8-K
WILLIS TOWERS WATSON PLC false 0001140536 0001140536 2022-02-22 2022-02-22

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 22, 2022

 

 

Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Ireland   001-16503   98-0352587

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

c/o Willis Group Limited, 51 Lime Street, London, EC3M 7DQ, England and Wales

(Address, including Zip Code, of Principal Executive Offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (011) 44-20-3124-6000

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange
on which registered

Ordinary Shares, nominal value $0.000304635 per share   WLTW   NASDAQ Global Select Market

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 

 


Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On February 22, 2022, the Compensation Committee (the “Compensation Committee”) of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company, a corporation organized under the laws of Ireland (the “Company”), approved, and the Board ratified, changes to the short-term incentive compensation program (“STI Program”) and the long-term incentive compensation program (the “LTI Program” and together with the STI Program, the “Incentive Programs”) for the Company’s executive officers for 2022. These changes are intended to support a unified, team mindset as the Company aims to advance its new business strategy.

On February 22, 2022, the Compensation Committee also approved, and the Board ratified, certain amendments to the Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company Severance and Change in Control Pay Plan for U.S. Executives (as amended, the “U.S. Executive Severance Plan”) and the Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company Severance and Change in Control Pay Plan for Non-U.S. Executives (as amended, the “Non-U.S. Executive Severance Plan” and, together with the U.S. Executive Severance Plan, the “Severance Plans”), each of which was previously approved by the Board on March 8, 2020, and amended on June 5, 2020.

The key updates to the 2022 Incentive Programs and the amendments to the Severance Plans are summarized below.

Short-Term Incentive Program

Under the 2022 STI Program, executive officers will continue to receive an annual target award expressed as a percentage of such person’s base salary. The awards will be weighted 66.7% upon enterprise financial performance and 33.3% upon individual performance. The enterprise financial performance component will be based half on adjusted net revenue and half on adjusted operating income, while the individual performance component will be based half on a qualitative assessment tied to applicable segment, geography or function financial performance, and half on individual objectives and contributions to shared key enterprise operational initiatives, including inclusion and diversity, colleague engagement, transformation and innovation.

Payouts under the 2022 STI Program will be measured based upon the achievement of adjusted net revenue and adjusted operating income targets aligned with the Company’s annual budget, which will range from 50% of target for threshold performance to 200% of target for maximum performance. The attainment levels for the enterprise financial performance component will continue to be determined based on the same metrics and the resulting performance percent will be the same percentage of target that the broad-based bonus pool for employees is funded.

The Compensation Committee retains discretion on the overall 2022 STI Program payout for executive officers based on their assessment of Company performance and the broad-based employee short-term incentive enterprise funding.

Long-Term Incentive Program

For the 2022 LTI Program, the Compensation Committee has introduced time-based restricted share units (“RSUs”), which will be awarded to executive officers along with performance-based restricted share units (“PSUs”) to support retention as the Company executes the Grow, Simplify, Transform strategy and further align the Company’s LTI Program with common market practice. Accordingly, under the 2022 LTI Program, in order to align share-based awards with the Company’s three-year performance targets, the equity awards to executive officers are comprised of 75% PSUs that cliff vest at the end of the three-year performance period, subject to the satisfaction of the applicable


performance goals under the award agreement, and 25% RSUs that vest in equal installments over three years. The PSUs granted under the 2022 LTI Program will vest based on performance relative to the achievement of growth targets at the end of fiscal year 2024, which will be based 50% on adjusted operating margin, 30% on adjusted net revenue and 20% on adjusted earnings per share metrics, consistent with the Company’s three-year financial targets, as outlined in the Company’s 2021 Investor Day presentation. Both PSUs and RSUs will accrue dividends that will be paid only on vested shares. This LTI design will be the same for the broad-based 2022 LTI Program.

The Forms of 2022 LTI award agreements for the executive officers are attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and Exhibit 10.2.

Severance Plans

The Severance Plans provide for the payment of severance benefits if a participant’s employment is involuntarily terminated without “cause” (and other than due to the participant’s death or permanent disability) (an “Involuntary Termination”) and also if a participant resigns for “good reason” in connection with a “change in control” (an Involuntary Termination or resignation for good reason in connection with a change in control, a “Qualifying Termination”). The amendments to the U.S. Executive Severance Plan primarily changed amounts payable to Carl Hess, the Company’s new Chief Executive Officer as of January 1, 2022, under the U.S. Executive Severance Plan. Specifically, following an Involuntary Termination (as defined under the U.S. Executive Severance Plan) prior to the six-month period preceding a “change in control” or after the 24-month period following a “change in control,” Mr. Hess would be eligible to receive two times his base salary plus target short-term incentive bonus payable in monthly cash installments during a 24-month period. Following a Qualifying Termination (as defined under the U.S. Executive Severance Plan) during the period commencing six months prior to a “change in control” and ending 24 months following a “change in control,” Mr. Hess would be eligible to receive a lump sum cash payment equal to 36 months’ of base salary plus three times target short-term incentive bonus and a pro rata portion of the annual short-term incentive award payable for the year of termination based on the period he is employed during the year. In either case, Mr. Hess is also entitled to payment of the cost of COBRA premiums for the continuation of group healthcare coverage for up to 24 months following termination

Certain other clarifying changes were also made to the Severance Plans relating to eligibility, updated Company policies, the Company continuing on a standalone basis and also to require that participants in the Severance Plans execute and deliver a general release of liability in favor of Company.

The foregoing descriptions of the Severance Plans provide a summary of updated terms and are subject to and qualified in their entirety by the terms of the full text of the U.S. Executive Severance Plan and the Non-U.S. Severance Plan, copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibits 10.3 and 10.4 and incorporated herein by reference.

Payment of 2021 STI Award to Mr. John Haley (Company’s Former Chief Executive Officer)

The Company previously reported that the Committee approved, and Board ratified, the payment of a 2021 STI award to Mr. Haley on December 31, 2021 (his departure date from the Company) based on forecasted enterprise financial results and individual achievement. At the time, the Company further reported that if actual results exceeded estimated results for the applicable period, Mr. Haley would subsequently be paid any remainder due

under his STI Award and if actual results for the full year were lower than forecasted, Mr. Haley would repay any surplus. Based on actual results, the Company will pay Mr. Haley an additional $202,410.


Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

10.1    Form of 2022 Executive Officer LTI Award Agreement (RSUs).
10.2    Form of 2022 Executive Officer LTI Award Agreement (PSUs).
10.3    Willis Towers Watson Severance and Change in Control Pay Plan for U.S. Executives, dated as of February 22, 2022.
10.4    Willis Towers Watson Severance and Change in Control Pay Plan for Non-U.S. Executives, dated as of February 22, 2022.
104    Cover Page Interactive File (the cover page tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document)


SIGNATURES

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

 

Date: February 28, 2022   WILLIS TOWERS WATSON PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
    By:  

/s/ Matthew Furman

        Matthew Furman
        General Counsel
EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

WILLIS TOWERS WATSON PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY

2012 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN, AS AMENDED AND RESTATED

TIME-BASED RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

FOR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

THIS TIME-BASED RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), is made by and between Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company and any successor thereto (the “Company”) and the individual (the “Colleague”) who has signed or electronically accepted this Agreement (including the Schedules attached hereto) in the manner specified in the Colleague’s online account with the Company’s designated broker/stock plan administrator.

WHEREAS, the Company wishes to carry out the Plan (as hereinafter defined), the terms of which are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Committee (as defined in the Plan) has determined that it would be to the advantage and best interest of the Company and its shareholders to grant an award of time-based Restricted Share Units (as hereinafter defined) provided for herein to the Colleague as an incentive for increased efforts during the Colleague’s employment with the Company, its Subsidiaries (as defined in the Plan) or its Designated Associate Companies (as defined in the Plan), and has advised the Company thereof and instructed the undersigned officer to prepare said Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto do hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meaning specified in the Plan or below. The masculine pronoun shall include the feminine and neuter, and the singular the plural, where the context so indicates.

Section 1.1 - Cause

“Cause” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term or similar term (e.g., “Good Cause”) in the Colleague’s employment agreement, if any, with the Company, a Subsidiary or a Designated Associate Company, and, in the absence of an employment agreement or such definition in the employment agreement, it shall mean: (i) the Colleague’s gross or chronic neglect or negligence in the performance of the Colleague’s employment duties with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries or Designated Associate Companies having been provided reasonable notice of such neglect or negligence and a period of at least ten (10) days after the Colleague’s receipt of such notice to cure and/or correct such performance neglect or negligence, (ii) willful misconduct by the Colleague in connection with the Colleague’s employment which is injurious to the Company or its Subsidiaries or Designated Associate Companies (willful misconduct shall be understood to include, but not be limited to, any breach of the duty of loyalty owed by the Colleague to the Company or its Subsidiaries or Designated Associate Companies), (iii) conviction of any criminal act (other than minor road traffic violations not involving imprisonment), (iv) any breach of the Colleague’s restrictive covenants and other obligations as provided in the Colleague’s employment agreement (if any), or any other non-compete agreement and/or confidentiality agreement entered into between the Colleague and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Designated Associate Companies (other than an insubstantial, inadvertent and non-recurring breach), or (v) any violation of any material written Company policy, which includes any policy regarding sexual harassment, after reasonable notice and an opportunity to cure such violation (if curable as determined by the Board) within ten (10) days after the Colleague’s receipt of such notice.

 

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Section 1.2 - Good Reason

“Good Reason” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term or similar term in the employment agreement, if any, with the Company, a Subsidiary or a Designated Associate Company; in the absence of an employment agreement or such term in the employment agreement, it shall mean that one or more of the following events has occurred without the Colleague’s written consent: (i) a material adverse diminution in the Colleague’s position, authority or responsibilities or the assignment to Colleague of duties or responsibilities which are materially inconsistent with the Colleague’s position; (ii) a reduction in the Colleague’s monthly base salary or target annual incentive plan percentage; or (iii) the Colleague is required to relocate the Colleague’s primary work location of record, either (A) if the Colleague is designated to work primarily at a Company office, to an office outside a radius of 50 miles from the Colleague’s current office location, or (B) if the Colleague’s is designated to work primarily on a “remote” basis, to any office or location that is not materially consistent with the Colleague’s remote work arrangement. The Colleague may not resign or otherwise terminate the Colleague’s employment for any reason set forth above as Good Reason unless the Colleague first notifies the Employer in writing describing such Good Reason within 90 days of the first occurrence of such circumstances, and, thereafter, such Good Reason is not corrected by the Employer within 30 days of the Colleague’s written notice of such Good Reason, and the Colleague actually terminates employment within 90 days following the expiration of the Employer’s 30-day cure period described above.

Section 1.3 - Grant Date

“Grant Date” shall mean the date set forth in a schedule to the Agreement or communicated to the Colleague through his online account with the Company’s designated broker/stock plan administrator.

Section 1.4 - Nominal Value

“Nominal Value” shall mean $0.00030465 per Share.

Section 1.5 - Plan

“Plan” shall mean the Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company 2012 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.

Section 1.6 Qualifying Retirement

“Qualifying Retirement” shall mean a voluntary Termination of Service by the Colleague after the Colleague’s attainment of either (i) the age of 55 and the Colleague’s completion of 10 years of Service, or (ii) the age of 65 and the Colleague’s completion of 5 years of Service, provided that the Committee has not determined that a basis exists for the Colleague’s Termination of Service for Cause at the time of such Termination of Service.

Section 1.7 – Restricted Share Units or RSUs

“Restricted Share Units” or “RSUs” shall mean a conditional right to receive Shares pursuant to the terms of the Plan and this Agreement upon vesting and settlement, subject to the Colleague’s continued employment through each Vesting Date.

 

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Section 1.8 Service

“Service” shall mean service as an Employee with the Company, a Subsidiary or Designated Associate Company thereof or a Legacy Company.

Section 1.9 – Shares

“Shares” shall mean Ordinary Shares of the Company, Nominal Value per Share, which may be authorized but unissued.

Section 1.10 - Termination Date

Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, the “Termination Date” shall mean the later of (i) the last day of the Colleague’s active employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries or Designated Associate Companies or (ii) the last day of any notice period or garden leave, as provided for under the Colleague’s employment agreement or local law; provided, however, that in the case of United States taxpayers, the Termination Date shall mean a date that will allow the RSUs to comply with Section 409A of the Code.

Section 1.11 - Vesting Dates

“Vesting Dates” shall mean the first, second and third anniversaries of the Grant Date.

ARTICLE II

GRANT OF TIME-BASED RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS

Section 2.1 - Grant of the Time-Based Restricted Share Units

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and the additional terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement including any country-specific provisions set forth in Schedule A to this Agreement, and, if applicable, the restrictive covenants set forth in Schedule B or Schedule C to the Agreement (whichever is applicable), the Company hereby grants to the Colleague the number of RSUs specified in a schedule to the Agreement or as stated in the Colleague’s online account with the Company’s designated broker/stock plan administrator. In circumstances where the Colleague is required to enter into the Agreement of Restrictive Covenants and Other Obligations set forth in Schedule B or Schedule C, the Colleague agrees that the grant of RSUs pursuant to this Agreement is sufficient consideration for the Colleague entering into such agreement. The Colleague agrees to execute and deliver or electronically accept, in the manner and within the period specified in the Colleague’s online account with the Company’s designated broker/stock plan administrator, the Agreement including any applicable schedules thereto. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, cancel the RSUs if the Colleague fails to execute and deliver or electronically accept the Agreement and documents within the period set forth in the foregoing sentence.

Section 2.2 - RSU Payment

In accordance with Section 7(d)(ii) of the Plan, the Shares to be issued upon vesting and settlement of the RSUs must be fully paid up prior to issuance of Shares by payment of the Nominal Value per Share. The Committee shall ensure that payment of the Nominal Value for any Shares underlying the RSUs is received by it on behalf of the Colleague at the time the RSUs are settled from a non-Irish Subsidiary or other source and shall establish any procedures or protocols necessary to ensure that payment is timely received.

 

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Section 2.3 - Employment or Service Rights

Subject to the terms of the Agreement of Restrictive Covenants and Other Obligations, where applicable, the rights and obligations of the Colleague under the terms of his office or employment with the Company or any Subsidiary or Designated Associate Company shall not be affected by his participation in the Plan or any right which he may have to participate in it. The RSUs and the Colleague’s participation in the Plan will not be interpreted to form an employment agreement or service contract with the Company or any Subsidiary or a Designated Associate Company and the terms of any separate employment agreement to which the Colleague is a party shall remain in effect and will control to the extent that there are any inconsistencies with this Agreement. The Colleague hereby waives any and all rights to compensation or damages in consequence of the Termination of Service for any reason whatsoever insofar as those rights arise or may arise from his ceasing to have rights under or be entitled to earn or vest in his RSUs as a result of such Termination of Service. If, notwithstanding the foregoing, any such claim is allowed by a court of competent jurisdiction, then, by participating in the Plan, the Colleague shall be deemed irrevocably to have agreed not to pursue such claim and agrees to execute any and all documents necessary to request dismissal or withdrawal of such claims.

Section 2.4 - Adjustments in RSUs Pursuant to Change of Control or Similar Event, etc.

Subject to Sections 11 and 12 of the Plan, in the event that the outstanding Shares subject to the RSUs are, from time to time, changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of Shares or other securities, by reason of a share split, spin-off, share or extraordinary cash dividend, share combination or reclassification, recapitalization or merger, Change of Control, or similar event, the Committee shall, in its absolute discretion, substitute or adjust proportionally (i) the number and kind of Shares subject to the RSUs; or (ii) the terms and conditions of the RSUs. An adjustment may have the effect of reducing the price at which Shares may be acquired to less than their Nominal Value (the “Shortfall”), but only if and to the extent that the Committee shall be authorized to capitalize from the reserves of the Company a sum equal to the Shortfall and to apply that sum in paying up that amount on the Shares. Any such adjustment or determination made by the Committee shall be final and binding upon the Colleague, the Company and all other interested persons.

Section 2.5 - Tax Withholding

The Colleague acknowledges that, regardless of any action taken by the Employer, the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items, is and remains the Colleague’s responsibility and may exceed the amount actually withheld by the Company or the Employer. The Colleague further acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (1) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the RSUs, including, but not limited to, the grant, vesting or settlement of the RSUs, the subsequent sale of Shares acquired pursuant to such settlement and the receipt of any dividends and/or any dividend equivalents; and (2) do not commit to and are under no obligation to structure the terms of the grant or any aspect of the RSUs to reduce or eliminate the Colleague’s liability for Tax-Related Items or achieve any particular tax result. Further, if the Colleague is subject to Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction, the Colleague acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (or former employer, as applicable) may be required to withhold or account for Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction.

Prior to any relevant taxable or tax withholding event, as applicable, the Colleague agrees to make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company and/or the Employer to satisfy all Tax-Related Items.

In this regard, the Colleague authorizes the Company and/or the Employer, or their respective agents, to satisfy the obligations with regard to all Tax-Related Items by withholding in Shares to be issued upon settlement of the RSUs. In the event that such withholding in Shares is problematic under applicable tax or securities law or has materially adverse accounting consequences, by the Colleague’s acceptance of the RSUs, the Colleague authorizes the Company and/or the Employer, or their respective agents, to (i)

 

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withhold from the Colleague’s wages or other cash amounts payable to the Colleague from the Company or the Employer, (ii) sell on the Colleague’s behalf a whole number of Shares from those Shares issued to the Colleague as the Company determines to be appropriate to generate cash proceeds sufficient to satisfy the obligation for Tax-Related Items, or (iii) utilize any other method of withholding determined by the Company and permitted by applicable laws and the Plan.

The Company may withhold or account for Tax-Related Items by considering statutory withholding rates or other withholding rates, including minimum or maximum applicable rates applicable in the Colleague’s jurisdiction(s). In the event of over-withholding, the Colleague may receive a refund of any over-withheld amount in cash (with no entitlement to the Share equivalent), or if not refunded, the Colleague may seek a refund from the local tax authorities. In the event of under-withholding, the Colleague may be required to pay any additional Tax-Related Items directly to the applicable tax authority or to the Company and/or the Employer. If the obligation for Tax-Related Items is satisfied by withholding in Shares, for tax purposes, the Colleague is deemed to have been issued the full number of Shares subject to the vested RSUs, notwithstanding that a number of Shares are held back solely for the purpose of paying the Tax-Related Items.

