v3.26.1
Fair Value Measurements and Investments
 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2026
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value Measurements and Investments

Note 10 — Fair Value Measurements and Investments

The Company has categorized its assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis into a three-level fair value hierarchy, based on the reliability of the inputs used to determine fair value as follows:

•
Level 1: refers to fair values determined based on quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets;
•
Level 2: refers to fair values estimated using observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data; and
•
Level 3: includes fair values estimated using unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.

The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating its fair value disclosure for financial instruments:

•
Mutual funds and exchange-traded funds are classified as Level 1 because we use quoted market prices in active markets in determining the fair value of these securities.
•
Debt securities are classified as Level 1 financial instruments as they are based on quoted market prices in active markets.
•
Commingled funds are not leveled within the fair value hierarchy as the funds are valued at the net value of shares held as reported by the manager of the funds. These funds are not exchange-traded.
•
Hedge funds are not leveled within the fair value hierarchy as the fair values for these investments are estimated based on the net asset values derived from the latest audited financial statements or most recent capital account statements provided by the funds’ investment manager or third-party administrator, as a practical expedient.
•
Market values for our derivative instruments have been used to determine the fair values of forward and option foreign exchange contracts based on estimated amounts the Company would receive or have to pay to terminate the agreements, taking into account observable information about the current foreign currency forward rates. Such financial instruments are classified as Level 2.
•
Contingent consideration payable is classified as Level 3, and we estimate fair value based on the likelihood and timing of achieving the relevant milestones of each arrangement, applying a probability assessment to each of the potential outcomes, which at times includes the use of a Monte Carlo simulation and discounting the probability-weighted payout. Typically, milestones are based on revenue or earnings growth for the acquired business.

The following tables present our assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025:

 

 

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring Basis at
June 30, 2026

 

 

 

Balance Sheet Location

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

 

Total

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available-for-sale securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mutual funds/exchange traded funds (i)

 

Prepaid and other current assets and Other non-current assets

 

$

154

 

 

$

—

 

 

$

—

 

 

$

154

 

 

 

Fiduciary assets

 

 

529

 

 

 

—

 

 

 

—

 

 

 

529

 

Debt securities

 

Prepaid and other current assets and Other non-current assets

 

 

52

 

 

 

—

 

 

 

—

 

 

 

52

 

Commingled funds (i) (ii)

 

Prepaid and other current assets and Other non-current assets

 

 

—

 

 

 

—

 

 

 

—

 

 

 

33

 

Hedge funds (i) (iii)

 

Prepaid and other current assets and Other non-current assets

 

 

—

 

 

 

—

 

 

 

—

 

 

 

29

 

Derivatives:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative financial instruments (iv)

 

Prepaid and other current assets and Other non-current assets

 

$

—

 

 

$

2

 

 

$

—

 

 

$

2

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contingent consideration:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contingent consideration (v)

 

Other current liabilities and Other non-current liabilities

 

$

—

 

 

$

—

 

 

$

77

 

 

$

77

 

Derivatives:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative financial instruments (iv)

 

Other current liabilities and Other non-current liabilities

 

$

—

 

 

$

2

 

 

$

—

 

 

$

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring Basis at
December 31, 2025

 

 

 

Balance Sheet Location

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

 

Total

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available-for-sale securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mutual funds/exchange traded funds (i)

 

Prepaid and other current assets and Other non-current assets

 

$

145

 

 

$

—

 

 

$

—

 

 

$

145

 

 

 

Fiduciary assets

 

 

448

 

 

 

—

 

 

 

—

 

 

 

448

 

Commingled funds (i) (ii)

 

Prepaid and other current assets and Other non-current assets

 

 

—

 

 

 

—

 

 

 

—

 

 

 

31

 

Hedge funds (i) (iii)

 

Prepaid and other current assets and Other non-current assets

 

 

—

 

 

 

—

 

 

 

—

 

 

 

28

 

Derivatives:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative financial instruments (iv)

 

Prepaid and other current assets and Other non-current assets

 

$

—

 

 

$

5

 

 

