 | ) | ||||||||
Fair value of plan assets at end of year |
$ | 3,532 | $ | 3,382 | $ | | $ | | ||||||||
Funded status |
$ | 421 | $ | 118 | $ | (173 | ) | $ | (192 | ) | ||||||
Net asset (liability) recognized |
$ | 421 | $ | 118 | $ | (173 | ) | $ | (192 | ) | ||||||
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets under SFAS 158: |
||||||||||||||||
Noncurrent assets |
$ | 747 | $ | 454 | $ | | $ | | ||||||||
Current liabilities |
(20 | ) | (19 | ) | (13 | ) | (13 | ) | ||||||||
Noncurrent liabilities |
(306 | ) | (317 | ) | (160 | ) | (179 | ) | ||||||||
$ | 421 | $ | 118 | $ | (173 | ) | $ | (192 | ) | |||||||
Amounts not yet recognized in net periodic cost and included in accumulated other comprehensive income: |
||||||||||||||||
Unrecognized prior service credit |
$ | 174 | $ | 228 | $ | 65 | $ | 78 | ||||||||
Unrecognized net actuarial loss |
(195 | ) | (572 | ) | (9 | ) | (29 | ) | ||||||||
Total amounts included in AOCI |
$ | (21 | ) | $ | (344 | ) | $ | 56 | $ | 49 | ||||||
Cumulative employer contributions in excess of net periodic cost |
442 | 462 | (229 | ) | (241 | ) | ||||||||||
Net amount recognized in consolidated balance sheet |
$ | 421 | $ | 118 | $ | (173 | ) | $ | (192 | ) | ||||||
Accumulated benefit obligation at December 31 |
$ | 3,015 | $ | 3,160 | $ | | $ | |
December 31, (In millions of dollars)
|
U.S. Pension Benefits |
U.S. Postretirement Benefits |
||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||
Reconciliation of unrecognized prior service credit: |
||||||||||||||||
Amount disclosed as of prior year end |
$ | 228 | $ | 282 | $ | 78 | $ | 92 | ||||||||
Recognized as component of net periodic benefit cost |
(54 | ) | (54 | ) | (13 | ) | (14 | ) | ||||||||
Amount at end of year |
$ | 174 | $ | 228 | $ | 65 | $ | 78 |
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December 31, (In millions of dollars)
|
U.S. Pension Benefits |
U.S. Postretirement Benefits |
||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||
Reconciliation of unrecognized net actuarial loss: |
||||||||||||||||
Amount disclosed as of prior year end |
$ | (572 | ) | $ | (858 | ) | $ | (29 | ) | $ | (37 | ) | ||||
Recognized as component of net periodic benefit cost |
82 | 96 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||||
Changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income: |
||||||||||||||||
Liability experience |
297 | (33 | ) | 18 | 5 | |||||||||||
Asset experience |
(2 | ) | 223 | | | |||||||||||
Total amount recognized as change in plan assets and benefit obligations |
295 | 190 | 18 | 5 | ||||||||||||
Amount at end of year |
$ | (195 | ) | $ | (572 | ) | $ | (9 | ) | $ | (29 | ) |
For the Years Ended December 31, (In millions of dollars) |
U.S. Pension Benefits |
U.S. Postretirement Benefits | ||||||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||||||||||
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive loss (income) |
$ | (284 | ) | $ | 55 | $ | 69 | $ | (4 | ) | $ | 4 | $ | 20 |
Estimated amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income in the next fiscal year:
(In millions of dollars)
|
U.S. Pension Benefits |
U.S. Postretirement Benefits |
||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||
Prior service cost (credit) |
$ | (54 | ) | $ | (54 | ) | $ | (13 | ) | $ | (13 | ) | ||||
Net actuarial loss |
20 | 79 | | 2 | ||||||||||||
$ | (34 | ) | $ | 25 | $ | (13 | ) | $ | (11 | ) |
The weighted average actuarial assumptions utilized in determining the above amounts for the U.S. defined benefit and other U.S. postretirement plans as of the end of the year are as follows:
U.S. Pension Benefits |
U.S. Postretirement Benefits |
|||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2007 | 2006 | |||||||||
Weighted average assumptions: |
||||||||||||
Discount rate (for expense) |
6.1 | % | 5.9 | % | 6.1 | % | 5.9 | % | ||||
Expected return on plan assets |
8.75 | % | 8.75 | % | | | ||||||
Rate of compensation increase (for expense) |
3.4 | % | 3.4 | % | | | ||||||
Discount rate (for benefit obligation) |
6.9 | % | 6.1 | % | 6.9 | % | 6.1 | % | ||||
Rate of compensation increase (for benefit obligation) |
3.4 | % | 3.4 | % | | |
The projected benefit obligation, accumulated benefit obligation and aggregate fair value of plan assets for U.S. pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets were $326 million, $312 million and $0, respectively, as of December 31, 2007 and $337 million, $322 million and $0, respectively, as of December 31, 2006.
The projected benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets for U.S. pension plans with projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets was $326 million and $0, respectively, as of December 31, 2007 and $337 million and $0, respectively, as of December 31, 2006.
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The components of the net periodic benefit cost for the U.S. defined benefit and other postretirement benefit plans are as follows:
For the Years Ended December 31, (In millions of dollars)
|
U.S. Pension | U.S. Postretirement Benefits | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||||||||||||||
Service cost |
$ | 82 | $ | 83 | $ | 88 | $ | 4 | $ | 4 | $ | 8 | ||||||||||||
Interest cost |
196 | 182 | 176 | 11 | 11 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||
Expected return on plan assets |
(267 | ) | (252 | ) | (233 | ) | | | | |||||||||||||||
Amortization of prior service credit |
(54 | ) | (54 | ) | (40 | ) | (13 | ) | (14 | ) | (3 | ) | ||||||||||||
Amortization of transition asset |
| | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Recognized actuarial loss |
82 | 96 | 78 | 2 | 3 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net periodic benefit cost |
39 | 55 | 69 | 4 | 4 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||
Curtailment gain |
| | | | | (1 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Total expense |
$ | 39 | $ | 55 | $ | 69 | $ | 4 | $ | 4 | $ | 20 |
In December 2003, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 became law. The net periodic benefit cost for 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively, shown above includes the subsidy.
The assumed health care cost trend rate for Medicare eligibles was approximately 11% in 2007, gradually declining to 5% in 2019, and the rate for non-Medicare eligibles was 10% in 2007, gradually declining to 5% in 2017. Assumed health care cost trend rates have a small effect on the amounts reported for the U.S. health care plans because MMC caps its share of healthcare trend at 5%. A one percentage point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects:
(In millions of dollars) | 1 Percentage Point Increase |
1 Percentage Point Decrease |
|||||
Effect on total of service and interest cost components |
$ | | $ | | |||
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation |
$ | | $ | (4 | ) |
Non-U.S. Plans
MMCs financial statements have always reflected pension expense and additional minimum liabilities for its non-U.S. plans based on the provisions of SFAS 87 and SFAS 132(R).
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The following schedules provide information concerning MMCs non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans and non-U.S. postretirement benefit plans.
December 31, |
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits |
Non-U.S. Postretirement Benefits |
||||||||||||||
(In millions of dollars) | 2007 | 2006 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||||
Change in benefit obligation: |