Finally, the Colleague agrees to pay to the Company or the Employer any amount of Tax-Related Items that the Company or the Employer may be required to withhold or account for as a result of the Colleague’s participation in the Plan that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described. The Company may refuse to issue or deliver the Shares or the proceeds of the sale of Shares, if the Colleague fails to comply with the Colleague’s obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items.

Section 2.6 - Dividend Equivalents

On each date that a cash dividend is paid to holders of Shares from the Grant Date through the date immediately prior to the date the RSUs are settled, an amount (the “Dividend Equivalent Amount”) equal to the cash dividend that is paid on each Share, multiplied by the total number of RSUs and any Dividend Equivalent Units (as defined below) that remain unvested and outstanding as of the dividend payment record date, will be credited to the Colleague, and such credited amount will be converted into an additional number of RSUs (“Dividend Equivalent Units”) determined by dividing the Dividend Equivalent Amount by the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of the dividend payment. Dividend Equivalent Units will be subject to the same conditions as the underlying RSUs with respect to which Dividend Equivalent Units were paid, including without limitation, the provisions governing time and form of settlement applicable to the underlying RSUs. Unless expressly provided otherwise, as used elsewhere in this Agreement, references to RSUs in this Agreement shall also include Dividend Equivalent Units that have been credited to the Colleague pursuant to this Section 2.6.

Section 2.7 - Clawback Policy

The Company may cancel all or part of the RSUs or require payment by the Colleague to the Company of all or part of any amount or Shares acquired by the Colleague upon vesting and settlement of the RSUs pursuant to the Company’s Clawback Policy as stated in Section 9 of the Plan.

ARTICLE III

TIME-BASED VESTING REQUIREMENTS

Section 3.1 - Vesting Provisions, Forfeiture and Settlement

(a) The RSUs shall vest in three (3) equal annual installments on each of the Vesting Dates, subject to the Colleague’s continued employment with the Company or any Subsidiary or Designated Associate Company through the applicable Vesting Date and the other requirements in this Section 3.1, and upon vesting the RSUs shall become payable in accordance with Section 3.1(h) below.

 

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(b) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 3.1 and the terms of the Colleague’s employment agreement, in the event of the Colleague’s Termination of Service prior to a Vesting Date, any RSUs that are unvested as of the Vesting Date will be forfeited immediately by the Colleague, subject to, and except as otherwise specified in, and subject to the terms and conditions of the other subsections of this Section 3.1.

(c) In the event of the Colleague’s Termination of Service after the first anniversary of the Grant Date and prior to a Vesting Date due to a Qualifying Retirement, any RSUs that are unvested as of the Termination Date shall continue to vest on the original Vesting Dates that occur following the Termination Date, subject to the Colleague’s compliance with the restrictive covenants and other obligations contemplated under Article VI of this Agreement. For the avoidance of any doubt, the provisions of this Section 3.1(c) shall prevail over the provisions of Section 3.1(d) and 3.1(e).

(d) In the event the RSUs are assumed or otherwise substituted or replaced by the successor corporation or an affiliate thereof in connection with a Change of Control the Colleague experiences a (i) Termination of Service without Cause by the Company or (ii) Termination of Service by the Colleague for Good Reason, in each case, within the 24-month period commencing on the effective date of a Change of Control, all unvested RSUs shall vest as of the Termination Date.

(e) In the event of the Colleague’s (i) Termination of Service without Cause by the Company or (ii) Termination of Service by the Colleague for Good Reason, in each case, after the first anniversary of the Grant Date and prior to a Change of Control or after the 24-month period commencing on the effective date of a Change of Control, any RSUs that are unvested as of the Termination Date shall be forfeited automatically by the Colleague unless the Committee, in its sole discretion, elects to accelerate some or all of the unvested RSUs. If no determination is made by the Committee as of the Termination Date, then the RSUs shall, to the extent not then vested, be immediately forfeited by the Colleague.

(f) In the event of the Colleague’s Termination of Service as a result of the Colleague’s Permanent Disability or death, all unvested RSUs shall vest as of the Termination Date.

(g) In the event the RSUs are not assumed or otherwise substituted or replaced by the successor corporation or an affiliate thereof in connection with a Change of Control, all RSUs that are unvested as of the Change of Control shall vest immediately prior to the date of the Change of Control.

(h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 3.1, no RSUs shall vest prior to the first anniversary of the Grant Date except in the case of the Colleague’s Termination of Service resulting from death or Permanent Disability or in connection with a Change of Control.

(i) RSUs that become vested shall be delivered on the applicable Vesting Date or, if earlier, upon an accelerated vesting event pursuant to Sections 3.1(d) through 3.1(g), or as soon as practicable, but not later than 30 days, thereafter.

(j) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the RSUs are considered non-qualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code (“Deferred Compensation”), as determined in the sole discretion of the Company, and the Colleague is a U.S. Taxpayer, (i) any RSUs that are scheduled to be settled on, or on a date that is by reference to, the Colleague’s Termination of Service shall not be settled on such date unless the Termination of Service constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, and if the Colleague is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code on the date the Colleague experiences a separation from service, then the RSUs shall instead be settled on the first business day of the seventh month following the Colleague’s separation from

 

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service, or, if earlier, on the date of the Colleague’s death, to the extent such delayed payment is required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Section 409A of the Code and (ii) any RSUs that are scheduled to be settled upon, or a date that is by reference to, a Change of Control that does not constitute a “change in control event” within the meaning of U.S. Treas. Regs § 1.409A-3(i)(5) shall instead be settled in cash in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of the Change of Control on the earliest of (A) the Vesting Date, (B) the Colleague’s separation from service” and (C) the Colleagues’ death.

Section 3.2 - Conditions to Issuance of Shares

The RSUs to be delivered hereunder shall be previously authorized but unissued Shares. Such Shares shall be fully paid. The Company shall not be required to deliver any certificates representing such Shares (or their electronic equivalent) allotted and issued upon the applicable date of the vesting of the RSUs prior to fulfillment of all of the following conditions, and in any event, subject to Section 409A of the Code for United States taxpayers:

(a) The obtaining of approval or other clearance from any state, federal, local or foreign governmental agency which the Committee shall, in its absolute discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable;

(b) The Colleague has paid or made arrangements to pay the Tax-Related Items pursuant to Section 2.5; and

(c) No fractional Shares shall be issued under this Agreement.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee may in the case of United States resident employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries require an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to it to the effect that any subsequent transfer of Shares acquired on the vesting of RSUs does not violate the Exchange Act and may issue stop-transfer orders in the United States covering such Shares.

Section 3.3 - Rights as Shareholder

The Colleague shall not be, nor have any of the rights or privileges of, a shareholder of the Company in respect of any Shares that may be received upon the settlement of the RSUs unless and until certificates representing such Shares or their electronic equivalent shall have been issued by the Company to the Colleague.

Section 3.4 - Limitation on Obligations

The Company’s obligation with respect to the RSUs granted hereunder is limited solely to the delivery to the Colleague of Shares within the period when such Shares are due to be delivered hereunder, and in no event shall the Company become obligated to pay cash in respect of such obligation. The RSUs shall not be secured by any specific assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Designated Associate Companies, nor shall any assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Designated Associate Companies be designated as attributable or allocated to the satisfaction of the Company’s obligations under this Agreement. In addition, the Company shall not be liable to the Colleague for damages relating to any delays in issuing the share certificates or its electronic equivalent to the Colleague (or his designated entities), any loss of the certificates, or any mistakes or errors in the issuance of the certificates (or the electronic equivalent) to the Colleague (or his designated entities) or in the certificates themselves.

 

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ARTICLE IV

ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE RSUs

Section 4.1 - Nature of Award

In accepting the RSUs, the Colleague acknowledges, understands and agrees that:

(a) the Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, is discretionary in nature and may be amended, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time, to the extent permitted by the Plan;

(b) the RSU award is exceptional, voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future RSU awards, or benefits in lieu of RSU awards, even if RSUs have been granted in the past;

(c) all decisions with respect to future RSUs or other grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company;

(d) the Colleague’s participation in the Plan is voluntary;

(e) the RSUs and any Shares acquired under the Plan, and the income and the value of same, are not intended to replace any pension rights or compensation under any pension arrangement;

(f) the RSUs and any Shares acquired under the Plan, and the income and the value of same, are not part of normal or expected compensation or salary for any purposes, including, but not limited to, calculating any severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, end of service payments, dismissal, bonuses, holiday pay, long-service awards, pension or retirement or welfare benefits or similar payments;

(g) unless otherwise agreed with the Company, the RSUs and the Shares subject to the RSUs, and the income and value of same, are not granted as consideration for, or in connection with, services the Colleague may provide as a director of any Subsidiary or affiliate;

(h) the future value of the Shares underlying the RSUs is unknown, indeterminable, and cannot be predicted with certainty;

(i) no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from forfeiture of the RSUs or the underlying Shares resulting from the Colleague’s Termination of Service (for any reason whatsoever, whether or not later found to be invalid or in breach of employment laws in the jurisdiction where the Colleague is employed or the terms of his employment agreement, if any);

(j) unless otherwise provided in the Plan or by the Company in its discretion, the RSUs and the benefits evidenced by this Agreement do not create any entitlement to have the RSUs or any such benefits transferred to, or assumed by, another company nor to be exchanged, cashed out or substituted for, in connection with any Change of Control or similar event affecting the Shares of the Company; and

(k) if the Colleague is providing services outside the United States, neither the Company, the Employer nor any Subsidiary or Designated Associate Company shall be liable for any foreign exchange rate fluctuation between the Colleague’s local currency and the United States Dollar that may affect the value of the RSUs or of any amounts due to the Colleague pursuant to the settlement of the RSUs or the subsequent sale of any Shares acquired upon settlement.

 

8


Section 4.2 - No Advice Regarding Grant

The Company its Subsidiaries and Designated Associate Companies are not providing any tax, legal or financial advice, nor is the Company making any recommendations regarding the Colleague’s participation in the Plan, the issuance of Shares upon vesting of the RSUs or sale of the Shares. The Colleague should consult with his own personal tax, legal and financial advisors regarding his or her participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan.

ARTICLE V

DATA PRIVACY NOTICE

Section 5.1 - Data Privacy

The Company is located at 51 Lime Street, London, EC3M 7DQ, England and Wales and grants employees of the Company, Subsidiaries and Designated Associate Companies the opportunity to participate in the Plan, at the Company’s sole discretion. If the Colleague would like to participate in the Plan, the Colleague understands that the Company will process the Colleague’s Personal Data in accordance with the Global Employee Personal Information Protection Notice set forth in Schedule D to this Agreement.

ARTICLE VI

AGREEMENT OF RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS

Section 6.1 - Restrictive Covenants and Other Obligations

In consideration of the grant of RSUs, the Colleague shall enter into the Agreement of Restrictive Covenants and Other Obligations, a copy of which is attached hereto as Schedule B or Schedule C. In the event the Colleague does not sign and return or electronically accept the Agreement of Restrictive Covenants and Other Obligations in the manner specified within 45 days of the receipt of this Agreement, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, cancel the RSUs. If no such agreement is required, Schedule B or Schedule C shall state none or not applicable.

ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 7.1 - Administration

The Committee shall have the power to interpret the Plan and this Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and to interpret or revoke any such rules. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Committee shall be final and binding upon the Colleague, the Company and all other interested persons. No member of the Committee shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan or the RSUs. In its absolute discretion, the Committee may at any time and from time to time exercise any and all rights and duties of the Committee under the Plan and this Agreement.

 

9


Section 7.2 RSUs Not Transferable

Neither the RSUs nor any interest or right therein or part thereof shall be subject to the debts, contracts or engagements of the Colleague or his successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy), and any attempted disposition thereof shall be null and void and of no effect; provided, however, that this Section 7.2 shall not prevent transfers made solely for estate planning purposes or under a will or by the applicable laws of inheritance.

Section 7.3 - Binding Effect

The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and accrue to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

Section 7.4 - Notices

Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement to the Company shall be addressed to the Company at the following address:

Willis Towers Watson plc

c/o Matthew S. Furman

General Counsel

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

and any notice to be given to the Colleague shall be at his address.

By a notice given pursuant to this Section 7.4, either party may hereafter designate a different address for notices to be given to him. Any notice that is required to be given to the Colleague shall, if the Colleague is then deceased, be given to the Colleague’s personal representatives if such representatives have previously informed the Company of their status and address by written notice under this Section 7.4. Any notice shall have been deemed duly given when sent by facsimile or enclosed in a properly sealed envelope or wrapper addressed as aforesaid, deposited (with postage prepaid) in a post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the United States Postal Service or the United Kingdom’s Post Office or in the case of a notice given by an Colleague resident outside the United States of America or the United Kingdom, sent by facsimile or by a recognized international courier service.

Section 7.5 - Titles

Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.

Section 7.6 - Applicability of Plan

The RSUs and the Shares underlying the RSUs shall be subject to all of the terms and provisions of the Plan, to the extent applicable to the RSUs and the underlying Shares. In the event of any conflict between this Agreement and the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall control.

Section 7.7 - Amendment

This Agreement may be amended only by a document executed by the parties hereto, which specifically states that it is amending this Agreement.

 

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Section 7.8 - Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of Ireland without regard to its conflicts of law provisions; provided, however, that the Agreement of Restrictive Covenants and Other Obligations as set forth in Schedule B or Schedule C, if applicable, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws specified in that agreement without regard to conflicts of law provisions.

Section 7.9 - Jurisdiction

The state and federal courts located in the County of New York, State of New York shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine any suit, action or proceeding and to settle any disputes, which may arise out of or in connection with this Agreement and, for such purposes, the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts; provided, however, where applicable that with respect to the Agreement of Restrictive Covenants and Other Obligations the courts specified in such agreements shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine any suit, action or proceeding and to settle any disputes which may arise out of or in connection with that agreement.

Section 7.10 - Electronic Delivery and Acceptance

The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to current or future participation in the Plan by electronic means. The Colleague hereby consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or a third party broker/stock plan administrator designated by the Company. Further, to the extent that this Agreement has been executed on behalf of the Company electronically, the Colleague accepts the electronic signature of the Company.

Section 7.11 - Choice of Language

By accepting the Agreement providing for the terms and conditions of the Colleague’s grant, the Colleague confirms having read and understood the documents relating to this grant (the Plan and the Agreement) which were provided in English language. The Colleague accepts the terms of those documents accordingly.

Section 7.12 - Severability

The provisions of this Agreement are severable and if any one or more provisions are determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless be binding and enforceable.

Section 7.13 - Schedule A

The RSUs shall be subject to any special provisions set forth in Schedule A for the Colleague’s country of residence, if any. If the Colleague relocates to one of the countries included in Schedule A prior to the vesting of the RSUs, the special provisions for such country shall apply to the Colleague, to the extent the Company determines that the application of such provisions is necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons. Schedule A constitutes part of this Agreement.

Section 7.14 - Imposition of Other Requirements

The Company reserves the right to impose other requirements on the RSUs and the Shares acquired upon vesting of the RSUs, to the extent the Company determines it is necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons, and to require the Colleague to sign any additional agreements or undertakings that may be necessary to accomplish the foregoing.

 

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Section 7.15 - Insider Trading / Market Abuse Laws

The Colleague acknowledges that, depending on the Colleague or the Colleague’s broker’s country of residence or where the Shares are listed, the Colleague may be subject to insider trading restrictions and/or market abuse laws, which may affect the Colleague’s ability to accept, acquire, sell or otherwise dispose of Shares or rights to Shares (e.g., RSUs) or rights linked to the value of Shares under the Plan during such times as the Colleague is considered to have “inside information” regarding the Company (as defined by the laws or regulations in the applicable jurisdictions of the Colleague’s country). Local insider trading laws and regulations may prohibit the cancellation or amendment of orders the Colleague placed before the Colleague possessed inside information. Furthermore, the Colleague could be prohibited from (i) disclosing the inside information to any third party (other than on a “need to know” basis) and (ii) “tipping” third parties or causing them otherwise to buy or sell securities. Third parties include fellow employees. Any restrictions under these laws or regulations are separate from and in addition to any restrictions that may be imposed under any applicable Company insider trading policy. The Colleague acknowledges he is responsible for complying with any applicable restrictions and is encouraged to speak to his personal legal advisor for further details regarding any applicable insider-trading and/or market-abuse laws in the Colleague’s country.

Section 7.16 - Foreign Asset/Account Reporting Requirements and Exchange Controls

The Colleague’s country may have certain foreign asset and/or foreign account reporting requirements and exchange controls which may affect the Colleague’s ability to acquire or hold Shares under the Plan or cash received from participating in the Plan (including from any dividends paid on Shares, sale proceeds resulting from the sale of Shares acquired under the Plan) in a brokerage or bank account outside the Colleague’s country. The Colleague may be required to report such accounts, assets or transactions to the tax or other authorities in the Colleague’s country. The Colleague also may be required to repatriate sale proceeds or other funds received as a result of the Colleague’s participation in the Plan to the Colleague’s country through a designated bank or broker within a certain time after receipt. The Colleague acknowledges that it is his responsibility to be compliant with such regulations, and the Colleague should consult his personal legal advisor for any details.

Section 7.17 - Waiver

The Colleague acknowledges that a waiver by the Company of breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement, or of any subsequent breach by the Colleague or any other participant of the Plan.

Section 7.18 - Counterparts

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (including by facsimile), each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

Section 7.19 - Code Section 409A

For purposes of United States taxpayers, it is intended that the terms of the RSUs will comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations relating thereto so as not to subject the Colleague to the payment of additional taxes and interest under Section 409A of the Code, and this Agreement will be interpreted, operated and administered in a manner that is consistent with this intent. In furtherance of this intent, the Committee may adopt such amendments to this Agreement or adopt other

 

12


policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, in each case, without the consent of the Colleague, that the Committee determines are reasonable, necessary or appropriate to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and related United States Department of Treasury guidance. In that light, the Company, its Subsidiaries and any Designated Associate Companies make no representation or covenant to ensure that the RSUs that are intended to be exempt from, or compliant with, Section 409A of the Code are not so exempt or compliant or for any action taken by the Committee with respect thereto. Nothing in the Agreement shall provide a basis for any person to take action against the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Designated Associate Companies based on matters covered by Section 409A of the Code, including the tax treatment of any Shares or other payments made under the RSUs granted hereunder, and the Company, its Subsidiaries and any Designated Associate Companies shall not under any circumstances have any liability to the Colleague or his estate or any other party for any taxes, penalties or interest due on amounts paid or payable under this Agreement, including taxes, penalties or interest imposed under Section 409A of the Code.