$

—

 

 

$

5

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contingent consideration:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contingent consideration (v)

 

Other current liabilities and Other non-current liabilities

 

$

—

 

 

$

—

 

 

$

14

 

 

$

14

 

Derivatives:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative financial instruments (iv)

 

Other current liabilities and Other non-current liabilities

 

$

—

 

 

$

1

 

 

$

—

 

 

$

1

 

 

(i)
With the exception of the funds included in fiduciary assets, the majority of these balances are held as part of deferred compensation plans with related liabilities in other current liabilities and other non-current liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
(ii)
Consists of the Towers Watson Global Equity Focus Fund, for which redemptions can occur on any business day, and require a minimum of one business day’s notice.
(iii)
Consists of the Towers Watson Alternative Credit Fund, for which the redemption period is generally quarterly, however requires a 50-day notice.
(iv)
See Note 8 — Derivative Financial Instruments for further information on our derivative contracts.
(v)
At June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, represents consideration due to be paid across multiple years until 2031 and 2029, respectively. Probability weightings are based on our knowledge of the past and planned performance of the acquired entity to which the contingent consideration applies. The fair value weighted-average discount rates used in our material contingent consideration calculations were 13.17% and 11.00% at June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively. The range of these discount rates was 11.00% - 13.40% at June 30, 2026. Using different probability weightings and discount rates could result in an increase or decrease of the contingent consideration payable.

The following table summarizes the change in fair value of the Level 3 liabilities:

 

Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

 

June 30, 2026

 

Balance at December 31, 2025

 

$

14

 

Obligations assumed

 

 

65

 

Payments

 

 

(2

)

Realized and unrealized losses (i)

 

 

—

 

Foreign exchange

 

 

—

 

Balance at June 30, 2026

 

$

77

 

 

(i)
Realized and unrealized losses include accretion and adjustments to contingent consideration liabilities, which are included within Interest expense and Other operating expenses, respectively, on the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

 

There were no significant transfers to or from Level 3 in the six months ended June 30, 2026.

 

Held-to-Maturity Securities

 

During the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company invested $50 million in debt securities, which it had intended to hold to maturity. During the second quarter of 2026, the Company reclassified these debt instruments to available-for-sale upon determining that the investment strategy could change in the future should the interest rate environment change significantly.

 

Non-recurring Fair Value Measurement

 

The Company has assets that may be required to be recorded at fair value on a non-recurring basis. These assets are evaluated when certain triggering events occur (including the planned disposal of a business or a decrease in estimated future cash flows) that indicate their carrying amounts may not be recoverable.

Additional Fair Value Information about Financial Instruments

The following tables present our assets and liabilities not measured at fair value on a recurring basis, as well as information about our available-for-sale securities, at June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025:

 

 

 

June 30, 2026

 

 

December 31, 2025

 

Assets:

 

Amortized Cost

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

Carrying Value

 

 

Fair Value

 

Debt securities (i):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due in one year or less

 

$

8

 

 

$

8

 

 

$

8

 

 

$

8

 

Due in one year through five years

 

$

42

 

 

$

42

 

 

$

42

 

 

$

42

 

Due in greater than five years

 

$

2

 

 

$

2

 

 

$

1

 

 

$

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

Carrying Value

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

Carrying Value

 

 

Fair Value

 

Current debt

 

$

749

 

 

$

751

 

 

$

550

 

 

$

550

 

Long-term debt

 

$

5,781

 

 

$

5,581

 

 

$

5,756

 

 

$

5,618

 

 

(i)
Consists of available-for-sale securities at June 30, 2026 and held-to-maturity securities at December 31, 2025. At June 30, 2026, the available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value.

 

The carrying values of our revolving credit facility and DDTL approximate their fair values. The fair values above, which exclude accrued interest, are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that the Company would realize upon disposition, nor do they indicate the Company’s intent or ability to dispose of the financial instruments. The fair values of our debt securities are considered Level 1 financial instruments as they are based on quoted market prices in active markets. The fair values of our respective senior notes are considered Level 2 financial instruments as they are corroborated by observable market data.