Business Context and Reporting Period
This Form 8-K is a current report filed by Willis Group Holdings Limited on December 1, 2008. The filing addresses a temporary suspension of trading under the registrant's employee benefit plans and the corresponding trading blackout period for directors and executive officers.
Key Financial Metrics
The filing text does not provide a clear value for revenue, profit, cash flow, margins, debt, or liquidity. This report is administrative in nature and does not contain financial performance data.
Material Changes
The material event reported is the implementation of a merger between the HRH Retirement Savings Plan and the Willis 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan, effective January 1, 2009. This merger necessitates a temporary suspension of trading activities.
Guidance, Outlook, and Management Commentary
- Blackout Period Details: A blackout period for the HRH Plan is expected to begin at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December 30, 2008, and end during the week of January 4, 2009.
- Restrictions: During this period, participants cannot direct investments, take distributions, or take loans. Concurrently, directors and executive officers are prohibited from trading Willis common shares and related equity securities pursuant to Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
- Contact Information: Inquiries regarding the actual beginning and ending dates of the trading blackout period should be directed to Shaun Bryant at +44 (0)20 3124 7146.
Important Facts for Investor Verification
- Verify the exact start and end dates of the trading blackout period, as the filing only provides expected dates.
- Confirm the effective date of the HRH Plan merger into the Willis 401(k) Plan (January 1, 2009).
- Note that the trading restriction applies to directors and executive officers for the duration of the blackout period.