By the Colleague’s execution or electronic acceptance of this Agreement (including the Schedules attached hereto) in the manner specified in the Colleague’s online account with the Company’s designated broker/stock plan administrator, the Colleague and the Company have agreed that the RSUs are granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement (including the Schedules attached hereto).

 

Signed for and on behalf of
Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company by:

/s/

Name:
Title:

 

Colleague:

Signature:                                                                               

Print Name:                                                                           

 

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SCHEDULE A

COUNTRY-SPECIFIC APPENDIX TO RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

(Time-Based Restricted Share Units)

WILLIS TOWERS WATSON PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY

2012 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN, AS AMENDED AND RESTATED

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement or the Plan.

Terms and Conditions

This Schedule A includes additional terms and conditions that govern the Time-Based Restricted Share Unit Award granted to the Colleague under the Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company 2012 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time (the “Plan”) and the applicable time-based Restricted Share Unit Agreement (the “Agreement”) if the Colleague resides in one of the countries listed below. This Schedule A forms part of the Agreement. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement or the Plan.

Notwithstanding Section 1.6 and Section 3.1(c) of the Agreement, if the Company receives a legal opinion that there has been a legal judgment and/or legal development in the Colleague’s jurisdiction that likely would result in the favorable treatment that applies to the RSUs as a result of the Colleague’s retirement or reaching a certain age being unlawful and/or discriminatory, the favorable treatment contemplated under Section 1.6 and Section 3.1(c) shall not apply and Section 3.1 shall apply to the Colleague without giving effect to Section 3.1(c).

Notifications

This Schedule A also includes information based on the securities, exchange control and other laws in effect in the Colleague’s country as of January 2022. Such laws are often complex and change frequently. As a result, the Company strongly recommends that the Colleague not rely on the information noted herein as the only source of information relating to the consequences of the Colleague’s participation in the Plan because the information may be out of date at the time the RSUs vest under the Plan.

In addition, the information is general in nature. The Company is not providing the Colleague with any tax advice with respect to the RSUs. The information provided below may not apply to the Colleague’s particular situation, and the Company is not in a position to assure the Colleague of any particular result. Accordingly, the Colleague should seek appropriate professional advice as to how the tax or other laws in the Colleague’s country apply to the Colleague’s situation.

Finally, if the Colleague is a citizen or resident of a country other than the one in which the Colleague is currently residing and/or working, transfers employment and/or residency after the Grant Date, or is considered a resident of another country for local law purposes, the terms and conditions contained herein for the country the Colleague is residing and/or working in at the time of grant may not be applicable to the Colleague, and the Company shall, in its discretion, determine to what extent the terms and conditions contained herein shall be applicable to the Colleague. Similarly, the information contained herein may no longer be applicable in the same manner.

 

A-1


IRELAND

Terms and Conditions

RSU Payment

This provision supplements Section 2.2 of the Agreement:

Notwithstanding any discretion in the Plan or anything to the contrary in the Agreement, the RSUs do not provide any right for the Colleague to receive a cash payment and the RSUs will be settled in Shares only.

Notifications

Director Reporting Obligation

If the Colleague is a director, shadow director1 or secretary of the Company or an Irish Subsidiary, he must notify the Company or the Irish Subsidiary in writing if the Colleague receives or disposes of an interest exceeding 1% of the Company (e.g., RSUs, Shares, etc.), if Colleague becomes aware of the event giving rise to the notification requirement, or if the Colleague becomes a director or secretary if such an interest exists at the time. This notification requirement also applies with respect to the interests of a spouse or minor children (whose interests will be attributed to the director, shadow director or secretary).

UNITED KINGDOM

Terms and Conditions

RSU Payment

This provision supplements Section 2.2 of the Agreement:

Notwithstanding any discretion in the Plan or anything to the contrary in the Agreement, the RSUs do not provide any right for the Colleague to receive a cash payment and the RSUs will be settled in Shares only.

Tax Withholding

The following provisions supplement Section 2.5 of the Agreement:

Without limitation to Section 2.5 of the Agreement, the Colleague agrees that he is liable for all Tax-Related Items and hereby covenants to pay all such Tax-Related Items, as and when requested by the Company or the Employer or by Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (“HMRC”) (or any other tax authority or any other relevant authority). The Colleague also hereby agrees to indemnify and keep indemnified the Company and the Employer against any Tax-Related Items that they are required to pay or withhold or have paid or will pay to HMRC (or any other tax authority or any other relevant authority) on the Colleague’s behalf.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Colleague is a director or executive officer of the Company (within the meaning of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act), the Colleague shall not be eligible for a loan from the Employer to cover income tax. In the event that the Colleague is a director or executive officer and the income tax is not collected from or paid by him within ninety days of the end of the United Kingdom (“UK”) tax year in which the event giving rise to the income tax occurs, or such other period as required under UK law, the amount of any uncollected income tax may constitute a benefit to him on which additional income tax and National Insurance Contributions (“NICs”) may be payable. The Colleague will be responsible for reporting and paying any income tax due on this additional benefit directly to

 

1 

A shadow director is an individual who is not on the board of directors of the Company or an Irish Subsidiary but who has sufficient control so that the board of directors of the Company or Irish Subsidiary, as applicable, acts in accordance with the directions and instructions of the individual.

 

A-2


HMRC under the self-assessment regime and for reimbursing the Company or the Employer, as applicable, for any employee NICs due on this additional benefit, which may be recovered from the Colleague by the Company or the Employer at any time thereafter by any of the means referred to in Section 2.5 of the Agreement.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Notifications

Exchange Control Information

Under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”), United States taxpayers who hold Shares or rights to acquire Shares (i.e., RSUs) may be required to report certain information related to their holdings to the extent the aggregate value of the RSUs/Shares exceeds certain thresholds (depending on the Colleague’s filing status) with the Colleague’s annual tax return. The Colleague should consult with his personal tax or legal advisor regarding any FATCA reporting requirements with respect to the RSUs or any Shares acquired under the Plan.

 

A-3


SCHEDULE B

AGREEMENT OF RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS FOR EMPLOYEES IN THE UNITED STATES

This Agreement of Restrictive Covenants and Other Obligations for Employees in the United States (the “RCA”) is entered into by and between Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (the “Company”) and the participant (the “Participant”) to be effective as of the date the Participant signs or electronically accepts this RCA.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Participant is employed by a Subsidiary of the Company;

WHEREAS, subject to approval by the Committee or the Company’s Share Award Committee, the Participant has been designated to receive a grant of time-based restricted share units (“RSUs” or “Awards”) under the Company’s 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”);

WHEREAS, any Award granted to the Participant is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the award agreement evidencing the Participant’s Award (including any country specific terms thereto) and this RCA, and in consideration of the Award, the Participant shall enter into and acknowledge his or her agreement to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the award agreement and this RCA; and

WHEREAS, the Participant acknowledges and agrees that he or she desires to receive the Award and understands and agrees any Award is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan, the applicable award agreement and this RCA.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises contained herein and for other valuable consideration, in particular the Award, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged in this recital and within Section 6.4 below, the Parties hereto agree, with the intent to be bound, as follows:

Section 1 - Recitals

The Recitals set forth above are an integral part of this RCA, and are incorporated herein by reference.

Section 2 - Definitions

 

  2.1.

Award” shall have the meaning as set forth in the recitals.

 

  2.2.

Business” shall mean insurance brokerage, reinsurance brokerage, surety brokerage, bond brokerage, insurance agency, underwriting agency, managing general agency, risk management, claims administration, self-insurance, risk management consulting or other business performed by the Restricted Group.

 

  2.3.

Committee” shall have the same meaning as set forth in the Plan or the applicable award agreement.

 

  2.4.

Competitor” shall mean any business principally engaged in insurance brokerage, reinsurance brokerage, surety brokerage, bond brokerage, insurance agency, underwriting agency, managing general agency, risk management, claims administration, self-insurance, risk management consulting or other business which is either performed by the Restricted Group or is a business in which the Restricted Group has taken steps toward engaging.

 

B-1


  2.5.

Confidential Information” shall mean all trade secrets and non-public information concerning the financial data, strategic business plans, and other non-public, proprietary, and confidential information of the Restricted Group. Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to, the following information: identities of Relevant Clients and Relevant Prospects; identities of companies from which any Subsidiary obtains insurance coverage for Relevant Clients and Relevant Prospects; policy terms, conditions, rates and expiration dates pertaining to Relevant Clients and Relevant Prospects; risk characteristics of Relevant Clients and Relevant Prospects; and non-public information of the Restricted Group concerning insurance markets for particular risks. Confidential Information shall not include information that is within public domain, provided that Participant was not responsible, directly or indirectly, for such information entering the public domain without the Restricted Group’s consent.

 

  2.6.

Directly or indirectly” shall mean the Participant acting either alone or jointly with or on behalf of or by means of or in concert with any other person, firm or company (whether as principal, partner, manager, employee, contractor, director, consultant, investor or similar capacity) or otherwise.

 

  2.7.

Employer” shall mean the Subsidiary that employs the Participant. If the Company ever becomes an employer of the Participant, then the term Employer shall refer to the Company.

 

  2.8.

Employment Agreement” shall mean the contractual terms and conditions which govern the employment of the Participant by Employer.

 

  2.9.

Key Personnel” shall mean any person who is at the date the Participant ceases to be an employee of Employer or was (i) at any time during the period of twelve (12) months prior to that date employed by the Restricted Group, (ii) an employee with whom Participant had dealings, and (iii) employed by or engaged in the Business in a managerial capacity, or was an employee with insurance, reinsurance or other technical expertise.

 

  2.10.

Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

  2.11.

Relevant Area” shall mean the counties, parishes, districts, municipalities, cities, metropolitan regions, localities and similar geographic and political subdivisions, within and outside of the United States of America, in which the Employer, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has carried on Business in which the Participant has been involved or concerned or working on at any time during the period of twelve (12) months prior to the date on which the Participant ceases to be employed by Employer.

 

  2.12.

Relevant Client” shall mean any person, firm or company who or which at any time during the period of twelve (12) months prior to the date on which the Participant ceases to be employed by Employer is or was a client or customer of the Employer, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or was in the habit and/or practice of dealing under contract with the Employer, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and with whom or which the Participant had dealings related to the Business) or for whose relationship with the Employer, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries the Participant had responsibility at any time during the said period.

 

  2.13.

Relevant Period” shall mean the period of twenty four (24) months following the date on which the Participant ceases to be employed by Employer.

 

B-2


  2.14.

Relevant Prospect” shall mean any person, firm or company who or which at any time during the period of six (6) months prior to the date on which the Participant ceases to be employed by Employer was an active prospective client of the Employer, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with whom or with which the Participant had dealings related to the Business (other than in a minimal and non-material way).

 

  2.15.

Restricted Group” shall mean the Company and its Subsidiaries, including the Employer, as in existence during the Participant’s employment with Employer and as of the date such employment ceases.

 

  2.16.

Subsidiary” shall mean a direct and/or indirect subsidiary of the Company as well as any associate company which is designated by the Company as being eligible for participation in the Plan.

Section 3 - Non-Solicit and Other Obligations

 

  3.1.

The Participant acknowledges that by virtue of his or her management position and as an employee of Employer, the Participant has acquired and will acquire knowledge of Confidential Information of the Restricted Group and their Business. The Participant further acknowledges that the Confidential Information which the Restricted Group has provided and will provide to the Participant would give the Participant a significant advantage if the Participant were to directly or indirectly be engaged in any Business at a Competitor of the Restricted Group.

 

  3.2.

Without the Company’s prior written consent, the Participant shall not directly or indirectly, at any time during or after the Participant’s employment with any Employer, disclose any Confidential Information and shall use the Participant’s best efforts to prevent the taking or disclosure of any Confidential Information to a Competitor, or otherwise, except as reasonably may be required to be disclosed by the Participant in the ordinary performance of his or her duties for Employer or as required by law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you understand that if you make a confidential disclosure of a trade secret of the Company or other Confidential Information to a government official or an attorney for the sole purpose of reporting a suspected violation of law, or in a court filing under seal, or otherwise engage in activities protected under whistleblower statutes, you shall not be held liable under this Agreement or under any federal or state trade secret law for such a disclosure or engaging of such activity and shall also not be required to notify the Company of any such disclosure or engaging of any such activity.

 

  3.3.

The Participant shall not, for the Relevant Period, directly or indirectly for a Competitor or otherwise:

 

  3.3.1.

within the Relevant Area, solicit any Relevant Client or Relevant Prospect for the purposes of any Business which competes or will compete or seeks to compete with the Restricted Group;

 

  3.3.2.

within the Relevant Area, accept, perform services for, or deal with any Relevant Client or Relevant Prospect for the purposes of any Business which competes or will compete or seeks to compete with the Restricted Group;

 

  3.3.3.

solicit for employment or entice away from the Restricted Group any Key Personnel; or

 

  3.3.4.

employ or engage or endeavour to employ or engage any Key Personnel.

 

B-3


  3.4.

To the extent the Participant is a party to an Employment Agreement or other agreement with the Employer, the Company or any Subsidiary that contains post-employment covenants and restrictions, those post-employment covenants and restrictions shall be separate and apart and independent from the covenants and restrictions set forth in Section 3.1 and Section 3.2 herein.

 

  3.5.

The Participant shall not directly or indirectly, at any time during or after the Participant’s employment with any Employer, take any action or make any statement, written or oral, that disparages or criticizes the business or management of the Employer, the Company or any Subsidiary or any of its or their respective directors, officers, agents, employees, products or services. Nothing contained herein limits or restricts any rights Participant may have to engage in protected concerted activity under the National Labor Relations Act.

 

  3.6.

The Participant recognizes and agrees that the payment of damages will not be an adequate remedy for any breach by Participant of any of the covenants set forth in Section 3 of this RCA. Participant recognizes that irreparable injury will result to Company and/or its Subsidiaries in the event of any such breach and therefore Participant agrees that Company may, in addition to recovering damages, proceed in equity to enjoin Participant from violating any such covenant.

 

  3.7.

The Participant acknowledges that the provisions of this Section 3 are fair, reasonable and necessary to protect the goodwill and interests of the Restricted Group.

Section 4 - Governing Law & Jurisdiction

 

  4.1.

This RCA shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of New York, without regard to its conflicts of law principles.

 

  4.2.

Any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this RCA shall only be brought in the State and Federal Courts located in the County of New York, State of New York and the Parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally submit accordingly to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts for the purpose of any such suit, action or proceeding. The Participant hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objections he or she may now have or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this RCA in the foregoing courts. The Participant further acknowledges that for purposes of N.Y.C.P.L.R. 327(b) and N.Y. G.O.L. Section 5-1402, the value of the Plan is in excess of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) and the Participant hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in the foregoing courts has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

Section 5 - Consideration, Severability, Beneficiaries & Effect on other agreements

 

  5.1.

The Parties acknowledge that the provisions of this RCA are severable. If any part or provision of this RCA shall be determined by any court or tribunal to be invalid, then such partial invalidity shall not cause the remainder of this RCA to be or become invalid. If any provision hereof is held unenforceable on the basis that it exceeds what is reasonable for the protection of the goodwill and interests of the Restricted Group, but would be valid if part of the wording were modified or deleted, as permitted by applicable law, then such restriction or obligation shall apply with such deletions or modifications as may be necessary to make it enforceable.

 

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  5.2.

The Participant acknowledges that he or she remains bound by any Employment Agreement or any other agreement currently in effect by and between the Participant, on the one hand, and the Employer, the Company or any Subsidiary, on the other hand, including but not limited to any post-employment covenants and restrictions, and this RCA shall be in addition to, and not in place of any such agreements.

 

  5.3.

Nothing contained in this RCA constitutes a promise or agreement to employ the Participant for a guaranteed term or otherwise modify the terms and conditions of the Participant’s employment with the Employer.

Section 6 – Miscellaneous

 

  6.1.

This RCA, and the provisions hereof, may not be modified, amended, terminated, or limited in any fashion except by written agreement signed by both parties hereto, which specifically states that it is modifying, amending or terminating this RCA.

 

  6.2.

The rights and remedies of the Restricted Group under this RCA shall inure to the benefit of any and all of its/their successors, assigns, parent companies, sister companies, subsidiaries and other affiliated corporations, and the successors and assigns of each of them.

 

  6.3.

The waiver by either party of any breach of this RCA shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of that party’s rights on any subsequent breach.

 

  6.4.

The Participant acknowledges that the Award constitutes adequate consideration to support the covenants and promises made by the Participant within this RCA regardless of whether such Award is ultimately beneficial to Participant.

 

  6.5.

The Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Participant shall be obliged to draw the provisions of Section 3 of this RCA to the attention of any third party who may, at any time before or after the termination of the Participant’s employment with Employer, offer to employ or engage him or her and for or with whom Participant intends to work within the Relevant Period.

 

  6.6.

The various section headings contained in this RCA are for the purpose of convenience only and are not intended to define or limit the contents of such sections.

 

  6.7.

This RCA may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same document. This RCA will be binding, notwithstanding that either party’s signature is displayed only on a facsimile or electronic copy of the signature page.

 

  6.8.

Any provisions which by their nature survive termination of this RCA, including the obligations set forth in Section 3 and Section 4, shall survive termination of this RCA.

 

  6.9.

This RCA has been executed on behalf of the Company electronically and the Participant accepts the electronic signature of the Company.

 

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By the Participant’s execution or electronic acceptance of this RCA in the manner specified in the Participant’s online account with the Company’s designated broker/stock plan administrator, the Participant and the Company have agreed to the terms and conditions of this RCA in connection with the Participant’s Award.

 

Signed for and on behalf of
Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company by:

/s/

Name:
Title:

 

Participant:

Signature:                                                                               

Print Name:                                                                           

 

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SCHEDULE C

AGREEMENT OF RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS FOR

EMPLOYEES OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES

This Agreement of Restrictive Covenants and Other Obligations for Employees Outside of the United States (the “Non-U.S. RCA”) is entered into by and between Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (the “Company”) and the Colleague (the “Colleague”) to be effective as of the date the Colleague signs or electronically accepts this Non-U.S. RCA.

RECITALS

Whereas, Colleague is employed by a Subsidiary of the Company;

Whereas, subject to approval by the Committee or the Company’s Share Award Committee, the Colleague has been designated to receive a grant of time-based restricted share units (“RSUs” or “Awards”) under the Company’s 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”);

Whereas, any Award granted to the Colleague is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the award agreement evidencing the Colleague’s Award (including any country specific terms thereto) and this Non-U.S. RCA, and in consideration of the Award, the Colleague shall enter into and acknowledge his or her agreement to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the award agreement and this RCA; and

Whereas, the Colleague acknowledges and agrees that he or she desires to receive the Award and understands and agrees such Award is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan, the applicable award agreement and this Non-U.S. RCA, and such other written agreements and documentation as the Company or the Employer may require.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises contained herein and for other valuable consideration, in particular the Awards, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged in this recital and within Section 6.4 below, the Parties hereto agree, with the intent to be bound, as follows:

Section 1 – Recitals

The Recitals set forth above are an integral part of this Non-U.S. RCA, and are incorporated herein by reference.

Section 2 – Definitions

 

  2.1.

Award” shall have the meaning as set forth in the recitals.

 

  2.2.

Business” shall mean insurance brokerage, reinsurance brokerage, surety brokerage, bond brokerage, insurance agency, underwriting agency, managing general agency, risk management, claims administration, self-insurance, risk management consulting or other business performed by the Restricted Group.

 

  2.3.

Committee” shall have the same meaning as set forth in the Plan or the applicable award agreement.

 

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  2.4.

Competitor” shall mean any business principally engaged in insurance brokerage, reinsurance brokerage, surety brokerage, bond brokerage, insurance agency, underwriting agency, managing general agency, risk management, claims administration, self-insurance, risk management consulting or other business which is either performed by the Restricted Group or is a business in which the Restricted Group has taken steps toward engaging.

 

  2.5.

Confidential Information” shall mean all trade secrets and non-public information concerning the financial data, strategic business plans, and other non-public, proprietary, and confidential information of the Restricted Group. Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to, the following information: identities of Relevant Clients and Relevant Prospects; identities of companies from which any Subsidiary obtains insurance coverage for Relevant Clients and Relevant Prospects; policy terms, conditions, rates and expiration dates pertaining to Relevant Clients and Relevant Prospects; risk characteristics of Relevant Clients and Relevant Prospects; and non-public information of the Restricted Group concerning insurance markets for particular risks. Confidential Information shall not include information that is within public domain, provided that Colleague was not responsible, directly or indirectly, for such information entering the public domain without the Restricted Group’s consent.

 

  2.6.

Directly or indirectly” shall mean the Colleague acting either alone or jointly with or on behalf of or by means of any other person, firm or company (whether as principal, partner, manager, employee, contractor, director, consultant, investor or similar capacity).

 

  2.7.

Employer” shall mean the Subsidiary that employs the Colleague. If the Company ever becomes an employer of the Colleague, then the term Employer shall refer to the Company.

 

  2.8.

Employment Agreement” shall mean the contractual terms and conditions which govern the employment of the Colleague by Employer.

 

  2.9.

Garden Leave” shall mean any period during any notice period where Employer requires the Colleague to remain available to respond to questions and requests from the Employer, but not to enter into the office(s) of the Restricted Group without the prior written consent of Employer.

 

  2.10.

Key Personnel” shall mean any person who is at the date the Colleague ceases to be an employee of Employer or was at any time during the period of twelve months prior to that date employed by the Restricted Group and who was an employee with whom the Colleague had dealings other than in a minimal and non-material way and who was employed by or engaged in the Business in an executive or senior managerial capacity, or was an employee with insurance, reinsurance or other technical expertise.

 

  2.11.

Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

  2.12.

Relevant Area” shall mean: such country or countries in which the Colleague has carried on Business on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in which the Colleague has been involved or concerned or worked on other than in a minimal and non-material way at any time during the period of 12 months prior to the date on which the Colleague ceases to be employed by Employer.

 

  2.13.

Relevant Client” shall mean any person, firm or company who or which at any time during the period of twelve months prior to the date on which the Colleague ceases to be employed by Employer is or was a client or customer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or was in the habit and/or practice of dealing under contract with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and with whom or which the Colleague had dealings related to the Business (other than in a minimal and non-material way) or for whose relationship with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries the Colleague had responsibility at any time during the said period.

 

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  2.14.

Relevant Period” shall mean the period of twelve months following the date on which the Colleague ceases to be employed by Employer reduced by the length of any period of Garden Leave (if applicable) observed by the Colleague at the instruction of Employer.

 

  2.15.

Relevant Prospect” shall mean any person, firm or company who or which at any time during the period of twelve months prior to the date on which the Colleague ceases to be employed by Employer was an active prospective client of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with whom or with which the Colleague had dealings related to the Business (other than in a minimal and non-material way).

 

  2.16.

Restricted Group” shall mean the Company and its Subsidiaries, as in existence during the Colleague’s employment with Employer and as of the date such employment ceases.

 

  2.17.

Subsidiary” shall mean a direct and/or indirect subsidiary of the Company as well as any associate company which is designated by the Company as being eligible for participation in the Plan.

Section 3 - Non-Solicit and Other Obligations

 

  3.1

The Colleague acknowledges that by virtue of his or her senior management position and as an employee of Employer, the Colleague has acquired and will acquire knowledge of Confidential Information of the Restricted Group and their Business. The Colleague further acknowledges that the Confidential Information which the Restricted Group has provided and will provide to the Colleague would give the Colleague a significant advantage if the Colleague were to directly or indirectly be engaged in any Business at a Competitor of the Restricted Group.

 

  3.2

Without the Company’s prior written consent, the Colleague shall not directly or indirectly, at any time during or after the Colleague’s employment with any Employer, disclose any Confidential Information and shall use the Colleague’s best efforts to prevent the taking or disclosure of any Confidential Information, except as reasonably may be required to be disclosed by the Colleague in the ordinary performance of his or her duties for Employer or as required by law. Notwithstanding, you understand that if you make a confidential disclosure of a trade secret of the Company or other Confidential Information to a government official or an attorney for the sole purpose of reporting a suspected violation of law, or in a court filing under seal, or otherwise engage in activities protected under whistleblower statutes, you shall not be held liable under this Agreement or under any federal or state trade secret law for such a disclosure or engaging of such activity and shall also not be required to notify the Company of any such disclosure or engaging of any such activity.

 

  3.3

The Colleague shall provide a minimum of three month’s notice or such notice contained in the Colleague’s Employment Agreement, whichever is the longer, in the event of his or her resignation from employment with Employer. The Colleague shall provide a written resignation letter to Employer prior to the commencement of any such notice period. To the extent allowed by applicable law, the Colleague may be placed on Garden Leave for all or any portion of any notice period. During the notice period, whether or not the Colleague is on Garden Leave, the Colleague shall remain an employee of Employer and shall continue to receive the Colleague’s full salary and benefits. The Company or Employer shall have the discretion to apply a shorter period than the three-month period set forth in 3.3.

 

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  3.4

The Colleague shall not, for the Relevant Period, directly or indirectly:

 

  3.4.1.

within the Relevant Area, solicit any Relevant Client or Relevant Prospect for the purposes of any Business which competes or will compete or seeks to compete with the Restricted Group;

 

  3.4.2.

within the Relevant Area, accept, perform services for, or deal with any Relevant Client or Relevant Prospect for the purposes of any Business which competes or will compete or seeks to compete with the Restricted Group;

 

  3.4.3.

solicit for employment or entice away from the Restricted Group any Key Personnel; or

 

  3.4.4.

employ or engage or endeavour to employ or engage any Key Personnel.

 

  3.5

To the extent the Colleague is a party to an Employment Agreement or other agreement with the Restricted Group that contains post-employment restrictions, those post-employment restrictions shall run concurrently with the post-employment restrictions contained in this Section 3.

 

  3.6

The Colleague acknowledges that the provisions of this Section 3 are fair, reasonable and necessary to protect the goodwill and interests of the Restricted Group.

Section 4 – Non-Disparagement

 

  4.1

The Employer and Colleague agree not to act in any manner detrimental to each other or cause to be made any derogatory statements concerning each other (including an obligation on the Employer and Colleague not to make any statement whether oral or in writing which may have the effect of damaging the reputation of the other) including, in Colleague’s case, concerning the business, officers, employees, directors (including any non-executive directors or former directors), consultants, agents, distributors, clients or customers (whether former or current) or otherwise of the Restricted Group.

 

  4.2

The Employer and Colleague further agree that without the prior written consent of the other party they shall not make, or cause to be made, any statement or comment to the press (whether local, national or specialist) or any other media concerning Colleague’s employment with the Employer or, where applicable, his or her termination of employment for any reason.

Section 5 - Governing Law & Jurisdiction

 

  5.1

This Non-U.S. RCA shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which Colleague is employed by Employer, without regard to its conflict of laws.

 

  5.2

The courts of the jurisdiction in which the Colleague is employed by Employer shall have jurisdiction to hear any suit, action or proceeding and to settle any disputes which may arise out of or in connection with this Non-U.S. RCA and for such purposes the parties hereto irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of such courts.

 

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Section 6 – Consideration, Severability, Beneficiaries & Effect on Other Agreements

 

  6.1

The Colleague acknowledges that the covenants and undertakings he or she has made herein, including those made in Section 3, are being given for the benefit of the Restricted Group, including Employer, and may be enforced by the Company and/or by its Subsidiaries, including for avoidance of doubt, Employer, on behalf of all or any of them and that such Subsidiaries are intended beneficiaries of this Non-U.S. RCA.

 

  6.2

The parties acknowledge that the provisions of this Non-U.S. RCA are severable. If any part or provision of this Non-U.S. RCA shall be determined by any court or tribunal to be invalid, then such partial invalidity shall not cause the remainder of this Non-U.S. RCA to be or become invalid. If any provision hereof is held unenforceable on the basis that it exceeds what is reasonable for the protection of the goodwill and interests of the Restricted Group, but would be valid if part of the wording were modified or deleted, as permitted by applicable law, then such restriction or obligation shall apply with such deletions or modifications as may be necessary to make it enforceable.

 

  6.3

The Colleague acknowledges that he or she remains bound by any Employment Agreement or any other agreement entered into by the Colleague with the Restricted Group and this Non-U.S. RCA shall be in addition to, and not in place of any such agreements. The Colleague further acknowledges that in the event of any breach by the Colleague of any provision contained in such agreements or this Non-U.S. RCA, the Company and/or any Subsidiary, including for avoidance of doubt Employer, may, in their discretion, enforce any term and condition of those agreements and/or this Non-U.S. RCA.

 

  6.4

The Colleague acknowledges that any Awards, separately and/or together, constitute adequate consideration to support the covenants and promises made by the Colleague within this Non-U.S. RCA.

Section 7 – Miscellaneous

 

  7.1

This Non-U.S. RCA may not be modified except by written agreement signed by both parties hereto.

 

  7.2

The rights of the Restricted Group under this Non-U.S. RCA shall inure to the benefit of any and all of its/their successors, assigns, parent companies, sister companies, subsidiaries and other affiliated corporations.

 

  7.3

The waiver by either party of any breach of this Non-U.S. RCA shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of that party’s rights on any subsequent breach.

 

  7.4

The Colleague acknowledges and agrees that the Colleague shall be obliged to draw the provisions of Section 3 to the attention of any third party who may, at any time before or after the termination of the Colleague’s employment with Employer, offer to employ or engage him or her and for or with whom the Colleague intends to work within the Relevant Period.

 

  7.5

The various section headings contained in this Non-U.S. RCA are for the purpose of convenience only and are not intended to define or limit the contents of such sections.

 

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  7.6

This Non-U.S. RCA may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same document. This Non-U.S. RCA will be binding, notwithstanding that either party’s signature is displayed only on a facsimile copy of the signature page.

 

  7.7

Any provisions which by their nature survive termination of this Non-U.S. RCA, including the obligations set forth in Sections 3 and 4 shall survive termination of this Non-U.S. RCA.

By the Colleague’s execution or electronic acceptance of this RCA in the manner specified in the Colleague’s online account with the Company’s designated broker/stock plan administrator, the Colleague and the Company have agreed to the terms and conditions of this RCA in connection with the Colleague’s Award.

 

Signed for and on behalf of
Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company by:
Name:
Title:

 

Colleague:

Signature: ___________________________________________

Print Name: __________________________________________

 

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SCHEDULE D

Willis Towers Watson

Employee Personal Information Protection Notice

Last Updated: October 2021

Introduction

Willis Towers Watson operates as a global business through its affiliated entities (together “the Willis Towers Watson Group”). The Willis Towers Watson Group values the trust of its employees worldwide and is committed to protecting their personal information.

The Willis Towers Watson Group operates in many different countries. Some of these countries have laws related to the collection, use, transfer and disclosure of the personal information of individuals, including our employees. The purpose of this Global Employee Personal Information Protection Notice (the “Notice”) is to give you information about what personal information the Willis Towers Watson Group collects, uses, transfers and discloses, and why.

The Willis Towers Watson entity responsible for collecting and processing your personal data is the entity that employs you. Willis Towers Watson may also engage with outside entities to collect information consistent with this notice. You can check which entity employs you by checking your contract of employment or by asking your usual HR contact. In this Notice, the term “we” or “us” refers to that entity. The information that we collect about you as an employee allows us to administer your benefits and helps to support routine Human Resources and operational processes, contingency planning, and internal talent searches.

What Personal Information about you that we collect, and how we collect Your Personal Information

In the course of your employment, we may have collected or will collect information about you and your working relationship with us, your spouse, domestic/civil partner and/or dependents (“Dependents”). We refer to such information as “Personal Information” (also known as Personal Data in the Cayman Islands). For more specific information regarding what Personal Information about you, we may collect, use, transfer and disclose, and the purposes for which it may be collected, used, transferred and disclosed, please see the Annex to this Notice. Local employee handbooks, office manuals, works council agreements and notices provided in your local office or on the Willis Towers Watson intranet site may provide additional details or information.

Sources of Personal Information

We normally collect your Personal Information directly from you, for example when you apply for a job with us, when you commence your role, and from time to time throughout your employment when we ask you to provide information. We may be required as a consequence of our relationship with you as your employer, or by law, to collect certain Personal Information about you. Failure to provide this information may prevent or delay the fulfilment of our obligations as an employer. We will inform you at the time your information is collected whether certain information is compulsory and the consequences of the failure to provide such information.

We also collect certain Personal Information about you from other sources, including:

 

  (a)

background check information from employment screening agencies or publicly available registers (as allowed by law), or references obtained during recruitment;

 

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  (b)

publicly available professional profiles on websites or social media (e.g. LinkedIn); and

 

  (c)

information about your performance or conduct from other employees, clients or service providers you work with who may provide feedback about you or participate in performance evaluations or reviews.

The Legal Bases and purposes for which we use, transfer and disclose Your Personal Information

In the EU, data protection laws and other laws, for example the Cayman Islands Data Protection Law (“DPL”) require that we only process personal information subject to one or more valid legal bases. In such cases our legal basis will be one of the following:

 

  (d)

to fulfil our contractual obligations to you in connection with your employment contract with us;

 

  (e)

to comply with our legal obligations, for example obtaining proof of your identity to enable us to meet our anti-money laundering obligations, or obtaining proof of your right to work status to enable us to meet relevant obligations;

 

  (f)

to comply with our legal obligations to you, for example health and safety obligations that we must comply with as your employer or to a third party (e.g. the taxation authorities);

 

  (g)

to meet our legitimate interests, for example to manage our employees effectively, to protect us against theft or other crime, to allow you access to our technology and HR resources, and to conduct analytics that allows us to manage our workforce efficiently and plan recruitment activities. When we process personal information to meet our legitimate interests, we put in place robust safeguards to ensure that your privacy is protected and to ensure that our legitimate interests are not overridden by your interests or fundamental rights and freedoms; or

 

  (h)

to protect your or another person’s vital interests, for example by providing your health information to a doctor in a medical emergency.

 

  (i)

the processing is necessary for medical purposes and is undertaken by (a) a health professional; or (2) a person who, in the circumstances, owes a duty of confidentiality equivalent to that which would arise if that person were a health professional. (see DPL).

We may obtain your explicit consent to collect and use certain types of Personal Information when we are required to do so by law (for example, when we process some categories of sensitive personal information). If we ask for your consent to process your personal information, you may withdraw your consent at any time by contacting privacy@willistowerswatson.com.

The purposes for which we use your personal information are explained in more detail in the Annex to this Notice.

Monitoring tools, profiling and automated decision-making

Some of the technology we use to protect company confidential information and ensure compliance with company policies monitors employee IT usage and employee communications and may automatically filter, record or block the sending of communications, or flag certain communications for further review, subject to meeting local legal requirements. For further information on this, please contact privacy@willistowerswatson.com.

 

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Subject to restrictions under local laws, we may also use technology (including third party solutions) to process your Personal Information in a manner that constitutes “profiling”. This involves the use of software that is able to evaluate your personal aspects and predict risks or outcomes. We do this to assist in workforce management, for example we may use software to ensure our workforce is managed and utilised efficiently, to predict risks in staff retention, to detect problems in the workplace, and/or to ensure that employees are being compensated fairly.

Although we may use this type of technology to assist our decision-making, we do not make important decisions about employees (e.g. as to their compensation, dismissal or promotion) without a member of management and/or the HR team assessing all the circumstances.

Transfer of Personal Information

Due to the global nature of Willis Towers Watson Group operations, we may disclose Personal Information to personnel and departments in other entities which are part of the Willis Towers Watson Group to fulfil the purposes described in this Notice. This may include transferring Personal Information to other countries (including countries other than where you are based that have a different data protection regime than is found in the country where you are based). If you are located in the European Economic Area (the “EEA”) this may include countries outside of the EEA. If you are located in the Cayman Islands, this may include India, and Bermuda. Some of these countries are recognized by the European Commission as providing an adequate level of protection according to EEA standards (the full list of these countries is available here), while others are not. With regard to transfers to other countries that do not provide an adequate level of protection according to EEA standards, we have put in place adequate measures, such as standard contractual clauses adopted by the European Commission, to protect your information. You may obtain more information about these measures and the Willis Towers Watson Group’s Global Privacy Program by contacting privacy@willistowerswatson.com.

Access to Personal Information within the Willis Towers Watson Group will be limited to those who have a need to know the information for the purposes described in the Annex to this Notice, and may include your managers and their designees, personnel in HR, IT, Compliance, Legal, Finance and Accounting and Internal Audit.

All personnel within the Willis Towers Watson Group will generally have access to your business contact information such as name, position, telephone number, postal address, email address and photograph.

From time to time, we and other entities within the Willis Towers Watson Group may need to make Personal Information available to other unaffiliated third parties. For a list of the categories of unaffiliated third parties, please see the Annex to this Notice. Some of the unaffiliated third parties will be located outside of your home jurisdiction, including in the United States and other jurisdictions that may not provide an adequate level of protection according to EEA standards. Third party service providers and professional advisors are required to protect the confidentiality and security of Personal Information, and only use Personal Information for the provision of services to Willis Towers Watson Group, and in compliance with applicable law.

Security

Willis Towers Watson Group will take appropriate measures to protect Personal Information consistent with applicable privacy and data security laws and regulations, including requiring service providers to use appropriate measures to protect the confidentiality and security of Personal Information.

Data Retention

The Willis Towers Watson Group will keep your personal information for as long as you remain employed by us, and for a period of 10 years thereafter. We will only retain your personal information after this time if we are required to do so to comply with the law, or if there are outstanding claims or complaints that will reasonably require your personal information to be retained. For additional details, please review our Records Management Policy.

 

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If there is any information that we are unable, for technical reasons, to delete entirely from our systems, we will put in place appropriate measures to prevent any further processing or use of the data.

Access and correction requests, questions and complaints

You have certain rights regarding your Personal Information, subject to local law, which may include the right to:

 

   

access your Personal Information;

 

   

rectify the information we hold about you;

 

   

erase your Personal Information;

 

   

restrict our use of your Personal Information;

 

   

object to our use of your Personal Information;

 

   

receive your Personal Information in a usable electronic format and transmit it to a third party (right to data portability);

 

   

withdraw your consent to any processing based on consent at any time; and

 

   

lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority if you believe that we have not been able to assist with your complaint or concern (and the right to seek compensation pertaining to DPL).

 

   

the right to be informed about the collection and use of Personal Information

 

   

the right to stop direct marketing;

If you have any questions about this Notice or if you would like to discuss or exercise your rights, please contact Human Resources or email privacy@willistowerswatson.com.

If you wish to file a complaint about the way your information is processed, we encourage you to first contact your local Human Resources Representative, who will take all reasonable efforts to solve the issue. You have the right at all times to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority responsible for your country or region.

Employee’s Obligations

Please keep Personal Information up to date and inform us of any significant changes to Personal Information. You agree to inform your Dependents whose Personal Information you provide to us about the content of this Notice and to explain the use (including transfer and disclosure) of that Personal Information by us as set out in this Notice.

Changes to the Policy

We may modify or update this Notice from time to time.

If we change this Notice, we will notify you of the changes. Where changes to this Notice will have a fundamental impact on the nature of the processing or otherwise have a substantial impact on you, we will give you sufficient advance notice so that you have the opportunity to exercise your rights (e.g. to object to the processing).

 

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Contact

The Willis Towers Watson entity that employs you is the controller, business or responsible party responsible for processing your Personal Information in accordance with this Notice. Please contact your local Human Resources representative for further information on this entity and the appropriate means to contact them.

For questions or comments about this Notice, please contact Human Resources or email privacy@willistowerswatson.com.

In some countries, there is a legal requirement to provide a named individual and their contact details. These are:

 

Country

  

Name

  

Contact details

Nigeria    Adewunmi Akinmodiro   

Adewunmi.Akinmodiro@willistowerswatson.com

Willis Towers Watson Nigeria Limited

 

6th Floor, Africa RE Building. Plot 1679

 

Karimu Kotun Street, Victoria Island Lagos, Nigeria.

 

South Africa    André Wild   

Andre.Wild@willistowerswatson.com

Towers Watson (Pty) Ltd

Level 4, MontClare Place, 23 Main Road, Claremont, Cape Town, 7708

Private Bag X30, Rondebosch, 7701

 

   Pasha Karodia   

Pasha.Karodia@willistowerswatson.com

Willis South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Illovo Edge, 1 Harries Road, Illovo, Johannesburg 2196

 

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ANNEX

Categories of Personal Information Collected About Employees

Generally, we may collect the below categories of personal information about Employees:

Name, Contact Info and other Identifiers: identifiers including, but not limited to:

 

   

Personal Details: Name, employee identification number, work and home contact details (email, phone numbers, physical address) language(s) spoken, gender, date of birth, nationality, place of birth, national identification number, passport number, social security number, marital/civil partnership status, domestic partners, dependants, disability status, emergency contact information, health, insurance and benefits details, vehicle data, and photograph.

 

   

Documentation Required under Immigration Laws: Citizenship, passport data, details of residency or work permit.

 

   

System and Application Access Data: Information required to access company systems and applications such as System ID, LAN ID, email account, instant messaging account, mainframe ID, employee ID, manager employee ID, system credentials, employee status, branch state, country code, previous company details, previous branch details, and previous department details..

Protected Classifications: characteristics of protected classifications under California or federal law including, but not limited to:

 

   

Citizenship information, as well as residency and work permit details

 

   

Medical information and disability information

 

   

Information we collect as part of our diversity and inclusion efforts including, but not limited to, race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, disability, and citizenship status

Usage Data: internet or other electronic network activity information including, but not limited to, browsing history, search history, and information regarding a resident’s interaction with an internet website, application, or advertisement. This includes:

 

   

Access logs and usage details regarding activities on Willis Towers Watson network, systems and devices, including but not limited to website and browsing history.

 

   

Physical access logs and call logs

 

   

Electronic content produced using Willis Towers Watson systems

Geolocation Data: precise geographic location information about a particular Willis Towers Watson device.

Audio, Video and other Electronic Data: audio, electronic, visual, thermal, olfactory, or similar information. This includes:

 

   

CCTV footage and photographs

 

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Call recordings and other audio recording (e.g., recorded meetings and webinars)

Employment History: professional or employment-related information. This includes, but is not limited to:

 

   

Compensation and Payroll: Base salary, bonus, benefits, compensation type, salary step within assigned grade, details on stock options, stock grants and other awards, currency, pay frequency, effective date of current compensation, salary reviews, banking details, working time records (including vacation and other absence records, leave status, hours worked and department standard hours), pay data and termination date.

 

   

Position: Description of current position, job title, corporate status, management category, job code, salary plan, pay grade or level, job function(s) and subfunction(s), company name and code (legal employer entity), branch/unit/department, location, employment status and type, full-time/part-time, terms of employment, employment contract, work history, hire/re-hire and termination date(s) and reason, length of service, retirement eligibility, promotions and disciplinary records, date of transfers, and reporting manager(s) information.

 

   

Talent Acquisition and Talent Management Information: Professional qualifications, language and other relevant skills, certification, certification expiration dates), information necessary to complete a background check, details on performance management ratings, development programs planned and attended, e-learning programs, performance and development reviews, willingness to relocate, driver’s license information, and information used to populate employee biographies.

 

   

Management Records: Details of any shares of common stock or directorships.

Education Information: information about education history or background that is not publicly available personally identifiable information as defined in the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (20 U.S.C. section 1232g, 34 C.F.R. Part 99). This includes, but is not limited to:

 

   

Degrees, certificates or other training completed, schools attended and relevant dates.

 

   

Details contained in letters of application and resume/CV (previous employment background.

Profiles and Inferences: inferences drawn from any of the information identified above to create a profile about a resident reflecting the resident’s preferences, characteristics, psychological trends, predispositions, behaviour, attitudes, intelligence, abilities, and aptitudes.

What About Sensitive Information?

We may also collect certain types of information that is considered sensitive data (or special categories of data) under applicable law; we will only collect such information when permitted by local law, such as health/medical information, place of birth, trade union membership information, religion, and race or ethnicity. We collect this information for specific purposes, such as health/medical information in order to accommodate a disability or illness and to provide benefits; religion or church affiliation in countries such as Germany where required for statutory tax deductions; and diversity-related Personal Information (such as gender, race or ethnicity) in order to comply with legal obligations and internal policies relating to diversity and anti-discrimination.

 

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Please be assured that, as explained in the following section, we will only use such sensitive information for the following purposes and as provided by law.

The Purposes for which we may collect, use, transfer and disclose Personal Information:

 

   

Managing Workforce: Managing work activities and personnel generally, including recruitment, appraisals, performance management, promotions and succession planning, rehiring, administering salary, and payment administration and reviews, wages and other awards such as stock options, stock grants and bonuses, healthcare, pensions and savings plans, training, leave, managing sickness leave, promotions, transfers, secondments, honoring other contractual benefits, providing employment references, loans, performing workforce analysis and planning, performing employee surveys, performing background checks, managing disciplinary matters, grievances and terminations, reviewing employment decisions, making business travel arrangements, managing business expenses and reimbursements, planning and monitoring of training requirements and career development activities and skills, and creating and maintaining one or more internal employee directories.

 

   

Communications and Emergencies: Facilitating communication with you, ensuring business continuity, providing references, protecting the health and safety of employees and others, safeguarding IT infrastructure, office equipment and other property, facilitating communication with you and/or your nominated contacts in an emergency.

 

   

Business Operations: Operating and managing the IT and communications systems, ensuring the security of Company systems, networks and information, managing product and service development, improving products and services, managing company assets, allocating company assets and human resources, strategic planning, project management, business continuity, compilation of audit trails and other reporting tools, maintaining records relating to business activities, budgeting, financial management and reporting, communications, managing mergers, acquisitions, sales, re-organizations or disposals and integration with purchaser.

 

   

Compliance: Complying with legal and other requirements, such as income tax and national insurance deductions, record-keeping and reporting obligations, conducting audits, compliance with government inspections and other requests from government or other public authorities, responding to legal process such as subpoenas, pursuing legal rights and remedies, for the purpose of observing our legal obligations, which include preventing business transactions with restricted parties and complying with relevant global trade control laws, defending litigation and managing any internal complaints or claims, conducting investigations and complying with internal policies and procedures.

 

   

Monitoring: Monitoring compliance with internal policies and Code of Business Conduct, monitoring activity in public places by CCTV and monitoring of telephone, email, Internet, instant messaging and other company resources as detailed in our policies and permitted by local law, regulation and any applicable works council agreements.

The categories of unaffiliated third parties with whom Willis Towers Watson may share Personal Information:

 

   

Professional Advisors: Accountants, auditors, lawyers, insurers, bankers, and other outside professional advisors in all of the countries in which the Willis Towers Watson Group operates.

 

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Service Providers: Companies that provide products and services to the Willis Towers Watson Group such as payroll, pension scheme, benefits providers; human resources services, performance management, training, expense management, IT systems suppliers and support; third parties assisting with equity compensation programs, credit card companies, medical or health practitioners, trade bodies and associations, and other service providers.

 

   

Public and Governmental Authorities: Entities that regulate or have jurisdiction over companies in the Willis Towers Watson Group such as regulatory authorities, law enforcement, public bodies, and judicial bodies (who may be located in other countries around the world).

 

   

Corporate Transaction: A third party in connection with any proposed or actual reorganization, merger, sale, joint venture, assignment, transfer or other disposition of all or any portion of the Willis Towers Watson Group’s business, assets or stock (including in connection with any bankruptcy or similar proceedings.

 

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EX-10.2

Exhibit 10.2

WILLIS TOWERS WATSON PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY

2012 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN, AS AMENDED AND RESTATED

PERFORMANCE-BASED RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

FOR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

THIS PERFORMANCE-BASED RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), is made by and between Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company and any successor thereto (the “Company”) and the individual (the “Colleague”) who has signed or electronically accepted this Agreement (including the Schedules attached hereto) in the manner specified in the Colleague’s online account with the Company’s designated broker/stock plan administrator.

WHEREAS, the Company wishes to carry out the Plan (as hereinafter defined), the terms of which are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Committee (as defined in the Plan) has determined that it would be to the advantage and best interest of the Company and its shareholders to grant an award of Performance-Based Restricted Share Units (as hereinafter defined) provided for herein to the Colleague as an incentive for increased efforts during the Colleague’s employment with the Company, its Subsidiaries (as defined in the Plan) or its Designated Associate Companies (as defined in the Plan), and has advised the Company thereof and instructed the undersigned officer to prepare said Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto do hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meaning specified in the Plan or below. The masculine pronoun shall include the feminine and neuter, and the singular the plural, where the context so indicates.

Section 1.1 - Cause

“Cause” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term or similar term (e.g., “Good Cause”) in the Colleague’s employment agreement, if any, with the Company, a Subsidiary or a Designated Associate Company, and, in the absence of an employment agreement or such definition in the employment agreement, it shall mean: (i) the Colleague’s gross or chronic neglect or negligence in the performance of the Colleague’s employment duties with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries or Designated Associate Companies having been provided reasonable notice of such neglect or negligence and a period of at least ten (10) days after the Colleague’s receipt of such notice to cure and/or correct such performance neglect or negligence, (ii) willful misconduct by the Colleague in connection with the Colleague’s employment which is injurious to the Company or its Subsidiaries or Designated Associate Companies (willful misconduct shall be understood to include, but not be limited to, any breach of the duty of loyalty owed by the Colleague to the Company or its Subsidiaries or Designated Associate Companies), (iii) conviction of any criminal act (other than minor road traffic violations not involving imprisonment), (iv) any breach of the Colleague’s restrictive covenants and other obligations as provided in the Colleague’s employment agreement (if any), or any other non-compete agreement and/or confidentiality agreement entered into between the Colleague and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Designated Associate Companies (other than an insubstantial, inadvertent and non-recurring breach), or (v) any violation of any material written Company policy, which includes any policy regarding sexual harassment, after reasonable notice and an opportunity to cure such violation (if curable as determined by the Board) within ten (10) days after the Colleague’s receipt of such notice.

 

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Section 1.2 - Earned Date

“Earned Date” shall mean the date that the Committee determines the attainment level of the Performance Objectives.

Section 1.3 - Earned Performance Shares

“Earned Performance Shares” shall mean the number of PRSUs that are deemed earned based on the attainment level of the Performance Objectives set forth in Schedule D of this Agreement.

Section 1.4 - Good Reason

“Good Reason” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term or similar term in the employment agreement, if any, with the Company, a Subsidiary or a Designated Associate Company; in the absence of an employment agreement or such term in the employment agreement, it shall mean that one or more of the following events has occurred without the Colleague’s written consent: (i) a material adverse diminution in the Colleague’s position, authority or responsibilities or the assignment to Colleague of duties or responsibilities which are materially inconsistent with the Colleague’s position; (ii) a reduction in the Colleague’s monthly base salary or target annual incentive plan percentage; or (iii) the Colleague is required to relocate the Colleague’s primary work location of record, either (A) if the Colleague is designated to work primarily at a Company office, to an office outside a radius of 50 miles from the Colleague’s current office location, or (B) if the Colleague’s is designated to work primarily on a “remote” basis, to any office or location that is not materially consistent with the Colleague’s remote work arrangement. The Colleague may not resign or otherwise terminate the Colleague’s employment for any reason set forth above as Good Reason unless the Colleague first notifies the Employer in writing describing such Good Reason within 90 days of the first occurrence of such circumstances, and, thereafter, such Good Reason is not corrected by the Employer within 30 days of the Colleague’s written notice of such Good Reason, and the Colleague actually terminates employment within 90 days following the expiration of the Employer’s 30-day cure period described above.

Section 1.5 - Grant Date

“Grant Date” shall mean the date set forth in a schedule to the Agreement or communicated to the Colleague through his online account with the Company’s designated broker/stock plan administrator.

Section 1.6 - Legacy Company

“Legacy Company” shall mean Towers Watson & Co. or Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company and any predecessor companies or affiliates of any of the foregoing.

Section 1.7 - LTIP

“Long-Term Incentive Program” or “LTIP” is a program adopted with respect to calendar year 2022 to 2024 by the Committee under which equity awards and/or cash awards may be granted to certain eligible employees of the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Designated Associate Companies.

 

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Section 1.8 Nominal Value

“Nominal Value” shall mean $0.00030465 per Share.

Section 1.9 Performance-Based Restricted Share Units

“Performance-Based Restricted Share Units” or “PRSUs” shall mean a conditional right to receive Shares, pursuant to the terms of the Plan and this Agreement upon vesting and settlement, subject to the attainment of certain Performance Objectives and the Colleague’s continued employment through the applicable Vesting Date.

Section 1.10 Performance Objectives

“Performance Objectives” shall mean the performance objectives that are referenced in Section 3.1(b) and set forth in Schedule D to this Agreement.

Section 1.11 - Performance Period

“Performance Period” shall mean January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024.

Section 1.12 - Plan

“Plan” shall mean the Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company 2012 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.

Section 1.13 - Qualifying Retirement

“Qualifying Retirement” shall mean a voluntary Termination of Service by the Colleague after the Colleague’s attainment of either (i) the age of 55 and the Colleague’s completion of 10 years of Service, or (ii) the age of 65 and the Colleague’s completion of 5 years of Service, provided that the Committee has not determined that a basis exists for the Colleague’s Termination of Service for Cause at the time of such Termination of Service.

Section 1.14 Shares

“Shares” shall mean Ordinary Shares of the Company, Nominal Value per Share, which may be authorized but unissued.

Section 1.15 Service

“Service” shall mean service as an Employee with the Company, a Subsidiary or Designated Associate Company thereof or a Legacy Company.

Section 1.16 – Target Award

“Target Award” shall mean the target number of PRSUs specified in a schedule to the Agreement or as stated in the Colleague’s online account with the Company’s designated broker/stock plan administrator.

 

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Section 1.17 – Termination Date

Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, the “Termination Date” shall mean the later of (i) the last day of the Colleague’s active employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries or Designated Associate Companies or (ii) the last day of any notice period or garden leave, as provided for under the Colleague’s employment agreement or local law; provided, however, that in the case of United States taxpayers, the Termination Date shall mean a date that will allow the PRSUs to comply with Section 409A of the Code.

Section 1.18 - Vesting Date

“Vesting Date” shall mean the third anniversary of the Grant Date.

ARTICLE II

GRANT OF PERFORMANCE-BASED RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS

Section 2.1 - Grant of the Performance-Based Restricted Share Units

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and the additional terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement including any country-specific provisions set forth in Schedule A to this Agreement, and, if applicable, the restrictive covenants set forth in Schedule B or Schedule C to the Agreement (whichever is applicable), the Company hereby grants to the Colleague a number of PRSUs equal to the Target Award representing the right to vest in the Earned Performance Shares. In circumstances where the Colleague is required to enter into the Agreement of Restrictive Covenants and Other Obligations set forth in Schedule B or Schedule C, the Colleague agrees that the grant of PRSUs pursuant to this Agreement is sufficient consideration for the Colleague entering into such agreement. The Colleague agrees to execute and deliver or electronically accept, in the manner and within the period specified in the Colleague’s online account with the Company’s designated broker/stock plan administrator, the Agreement including any applicable schedules thereto. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, cancel the PRSUs if the Colleague fails to execute and deliver or electronically accept the Agreement and documents within the period set forth in the foregoing sentence.

Section 2.2 - PRSU Payment

In accordance with Section 7(d)(ii) of the Plan, the Shares to be issued upon vesting and settlement of the PRSUs must be fully paid up prior to issuance of Shares by payment of the Nominal Value per Share. The Committee shall ensure that payment of the Nominal Value for any Shares underlying the PRSUs is received by it on behalf of the Colleague at the time the PRSUs are settled from a non-Irish Subsidiary or other source and shall establish any procedures or protocols necessary to ensure that payment is timely received.

Section 2.3 - Employment or Service Rights

Subject to the terms of the Agreement of Restrictive Covenants and Other Obligations, where applicable, the rights and obligations of the Colleague under the terms of his office or employment with the Company or any Subsidiary or Designated Associate Company shall not be affected by his participation in the Plan or any right which he may have to participate in it. The PRSUs and the Colleague’s participation in the Plan will not be interpreted to form an employment agreement or service contract with the Company or any Subsidiary or a Designated Associate Company and the terms of any separate employment agreement to which the Colleague is a party shall remain in effect and will control to the extent that there are any inconsistencies with this Agreement. The Colleague hereby waives any and all rights to compensation or damages in consequence of the Termination of Service for any reason whatsoever insofar as those rights arise or may arise from his ceasing to have rights under or be entitled to earn or vest in his PRSUs as a result of such Termination of Service. If, notwithstanding the foregoing, any such claim is allowed by a court of competent jurisdiction, then, by participating in the Plan, the Colleague shall be deemed irrevocably to have agreed not to pursue such claim and agrees to execute any and all documents necessary to request dismissal or withdrawal of such claims.

 

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Section 2.4 - Adjustments in PRSUs Pursuant to Change of Control or Similar Event, etc.

Subject to Sections 11 and 12 of the Plan, in the event that the outstanding Shares subject to the PRSUs are, from time to time, changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of Shares or other securities, by reason of a share split, spin-off, share or extraordinary cash dividend, share combination or reclassification, recapitalization or merger, Change of Control, or similar event, the Committee shall, in its absolute discretion, substitute or adjust proportionally (i) the number and kind of Shares subject to the PRSUs; or (ii) the terms and conditions of the PRSUs (including without limitation, any applicable Performance Objectives with respect thereto). An adjustment may have the effect of reducing the price at which Shares may be acquired to less than their Nominal Value (the “Shortfall”), but only if and to the extent that the Committee shall be authorized to capitalize from the reserves of the Company a sum equal to the Shortfall and to apply that sum in paying up that amount on the Shares. Any such adjustment or determination made by the Committee shall be final and binding upon the Colleague, the Company and all other interested persons.

Section 2.5 Tax Withholding

The Colleague acknowledges that, regardless of any action taken by the Employer, the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items, is and remains the Colleague’s responsibility and may exceed the amount actually withheld by the Company or the Employer. The Colleague further acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (1) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the PRSUs, including, but not limited to, the grant, vesting or settlement of the PRSUs, the subsequent sale of Shares acquired pursuant to such settlement and the receipt of any dividends and/or any dividend equivalents; and (2) do not commit to and are under no obligation to structure the terms of the grant or any aspect of the PRSUs to reduce or eliminate the Colleague’s liability for Tax-Related Items or achieve any particular tax result. Further, if the Colleague is subject to Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction, the Colleague acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (or former employer, as applicable) may be required to withhold or account for Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction.

Prior to any relevant taxable or tax withholding event, as applicable, the Colleague agrees to make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company and/or the Employer to satisfy all Tax-Related Items.

In this regard, the Colleague authorizes the Company and/or the Employer, or their respective agents, to satisfy the obligations with regard to all Tax-Related Items by withholding in Shares to be issued upon settlement of the PRSUs. In the event that such withholding in Shares is problematic under applicable tax or securities law or has materially adverse accounting consequences, by the Colleague’s acceptance of the PRSUs, the Colleague authorizes the Company and/or the Employer, or their respective agents, to (i) withhold from the Colleague’s wages or other cash amounts payable to the Colleague from the Company or the Employer, (ii) sell on the Colleague’s behalf a whole number of Shares from those Shares issued to the Colleague as the Company determines to be appropriate to generate cash proceeds sufficient to satisfy the obligation for Tax-Related Items, or (iii) utilize any other method of withholding determined by the Company and permitted by applicable laws and the Plan.

The Company may withhold or account for Tax-Related Items by considering statutory withholding rates or other withholding rates, including minimum or maximum applicable rates applicable in the Colleague’s jurisdiction(s). In the event of over-withholding, the Colleague may receive a refund of any over-withheld amount in cash (with no entitlement to the Share equivalent), or if not refunded, the Colleague may seek a refund from the local tax authorities. In the event of under-withholding, the Colleague may be required to pay any additional Tax-Related Items directly to the applicable tax authority or to the Company and/or the Employer. If the obligation for Tax-Related Items is satisfied by withholding in Shares, for tax purposes, the Colleague is deemed to have been issued the full number of Shares subject to the vested PRSUs, notwithstanding that a number of Shares are held back solely for the purpose of paying the Tax-Related Items.

 

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Finally, the Colleague agrees to pay to the Company or the Employer any amount of Tax-Related Items that the Company or the Employer may be required to withhold or account for as a result of the Colleague’s participation in the Plan that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described. The Company may refuse to issue or deliver the Shares or the proceeds of the sale of Shares, if the Colleague fails to comply with the Colleague’s obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items.

Section 2.6 - Dividend Equivalents

On each date that a cash dividend is paid to holders of Shares from the Grant Date through the date immediately prior to the date the PRSUs are settled, an amount (the “Dividend Equivalent Amount”) equal to the cash dividend that is paid on each Share, multiplied by the total number of PRSUs and any Dividend Equivalent Units (as defined below) that remain unvested and outstanding as of the dividend payment record date, will be credited to the Colleague, and such credited amount will be converted into an additional number of PRSUs (“Dividend Equivalent Units”) determined by dividing the Dividend Equivalent Amount by the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of the dividend payment. At the end of the Performance Period, the number of Dividend Equivalent Units will be adjusted to reflect the number of Dividend Equivalent Units that would have been credited to the Colleague as of the Grant Date if such calculations had been based on the number of Earned Performance Shares (such adjusted number, the “Earned Dividend Equivalent Units”). During the period beginning immediately following the last day of the Performance Period and ending on the date the Earned Performance Shares are paid pursuant to Section 3.2(a) below, Dividend Equivalent Units will accrue on any Earned Performance Shares and any Earned Dividend Equivalent Units. Dividend Equivalent Units and Earned Dividend Equivalent Units will be subject to the same conditions as the underlying PRSUs with respect to which Dividend Equivalent Units and Earned Dividend Equivalent Units were paid, including without limitation, the vesting condition and the provisions governing time and form of settlement applicable to the underlying PRSUs. Unless expressly provided otherwise, as used elsewhere in this Agreement, references to PRSUs in this Agreement shall also include Dividend Equivalent Units and Earned Dividend Equivalent Units that have been credited to the Colleague pursuant to this Section 2.6.

Section 2.7 - Clawback Policy

The Company may cancel all or part of the PRSUs or require payment by the Colleague to the Company of all or part of any amount or Shares acquired by the Colleague upon vesting and settlement of the PRSUs pursuant to the Company’s Clawback Policy as stated in Section 9 of the Plan.

ARTICLE III

PERFORMANCE-BASED AND TIME-BASED VESTING REQUIREMENTS

Section 3.1 - Earned Performance Shares Determination and Forfeiture

(a) Subject to the other provisions of this Sections 3.1 and the terms of the Colleague’s employment agreement, if any, the Shares subject to the PRSUs that become Earned Performance Shares as of the Earned Date shall vest on the Vesting Date, subject to the Colleague’s continued employment with the Company or any Subsidiary or Designated Associate Company through the Vesting Date and shall become payable in accordance with Section 3.2 below.

 

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(b) As of the Earned Date, the Committee shall determine the attainment level of the applicable Performance Objectives set forth in Schedule D to this Agreement, and based on such determination, shall declare the number of Shares subject to the PRSUs that shall become Earned Performance Shares. Anything to the contrary in this Section 3.1 and Schedule D to this Agreement notwithstanding, the Committee retains sole discretion to determine the number of Shares subject to the PRSUs that will become Earned Performance Shares.

(c) The Colleague understands and agrees that the terms under which the PRSUs shall become Earned Performance Shares (as described in this Section 3.1 and in Schedule D) is confidential and the Colleague agrees not to disclose, reproduce or distribute such confidential information concerning the Company, except as required in the course of the Colleague’s employment with the Company, its Subsidiaries or a Designated Associate Company, without the prior written consent of the Company. The Colleague’s failure to abide by this condition may result in the immediate cancellation of the PRSUs.

(d) Any Shares subject to the PRSUs that are not declared by the Committee to be Earned Performance Shares on the Earned Date, except as otherwise provided under this Section 3.1 shall be forfeited immediately.

(e) In the event of the Colleague’s Termination of Service prior to the Vesting Date, any unvested Earned Performance Shares will be forfeited immediately by the Colleague, subject to, and except as otherwise specified in, the terms and conditions of the other subsections of this Section 3.2.

(f) In the event of the Colleague’s Termination of Service after the first anniversary of the Grant Date and prior to the Vesting Date due to a Qualifying Retirement, a number of PRSUs equal to the Earned Performance Shares shall vest on the Vesting Date, subject to the Colleague’s compliance with the restrictive covenants and other obligations contemplated under Article VI of this Agreement. For the avoidance of any doubt, the provisions of this Section 3.1(f) shall prevail over the provisions of Section 3.1(g) and 3.1(h).

(g) In the event the PRSUs are assumed or otherwise substituted or replaced by the successor corporation or an affiliate thereof in connection with a Change of Control and the Colleague experiences a (i) Termination of Service without Cause by the Company or (ii) Termination of Service by the Colleague for Good Reason, in each case, within the 24-month period commencing on the effective date of a Change of Control, a number of PRSUs equal to the Target Award shall vest on the Termination Date.

(h) In the event of the Colleague’s (i) Termination of Service without Cause by the Company or (ii) Termination of Service by the Colleague for Good Reason, in each case, after the first anniversary of the Grant Date and prior to a Change of Control or after the 24-month period commencing on the effective date of a Change of Control, a pro rata number of PRSUs shall vest on the Vesting Date equal to the product of number of Earned Performance Shares, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which equal to the number of completed days of continuous employment with the Company or any Subsidiary or Designated Associate Company from the Grant Date through the Termination Date, and the denominator of which is 1,095.

(i) In the event of the Colleague’s Termination of Service as a result of the Colleague’s Permanent Disability or death, a number of PRSUs equal to the Earned Performance Shares shall vest on the Vesting Date.

(j) In the event the PRSUs are not assumed or otherwise substituted or replaced by the successor corporation or an affiliate thereof in connection with a Change of Control, a number of PRSUs equal to the Target Award shall vest immediately prior to the date of the Change of Control.

 

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(k) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3.1, no PRSUs shall vest prior to the first anniversary of the Grant Date except in the case of the Colleague’s Termination of Service resulting from death or Permanent Disability or in connection with a Change of Control.

Section 3.2 - Settlement

(a) PRSUs that become vested shall be settled on the Vesting Date, or, if earlier, upon an accelerated vesting event pursuant to Sections 3.1(g) through 3.1(j), or as soon as practicable, but no later than 30 days, thereafter.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the PRSUs are considered non-qualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code (“Deferred Compensation”), as determined in the sole discretion of the Company, and the Colleague is a U.S. Taxpayer, (i) any PRSUs that are scheduled to be settled on, or a date that is by reference to, the Colleague’s Termination Date shall not be settled on such date unless the Termination of Service constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, and if the Colleague is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code on the date the Colleague experiences a separation from service, then the PRSUs shall instead be settled on the first business day of the seventh month following the Colleague’s separation from service, or, if earlier, on the date of the Colleague’s death, to the extent such delayed payment is required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Section 409A of the Code and (ii) any PRSUs that are scheduled to be settled upon, or a date that is by reference to, a Change of Control that does not constitute a “change in control event” within the meaning of U.S. Treas. Regs § 1.409A-3(i)(5) shall instead be settled in cash in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of the Change of Control on the earliest of (A) the Vesting Date, (B) the Colleague’s separation from service” and (C) the Colleagues’ death.

Section 3.3 - Conditions to Issuance of Shares

The Earned Performance Shares to be delivered hereunder shall be previously authorized but unissued Shares. Such Shares shall be fully paid. The Company shall not be required to deliver any certificates representing such Shares (or their electronic equivalent) allotted and issued upon the applicable date of the vesting of the PRSUs prior to fulfillment of all of the following conditions, and in any event, subject to Section 409A of the Code for United States taxpayers:

(a) The obtaining of approval or other clearance from any state, federal, local or foreign governmental agency which the Committee shall, in its absolute discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable;

(b) The Colleague has paid or made arrangements to pay the Tax-Related Items pursuant to Section 2.5; and

(c) No fractional Shares shall be issued under this Agreement.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee may in the case of United States resident employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries require an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to it to the effect that any subsequent transfer of Shares acquired on the vesting of PRSUs does not violate the Exchange Act and may issue stop-transfer orders in the United States covering such Shares.

Section 3.4 - Rights as Shareholder

The Colleague shall not be, nor have any of the rights or privileges of, a shareholder of the Company in respect of any Shares that may be received upon the settlement of the PRSUs unless and until certificates representing such Shares or their electronic equivalent shall have been issued by the Company to the Colleague.

 

8


Section 3.5 - Limitation on Obligations

The Company’s obligation with respect to the PRSUs granted hereunder is limited solely to the delivery to the Colleague of Shares within the period when such Shares are due to be delivered hereunder, and in no event shall the Company become obligated to pay cash in respect of such obligation. The PRSUs shall not be secured by any specific assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Designated Associate Companies, nor shall any assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Designated Associate Companies be designated as attributable or allocated to the satisfaction of the Company’s obligations under this Agreement. In addition, the Company shall not be liable to the Colleague for damages relating to any delays in issuing the share certificates or its electronic equivalent to the Colleague (or his designated entities), any loss of the certificates, or any mistakes or errors in the issuance of the certificates (or the electronic equivalent) to the Colleague (or his designated entities) or in the certificates themselves.

ARTICLE IV

ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PRSUs

Section 4.1 Nature of Award

In accepting the PRSUs, the Colleague acknowledges, understands and agrees that:

(a) the Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, is discretionary in nature and may be amended, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time, to the extent permitted by the Plan;

(b) the PRSU award is exceptional, voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future PRSU awards, or benefits in lieu of PRSU awards, even if PRSUs have been granted in the past;

(c) all decisions with respect to future PRSUs or other grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company;

(d) the Colleague’s participation in the Plan is voluntary;

(e) the PRSUs and any Shares acquired under the Plan, and the income and the value of same, are not intended to replace any pension rights or compensation under any pension arrangement;

(f) the PRSUs and any Shares acquired under the Plan, and the income and the value of same, are not part of normal or expected compensation or salary for any purposes, including, but not limited to, calculating any severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, end of service payments, dismissal, bonuses, holiday pay, long-service awards, pension or retirement or welfare benefits or similar payments;

(g) unless otherwise agreed with the Company, the PRSUs and the Shares subject to the PRSUs, and the income and value of same, are not granted as consideration for, or in connection with, services the Colleague may provide as a director of any Subsidiary or affiliate;

(h) the future value of the Shares underlying the PRSUs is unknown, indeterminable, and cannot be predicted with certainty;

 

9


(i) no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from forfeiture of the PRSUs or the underlying Shares resulting from the Colleague’s Termination of Service (for any reason whatsoever, whether or not later found to be invalid or in breach of employment laws in the jurisdiction where the Colleague is employed or the terms of his or her employment agreement, if any);

(j) unless otherwise provided in the Plan or by the Company in its discretion, the PRSUs and the benefits evidenced by this Agreement do not create any entitlement to have the PRSUs or any such benefits transferred to, or assumed by, another company nor to be exchanged, cashed out or substituted for, in connection with any Change of Control or similar event affecting the Shares of the Company; and

(k) if the Colleague is providing services outside the United States, neither the Company, the Employer nor any Subsidiary or Designated Associate Company shall be liable for any foreign exchange rate fluctuation between the Colleague’s local currency and the United States Dollar that may affect the value of the PRSUs or of any amounts due to the Colleague pursuant to the settlement of the PRSUs or the subsequent sale of any Shares acquired upon settlement.

Section 4.2 - No Advice Regarding Grant

The Company its Subsidiaries and Designated Associate Companies are not providing any tax, legal or financial advice, nor is the Company making any recommendations regarding the Colleague’s participation in the Plan, the issuance of Shares upon vesting of the PRSUs or sale of the Shares. The Colleague should consult with his or her own personal tax, legal and financial advisors regarding his or her participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan.

ARTICLE V

DATA PRIVACY NOTICE

Section 5.1 Data Privacy

The Company is located at 51 Lime Street, London, EC3M 7DQ, England and Wales and grants employees of the Company, Subsidiaries and Designated Associate Companies the opportunity to participate in the Plan, at the Company’s sole discretion. If the Colleague would like to participate in the Plan, the Colleague understands that the Company will process the Colleague’s Personal Data in accordance with the Global Employee Personal Information Protection Notice set forth in Schedule E to this Agreement.

ARTICLE VI

AGREEMENT OF RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS

Section 6.1 Restrictive Covenants and Other Obligations

In consideration of the grant of PRSUs, the Colleague shall enter into the Agreement of Restrictive Covenants and Other Obligations, a copy of which is attached hereto as Schedule B or Schedule C. In the event the Colleague does not sign and return or electronically accept the Agreement of Restrictive Covenants and Other Obligations in the manner specified within 45 days of the receipt of this Agreement, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, cancel the PRSUs. If no such agreement is required, Schedule B or Schedule C shall state none or not applicable.

 

10


ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 7.1 - Administration

The Committee shall have the power to interpret the Plan and this Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and to interpret or revoke any such rules. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Committee shall be final and binding upon the Colleague, the Company and all other interested persons. No member of the Committee shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan or the PRSUs. In its absolute discretion, the Committee may at any time and from time to time exercise any and all rights and duties of the Committee under the Plan and this Agreement.

Section 7.2 - PRSUs Not Transferable

Neither the PRSUs nor any interest or right therein or part thereof shall be subject to the debts, contracts or engagements of the Colleague or his successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy), and any attempted disposition thereof shall be null and void and of no effect; provided, however, that this Section 7.2 shall not prevent transfers made solely for estate planning purposes or under a will or by the applicable laws of inheritance.

Section 7.3 Binding Effect

The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and accrue to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

Section 7.4 - Notices

Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement to the Company shall be addressed to the Company at the following address:

Willis Towers Watson plc

c/o Matthew S. Furman

General Counsel

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

and any notice to be given to the Colleague shall be at his address.

By a notice given pursuant to this Section 7.4, either party may hereafter designate a different address for notices to be given to him. Any notice that is required to be given to the Colleague shall, if the Colleague is then deceased, be given to the Colleague’s personal representatives if such representatives have previously informed the Company of their status and address by written notice under this Section 7.4. Any notice shall have been deemed duly given when sent by facsimile or enclosed in a properly sealed envelope or wrapper addressed as aforesaid, deposited (with postage prepaid) in a post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the United States Postal Service or the United Kingdom’s Post Office or in the case of a notice given by an Colleague resident outside the United States of America or the United Kingdom, sent by facsimile or by a recognized international courier service.

 

11


Section 7.5 - Titles

Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.

Section 7.6 - Applicability of Plan

The PRSUs and the Shares underlying the PRSUs shall be subject to all of the terms and provisions of the Plan, to the extent applicable to the PRSUs and the underlying Shares. In the event of any conflict between this Agreement and the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall control.

Section 7.7 - Amendment

This Agreement may be amended only by a document executed by the parties hereto, which specifically states that it is amending this Agreement.

Section 7.8 - Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of Ireland without regard to its conflicts of law provisions; provided, however, that the Agreement of Restrictive Covenants and Other Obligations as set forth in Schedule B or Schedule C, if applicable, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws specified in that agreement without regard to conflicts of law provisions.

Section 7.9 - Jurisdiction

The state and federal courts located in the County of New York, State of New York shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine any suit, action or proceeding and to settle any disputes, which may arise out of or in connection with this Agreement and, for such purposes, the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts; provided, however, where applicable that with respect to the Agreement of Restrictive Covenants and Other Obligations the courts specified in such agreements shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine any suit, action or proceeding and to settle any disputes which may arise out of or in connection with that agreement.

Section 7.10 - Electronic Delivery and Acceptance

The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to current or future participation in the Plan by electronic means. The Colleague hereby consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or a third party broker/stock plan administrator designated by the Company. Further, to the extent that this Agreement has been executed on behalf of the Company electronically, the Colleague accepts the electronic signature of the Company.

Section 7.11 - Choice of Language

By accepting the Agreement providing for the terms and conditions of the Colleague’s grant, the Colleague confirms having read and understood the documents relating to this grant (the Plan and the Agreement) which were provided in English language. The Colleague accepts the terms of those documents accordingly.

Section 7.12 - Severability

The provisions of this Agreement are severable and if any one or more provisions are determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless be binding and enforceable.

 

12


Section 7.13 - Schedule A

The PRSUs shall be subject to any special provisions set forth in Schedule A for the Colleague’s country of residence, if any. If the Colleague relocates to one of the countries included in Schedule A prior to the vesting of the PRSUs, the special provisions for such country shall apply to the Colleague, to the extent the Company determines that the application of such provisions is necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons. Schedule A constitutes part of this Agreement.

Section 7.14 - Imposition of Other Requirements

The Company reserves the right to impose other requirements on the PRSUs and the Shares acquired upon vesting of the PRSUs, to the extent the Company determines it is necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons, and to require the Colleague to sign any additional agreements or undertakings that may be necessary to accomplish the foregoing.

Section 7.15 - Insider Trading / Market Abuse Laws

The Colleague acknowledges that, depending on the Colleague or the Colleague’s broker’s country of residence or where the Shares are listed, the Colleague may be subject to insider trading restrictions and/or market abuse laws, which may affect the Colleague’s ability to accept, acquire, sell or otherwise dispose of Shares or rights to Shares (e.g., PRSUs) or rights linked to the value of Shares under the Plan during such times as the Colleague is considered to have “inside information” regarding the Company (as defined by the laws or regulations in the applicable jurisdictions of the Colleague’s country). Local insider trading laws and regulations may prohibit the cancellation or amendment of orders the Colleague placed before the Colleague possessed inside information. Furthermore, the Colleague could be prohibited from (i) disclosing the inside information to any third party (other than on a “need to know” basis) and (ii) “tipping” third parties or causing them otherwise to buy or sell securities. Third parties include fellow employees. Any restrictions under these laws or regulations are separate from and in addition to any restrictions that may be imposed under any applicable Company insider trading policy. The Colleague acknowledges he is responsible for complying with any applicable restrictions and is encouraged to speak to his personal legal advisor for further details regarding any applicable insider-trading and/or market-abuse laws in the Colleague’s country.

Section 7.16 - Foreign Asset/Account Reporting Requirements and Exchange Controls

The Colleague’s country may have certain foreign asset and/or foreign account reporting requirements and exchange controls which may affect the Colleague’s ability to acquire or hold Shares under the Plan or cash received from participating in the Plan (including from any dividends paid on Shares, sale proceeds resulting from the sale of Shares acquired under the Plan) in a brokerage or bank account outside the Colleague’s country. The Colleague may be required to report such accounts, assets or transactions to the tax or other authorities in the Colleague’s country. The Colleague also may be required to repatriate sale proceeds or other funds received as a result of the Colleague’s participation in the Plan to the Colleague’s country through a designated bank or broker within a certain time after receipt. The Colleague acknowledges that it is his responsibility to be compliant with such regulations, and the Colleague should consult his personal legal advisor for any details.

Section 7.17 - Waiver

The Colleague acknowledges that a waiver by the Company of breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement, or of any subsequent breach by the Colleague or any other Participant of the Plan.

 

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Section 7.18 - Counterparts

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (including by facsimile), each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

Section 7.19 Code Section 409A

For purposes of United States taxpayers, it is intended that the terms of the PRSUs will comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations relating thereto so as not to subject the Colleague to the payment of additional taxes and interest under Section 409A of the Code, and this Agreement will be interpreted, operated and administered in a manner that is consistent with this intent. In furtherance of this intent, the Committee may adopt such amendments to this Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, in each case, without the consent of the Colleague, that the Committee determines are reasonable, necessary or appropriate to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and related United States Department of Treasury guidance. In that light, the Company, its Subsidiaries and any Designated Associate Companies make no representation or covenant to ensure that the PRSUs that are intended to be exempt from, or compliant with, Section 409A of the Code are not so exempt or compliant or for any action taken by the Committee with respect thereto. Nothing in the Agreement shall provide a basis for any person to take action against the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Designated Associate Companies based on matters covered by Section 409A of the Code, including the tax treatment of any Shares or other payments made under the PRSUs granted hereunder, and the Company, its Subsidiaries and any Designated Associate Companies shall not under any circumstances have any liability to the Colleague or his estate or any other party for any taxes, penalties or interest due on amounts paid or payable under this Agreement, including taxes, penalties or interest imposed under Section 409A of the Code.

By the Colleague’s execution or electronic acceptance of this Agreement (including the Schedules attached hereto) in the manner specified in the Colleague’s online account with the Company’s designated broker/stock plan administrator, the Colleague and the Company have agreed that the PRSUs are granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement (including the Schedules attached hereto).

Signed for and on behalf of

Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company by:

 

/s/                                                                                                     
Name:
Title:

Colleague:

Signature: ___________________________________________

Print Name: __________________________________________

 

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SCHEDULE A

COUNTRY-SPECIFIC APPENDIX TO RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

WILLIS TOWERS WATSON PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY

2012 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement or the Plan.

Terms and Conditions

This Schedule A includes additional terms and conditions that govern the Performance-Based Restricted Share Unit Award granted to the Colleague under the Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company 2012 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time (the “Plan”) and the applicable Performance-Based Restricted Share Unit Agreement (the “Agreement”) if the Colleague resides in one of the countries listed below.

Notwithstanding Section 1.13 and 3.1(f) of the Agreement, if the Company receives a legal opinion that there has been a legal judgment and/or legal development in the Colleague’s jurisdiction that likely would result in the favorable treatment that applies to the PRSUs as a result of the Colleague’s retirement or reaching a certain age being unlawful and/or discriminatory, the favorable treatment contemplated under Section 1.13 and 3.1(f) shall not apply and Section 3.1 shall apply to the Colleague without giving effect to Section 3.1(f).

Notifications

This Schedule A also includes information based on the securities, exchange control and other laws in effect in the Colleague’s country as of January 2022. Such laws are often complex and change frequently. As a result, the Company strongly recommends that the Colleague not rely on the information noted herein as the only source of information relating to the consequences of the Colleague’s participation in the Plan because the information may be out of date at the time the PRSUs vest under the Plan.

In addition, the information is general in nature. The Company is not providing the Colleague with any tax advice with respect to the PRSUs. The information provided below may not apply to the Colleague’s particular situation, and the Company is not in a position to assure the Colleague of any particular result. Accordingly, the Colleague should seek appropriate professional advice as to how the tax or other laws in the Colleague’s country apply to the Colleague’s situation.

Finally, if the Colleague is a citizen or resident of a country other than the one in which the Colleague is currently residing and/or working, transfers employment and/or residency after the Grant Date, or is considered a resident of another country for local law purposes, the terms and conditions contained herein for the country the Colleague is residing and/or working in at the time of grant may not be applicable to the Colleague, and the Company shall, in its discretion, determine to what extent the terms and conditions contained herein shall be applicable to the Colleague. Similarly, the information contained herein may no longer be applicable in the same manner.

 

A-1


IRELAND

Terms and Conditions

PRSU Payment

This provision supplements Section 2.2 of the Agreement:

Notwithstanding any discretion in the Plan or anything to the contrary in the Agreement, the PRSUs do not provide any right for the Colleague to receive a cash payment and the PRSUs will be settled in Shares only.

Notifications

Director Reporting Obligation

If the Colleague is a director, shadow director1 or secretary of the Company or an Irish Subsidiary, he must notify the Company or the Irish Subsidiary in writing if the Colleague receives or disposes of an interest exceeding 1% of the Company (e.g., PRSUs, Shares, etc.), if Colleague becomes aware of the event giving rise to the notification requirement, or if the Colleague becomes a director or secretary if such an interest exists at the time. This notification requirement also applies with respect to the interests of a spouse or minor children (whose interests will be attributed to the director, shadow director or secretary).

UNITED KINGDOM

Terms and Conditions

PRSU Payment

This provision supplements Section 2.2 of the Agreement:

Notwithstanding any discretion in the Plan or anything to the contrary in the Agreement, the PRSUs do not provide any right for the Colleague to receive a cash payment and the PRSUs will be settled in Shares only.

Tax Withholding

The following provisions supplement Section 2.5 of the Agreement:

Without limitation to Section 2.5 of the Agreement, the Colleague agrees that he is liable for all Tax-Related Items and hereby covenants to pay all such Tax-Related Items, as and when requested by the Company or the Employer or by Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (“HMRC”) (or any other tax authority or any other relevant authority). The Colleague also hereby agrees to indemnify and keep indemnified the Company and the Employer against any Tax-Related Items that they are required to pay or withhold or have paid or will pay to HMRC (or any other tax authority or any other relevant authority) on the Colleague’s behalf.

 

1 

A shadow director is an individual who is not on the board of directors of the Company or an Irish Subsidiary but who has sufficient control so that the board of directors of the Company or Irish Subsidiary, as applicable, acts in accordance with the directions and instructions of the individual.

 

A-2


Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Colleague is a director or executive officer of the Company (within the meaning of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act), the Colleague shall not be eligible for a loan from the Employer to cover income tax. In the event that the Colleague is a director or executive officer and the income tax is not collected from or paid by him within ninety days of the end of the United Kingdom (“UK”) tax year in which the event giving rise to the income tax occurs, or such other period as required under UK law, the amount of any uncollected income tax may constitute a benefit to him on which additional income tax and National Insurance Contributions (“NICs”) may be payable. The Colleague will be responsible for reporting and paying any income tax due on this additional benefit directly to HMRC under the self-assessment regime and for reimbursing the Company or the Employer, as applicable, for any employee NICs due on this additional benefit, which may be recovered from the Colleague by the Company or the Employer at any time thereafter by any of the means referred to in Section 2.5 of the Agreement.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Notifications

Exchange Control Information

Under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”), United States taxpayers who hold Shares or rights to acquire Shares (i.e., PRSUs) may be required to report certain information related to their holdings to the extent the aggregate value of the PRSUs/Shares exceeds certain thresholds (depending on the Colleague’s filing status) with the Colleague’s annual tax return. The Colleague should consult with his personal tax or legal advisor regarding any FATCA reporting requirements with respect to the PRSUs or any Shares acquired under the Plan.

 

A-3


SCHEDULE B

AGREEMENT OF RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS FOR EMPLOYEES IN THE UNITED STATES

This Agreement of Restrictive Covenants and Other Obligations for Employees in the United States (the “RCA”) is entered into by and between Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (the “Company”) and the participant (the “Participant”) to be effective as of the date the Participant signs or electronically accepts this RCA.

RECITALS

Whereas, Participant is employed by a Subsidiary of the Company;

Whereas, subject to approval by the Committee or the Company’s Share Award Committee, the Participant has been designated to receive a grant of performance-based restricted share units (“PRSUs” or “Awards”) under the Company’s 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”);

Whereas, any Award granted to the Participant is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the award agreement evidencing the Participant’s Award (including any country specific terms thereto) and this RCA, and in consideration of the Award, the Participant shall enter into and acknowledge his or her agreement to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the award agreement and this RCA; and

Whereas, the Participant acknowledges and agrees that he or she desires to receive the Award and understands and agrees any Award is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan, the applicable award agreement and this RCA.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises contained herein and for other valuable consideration, in particular the Award, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged in this recital and within Section 6.4 below, the Parties hereto agree, with the intent to be bound, as follows:

Section 1 - Recitals

The Recitals set forth above are an integral part of this RCA, and are incorporated herein by reference.

Section 2 - Definitions

 

  2.1.

Award” shall have the meaning as set forth in the recitals.

 

  2.2.

Business” shall mean insurance brokerage, reinsurance brokerage, surety brokerage, bond brokerage, insurance agency, underwriting agency, managing general agency, risk management, claims administration, self-insurance, risk management consulting or other business performed by the Restricted Group.

 

  2.3.

Committee” shall have the same meaning as set forth in the Plan or the applicable award agreement.

 

  2.4.

Competitor” shall mean any business principally engaged in insurance brokerage, reinsurance brokerage, surety brokerage, bond brokerage, insurance agency, underwriting agency, managing general agency, risk management, claims administration, self-insurance, risk management consulting or other business which is either performed by the Restricted Group or is a business in which the Restricted Group has taken steps toward engaging.

 

B-1


  2.5.

Confidential Information” shall mean all trade secrets and non-public information concerning the financial data, strategic business plans, and other non-public, proprietary, and confidential information of the Restricted Group. Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to, the following information: identities of Relevant Clients and Relevant Prospects; identities of companies from which any Subsidiary obtains insurance coverage for Relevant Clients and Relevant Prospects; policy terms, conditions, rates and expiration dates pertaining to Relevant Clients and Relevant Prospects; risk characteristics of Relevant Clients and Relevant Prospects; and non-public information of the Restricted Group concerning insurance markets for particular risks. Confidential Information shall not include information that is within public domain, provided that Participant was not responsible, directly or indirectly, for such information entering the public domain without the Restricted Group’s consent.

 

  2.6.

Directly or indirectly” shall mean the Participant acting either alone or jointly with or on behalf of or by means of or in concert with any other person, firm or company (whether as principal, partner, manager, employee, contractor, director, consultant, investor or similar capacity) or otherwise.

 

  2.7.

Employer” shall mean the Subsidiary that employs the Participant. If the Company ever becomes an employer of the Participant, then the term Employer shall refer to the Company.

 

  2.8.

Employment Agreement” shall mean the contractual terms and conditions which govern the employment of the Participant by Employer.

 

  2.9.

Key Personnel” shall mean any person who is at the date the Participant ceases to be an employee of Employer or was (i) at any time during the period of twelve (12) months prior to that date employed by the Restricted Group, (ii) an employee with whom Participant had dealings, and (iii) employed by or engaged in the Business in a managerial capacity, or was an employee with insurance, reinsurance or other technical expertise.

 

  2.10.

Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

  2.11.

Relevant Area” shall mean the counties, parishes, districts, municipalities, cities, metropolitan regions, localities and similar geographic and political subdivisions, within and outside of the United States of America, in which the Employer, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has carried on Business in which the Participant has been involved or concerned or working on at any time during the period of twelve (12) months prior to the date on which the Participant ceases to be employed by Employer.

 

  2.12.

Relevant Client” shall mean any person, firm or company who or which at any time during the period of twelve (12) months prior to the date on which the Participant ceases to be employed by Employer is or was a client or customer of the Employer, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or was in the habit and/or practice of dealing under contract with the Employer, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and with whom or which the Participant had dealings related to the Business or for whose relationship with the Employer, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries the Participant had responsibility at any time during the said period.

 

  2.13.

Relevant Period” shall mean the period of twenty four (24) months following the date on which the Participant ceases to be employed by Employer.

 

  2.14.

Relevant Prospect” shall mean any person, firm or company who or which at any time during the period of six (6) months prior to the date on which the Participant ceases to be employed by Employer was an active prospective client of the Employer, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with whom or with which the Participant had dealings related to the Business (other than in a minimal and non-material way).

 

B-2


  2.15.

Restricted Group” shall mean the Company and its Subsidiaries, including the Employer, as in existence during the Participant’s employment with Employer and as of the date such employment ceases.

 

  2.16.

Subsidiary” shall mean a direct and/or indirect subsidiary of the Company as well as any associate company which is designated by the Company as being eligible for participation in the Plan.

Section 3 - Non-Solicit and Other Obligations

 

  3.1.

The Participant acknowledges that by virtue of his or her management position and as an employee of Employer, the Participant has acquired and will acquire knowledge of Confidential Information of the Restricted Group and their Business. The Participant further acknowledges that the Confidential Information which the Restricted Group has provided and will provide to the Participant would give the Participant a significant advantage if the Participant were to directly or indirectly be engaged in any Business at a Competitor of the Restricted Group.

 

  3.2.

Without the Company’s prior written consent, the Participant shall not directly or indirectly, at any time during or after the Participant’s employment with any Employer, disclose any Confidential Information and shall use the Participant’s best efforts to prevent the taking or disclosure of any Confidential Information to a Competitor, or otherwise, except as reasonably may be required to be disclosed by the Participant in the ordinary performance of his or her duties for Employer or as required by law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you understand that if you make a confidential disclosure of a trade secret of the Company or other Confidential Information to a government official or an attorney for the sole purpose of reporting a suspected violation of law, or in a court filing under seal, or otherwise engage in activities protected under whistleblower statutes, you shall not be held liable under this Agreement or under any federal or state trade secret law for such a disclosure or engaging of such activity and shall also not be required to notify the Company of any such disclosure or engaging of any such activity.

 

  3.3.

The Participant shall not, for the Relevant Period, directly or indirectly for a Competitor or otherwise:

 

  3.3.1.

within the Relevant Area, solicit any Relevant Client or Relevant Prospect for the purposes of any Business which competes or will compete or seeks to compete with the Restricted Group;

 

  3.3.2.

within the Relevant Area, accept, perform services for, or deal with any Relevant Client or Relevant Prospect for the purposes of any Business which competes or will compete or seeks to compete with the Restricted Group;

 

  3.3.3.

solicit for employment or entice away from the Restricted Group any Key Personnel; or

 

  3.3.4.

employ or engage or endeavour to employ or engage any Key Personnel.

 

  3.4.

To the extent the Participant is a party to an Employment Agreement or other agreement with the Employer, the Company or any Subsidiary that contains post-employment covenants and restrictions, those post-employment covenants and restrictions shall be separate and apart and independent from the covenants and restrictions set forth in Section 3.2 and Section 3.3 herein.

 

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  3.5.

The Participant shall not directly or indirectly, at any time during or after the Participant’s employment with any Employer, take any action or make any statement, written or oral, that disparages or criticizes the business or management of the Employer, the Company or any Subsidiary or any of its or their respective directors, officers, agents, employees, products or services. Nothing contained herein limits or restricts any rights Participant may have to engage in protected concerted activity under the National Labor Relations Act.

 

  3.6.

The Participant recognizes and agrees that the payment of damages will not be an adequate remedy for any breach by Participant of any of the covenants set forth in Section 3 of this RCA. Participant recognizes that irreparable injury will result to Company and/or its Subsidiaries in the event of any such breach and therefore Participant agrees that Company may, in addition to recovering damages, proceed in equity to enjoin Participant from violating any such covenant.

 

  3.7.

The Participant acknowledges that the provisions of this Section 3 are fair, reasonable and necessary to protect the goodwill and interests of the Restricted Group.

Section 4 - Governing Law & Jurisdiction

 

  4.1.

This RCA shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of New York, without regard to its conflicts of law principles.

 

  4.2.

Any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this RCA shall only be brought in the State and Federal Courts located in the County of New York, State of New York and the Parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally submit accordingly to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts for the purpose of any such suit, action or proceeding. The Participant hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objections he or she may now have or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this RCA in the foregoing courts. The Participant further acknowledges that for purposes of N.Y.C.P.L.R. 327(b) and N.Y. G.O.L. Section 5-1402, the value of the Plan is in excess of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) and the Participant hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in the foregoing courts has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

Section 5 - Consideration, Severability, Beneficiaries & Effect on other agreements

 

  5.1.

The Parties acknowledge that the provisions of this RCA are severable. If any part or provision of this RCA shall be determined by any court or tribunal to be invalid, then such partial invalidity shall not cause the remainder of this RCA to be or become invalid. If any provision hereof is held unenforceable on the basis that it exceeds what is reasonable for the protection of the goodwill and interests of the Restricted Group, but would be valid if part of the wording were modified or deleted, as permitted by applicable law, then such restriction or obligation shall apply with such deletions or modifications as may be necessary to make it enforceable.

 

  5.2.

The Participant acknowledges that he or she remains bound by any Employment Agreement or any other agreement currently in effect by and between the Participant, on the one hand, and the Employer, the Company or any Subsidiary, on the other hand, including but not limited to any post-employment covenants and restrictions, and this RCA shall be in addition to, and not in place of any such agreements.

 

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  5.3.

Nothing contained in this RCA constitutes a promise or agreement to employ the Participant for a guaranteed term or otherwise modify the terms and conditions of the Participant’s employment with the Employer.

Section 6 – Miscellaneous

 

  6.1.

This RCA, and the provisions hereof, may not be modified, amended, terminated, or limited in any fashion except by written agreement signed by both parties hereto, which specifically states that it is modifying, amending or terminating this RCA.

 

  6.2.

The rights and remedies of the Restricted Group under this RCA shall inure to the benefit of any and all of its/their successors, assigns, parent companies, sister companies, subsidiaries and other affiliated corporations, and the successors and assigns of each of them.

 

  6.3.

The waiver by either party of any breach of this RCA shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of that party’s rights on any subsequent breach.

 

  6.4.

The Participant acknowledges that the Award constitutes adequate consideration to support the covenants and promises made by the Participant within this RCA regardless of whether such Award is ultimately beneficial to Participant.

 

  6.5.

The Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Participant shall be obliged to draw the provisions of Section 3 of this RCA to the attention of any third party who may, at any time before or after the termination of the Participant’s employment with Employer, offer to employ or engage him or her and for or with whom Participant intends to work within the Relevant Period.

 

  6.6.

The various section headings contained in this RCA are for the purpose of convenience only and are not intended to define or limit the contents of such sections.

 

  6.7.

This RCA may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same document. This RCA will be binding, notwithstanding that either party’s signature is displayed only on a facsimile or electronic copy of the signature page.

 

  6.8.

Any provisions which by their nature survive termination of this RCA, including the obligations set forth in Section 3 and Section 4, shall survive termination of this RCA.

 

  6.9.

This RCA has been executed on behalf of the Company electronically and the Participant accepts the electronic signature of the Company.

By the Participant’s execution or electronic acceptance of this RCA in the manner specified in the Participant’s online account with the Company’s designated broker/stock plan administrator, the Participant and the Company have agreed to the terms and conditions of this RCA in connection with the Participant’s Award.

 

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Signed for and on behalf of

Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company by:

 

/s/                                                                               
Name:
Title:
Participant:
Signature:                                                                  
Print Name:                                                                

 

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SCHEDULE C

AGREEMENT OF RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS FOR EMPLOYEES OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES

This Agreement of Restrictive Covenants and Other Obligations for Employees Outside of the United States (the “Non-U.S. RCA”) is entered into by and between Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (the “Company”) and the Colleague (the “Colleague”) to be effective as of the date the Colleague signs or electronically accepts this Non-U.S. RCA.

RECITALS

Whereas, Colleague is employed by a Subsidiary of the Company;

Whereas, subject to approval by the Committee or the Company’s Share Award Committee, the Colleague has been designated to receive a grant of time-based restricted share units (“RSUs” or “Awards”) under the Company’s 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”);

Whereas, any Award granted to the Colleague is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the award agreement evidencing the Colleague’s Award (including any country specific terms thereto) and this Non-U.S. RCA, and in consideration of the Award, the Colleague shall enter into and acknowledge his or her agreement to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the award agreement and this RCA; and

Whereas, the Colleague acknowledges and agrees that he or she desires to receive the Award and understands and agrees such Award is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan, the applicable award agreement and this Non-U.S. RCA, and such other written agreements and documentation as the Company or the Employer may require.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises contained herein and for other valuable consideration, in particular the Awards, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged in this recital and within Section 6.4 below, the Parties hereto agree, with the intent to be bound, as follows:

Section 1 – Recitals

The Recitals set forth above are an integral part of this Non-U.S. RCA, and are incorporated herein by reference.

Section 2 – Definitions

 

  2.1.

Award” shall have the meaning as set forth in the recitals.

 

  2.2.

Business” shall mean insurance brokerage, reinsurance brokerage, surety brokerage, bond brokerage, insurance agency, underwriting agency, managing general agency, risk management, claims administration, self-insurance, risk management consulting or other business performed by the Restricted Group.

 

  2.3.

Committee” shall have the same meaning as set forth in the Plan or the applicable award agreement.

 

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  2.4.

Competitor” shall mean any business principally engaged in insurance brokerage, reinsurance brokerage, surety brokerage, bond brokerage, insurance agency, underwriting agency, managing general agency, risk management, claims administration, self-insurance, risk management consulting or other business which is either performed by the Restricted Group or is a business in which the Restricted Group has taken steps toward engaging.

 

  2.5.

Confidential Information” shall mean all trade secrets and non-public information concerning the financial data, strategic business plans, and other non-public, proprietary, and confidential information of the Restricted Group. Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to, the following information: identities of Relevant Clients and Relevant Prospects; identities of companies from which any Subsidiary obtains insurance coverage for Relevant Clients and Relevant Prospects; policy terms, conditions, rates and expiration dates pertaining to Relevant Clients and Relevant Prospects; risk characteristics of Relevant Clients and Relevant Prospects; and non-public information of the Restricted Group concerning insurance markets for particular risks. Confidential Information shall not include information that is within public domain, provided that Colleague was not responsible, directly or indirectly, for such information entering the public domain without the Restricted Group’s consent.

 

  2.6.

Directly or indirectly” shall mean the Colleague acting either alone or jointly with or on behalf of or by means of any other person, firm or company (whether as principal, partner, manager, employee, contractor, director, consultant, investor or similar capacity).

 

  2.7.

Employer” shall mean the Subsidiary that employs the Colleague. If the Company ever becomes an employer of the Colleague, then the term Employer shall refer to the Company.

 

  2.8.

Employment Agreement” shall mean the contractual terms and conditions which govern the employment of the Colleague by Employer.

 

  2.9.

Garden Leave” shall mean any period during any notice period where Employer requires the Colleague to remain available to respond to questions and requests from the Employer, but not to enter into the office(s) of the Restricted Group without the prior written consent of Employer.

 

  2.10.

Key Personnel” shall mean any person who is at the date the Colleague ceases to be an employee of Employer or was at any time during the period of twelve months prior to that date employed by the Restricted Group and who was an employee with whom the Colleague had dealings other than in a minimal and non-material way and who was employed by or engaged in the Business in an executive or senior managerial capacity, or was an employee with insurance, reinsurance or other technical expertise.

 

  2.11.

Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

  2.12.

Relevant Area” shall mean: such country or countries in which the Colleague has carried on Business on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in which the Colleague has been involved or concerned or worked on other than in a minimal and non-material way at any time during the period of 12 months prior to the date on which the Colleague ceases to be employed by Employer.

 

  2.13.

Relevant Client” shall mean any person, firm or company who or which at any time during the period of twelve months prior to the date on which the Colleague ceases to be employed by Employer is or was a client or customer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or was in the habit and/or practice of dealing under contract with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and with whom or which the Colleague had dealings related to the Business (other than in a minimal and non-material way) or for whose relationship with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries the Colleague had responsibility at any time during the said period.

 

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  2.14.

Relevant Period” shall mean the period of twelve months following the date on which the Colleague ceases to be employed by Employer reduced by the length of any period of Garden Leave (if applicable) observed by the Colleague at the instruction of Employer.

 

  2.15.

Relevant Prospect” shall mean any person, firm or company who or which at any time during the period of twelve months prior to the date on which the Colleague ceases to be employed by Employer was an active prospective client of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with whom or with which the Colleague had dealings related to the Business (other than in a minimal and non-material way).

 

  2.16.

Restricted Group” shall mean the Company and its Subsidiaries, as in existence during the Colleague’s employment with Employer and as of the date such employment ceases.

 

  2.17.

Subsidiary” shall mean a direct and/or indirect subsidiary of the Company as well as any associate company which is designated by the Company as being eligible for participation in the Plan.

Section 3 - Non-Solicit and Other Obligations

 

  3.1

The Colleague acknowledges that by virtue of his or her senior management position and as an employee of Employer, the Colleague has acquired and will acquire knowledge of Confidential Information of the Restricted Group and their Business. The Colleague further acknowledges that the Confidential Information which the Restricted Group has provided and will provide to the Colleague would give the Colleague a significant advantage if the Colleague were to directly or indirectly be engaged in any Business at a Competitor of the Restricted Group.

 

  3.2

Without the Company’s prior written consent, the Colleague shall not directly or indirectly, at any time during or after the Colleague’s employment with any Employer, disclose any Confidential Information and shall use the Colleague’s best efforts to prevent the taking or disclosure of any Confidential Information, except as reasonably may be required to be disclosed by the Colleague in the ordinary performance of his or her duties for Employer or as required by law. Notwithstanding, you understand that if you make a confidential disclosure of a trade secret of the Company or other Confidential Information to a government official or an attorney for the sole purpose of reporting a suspected violation of law, or in a court filing under seal, or otherwise engage in activities protected under whistleblower statutes, you shall not be held liable under this Agreement or under any federal or state trade secret law for such a disclosure or engaging of such activity and shall also not be required to notify the Company of any such disclosure or engaging of any such activity.

 

  3.3

The Colleague shall provide a minimum of three month’s notice or such notice contained in the Colleague’s Employment Agreement, whichever is the longer, in the event of his or her resignation from employment with Employer. The Colleague shall provide a written resignation letter to Employer prior to the commencement of any such notice period. To the extent allowed by applicable law, the Colleague may be placed on Garden Leave for all or any portion of any notice period. During the notice period, whether or not the Colleague is on Garden Leave, the Colleague shall remain an employee of Employer and shall continue to receive the Colleague’s full salary and benefits. The Company or Employer shall have the discretion to apply a shorter period than the three-month period set forth in 3.3.

 

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  3.4

The Colleague shall not, for the Relevant Period, directly or indirectly:

 

  3.4.1.

within the Relevant Area, solicit any Relevant Client or Relevant Prospect for the purposes of any Business which competes or will compete or seeks to compete with the Restricted Group;

 

  3.4.2.

within the Relevant Area, accept, perform services for, or deal with any Relevant Client or Relevant Prospect for the purposes of any Business which competes or will compete or seeks to compete with the Restricted Group;

 

  3.4.3.

solicit for employment or entice away from the Restricted Group any Key Personnel; or

 

  3.4.4.

employ or engage or endeavour to employ or engage any Key Personnel.

 

  3.5

To the extent the Colleague is a party to an Employment Agreement or other agreement with the Restricted Group that contains post-employment restrictions, those post-employment restrictions shall run concurrently with the post-employment restrictions contained in this Section 3.

 

  3.6

The Colleague acknowledges that the provisions of this Section 3 are fair, reasonable and necessary to protect the goodwill and interests of the Restricted Group.

Section 4 – Non-Disparagement

 

  4.1

The Employer and Colleague agree not to act in any manner detrimental to each other or cause to be made any derogatory statements concerning each other (including an obligation on the Employer and Colleague not to make any statement whether oral or in writing which may have the effect of damaging the reputation of the other) including, in Colleague’s case, concerning the business, officers, employees, directors (including any non-executive directors or former directors), consultants, agents, distributors, clients or customers (whether former or current) or otherwise of the Restricted Group.

 

  4.2

The Employer and Colleague further agree that without the prior written consent of the other party they shall not make, or cause to be made, any statement or comment to the press (whether local, national or specialist) or any other media concerning Colleague’s employment with the Employer or, where applicable, his or her termination of employment for any reason.

Section 5 - Governing Law & Jurisdiction

 

  5.1

This Non-U.S. RCA shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which Colleague is employed by Employer, without regard to its conflict of laws.

 

  5.2

The courts of the jurisdiction in which the Colleague is employed by Employer shall have jurisdiction to hear any suit, action or proceeding and to settle any disputes which may arise out of or in connection with this Non-U.S. RCA and for such purposes the parties hereto irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of such courts.

Section 6 – Consideration, Severability, Beneficiaries & Effect on Other Agreements

 

  6.1

The Colleague acknowledges that the covenants and undertakings he or she has made herein, including those made in Section 3, are being given for the benefit of the Restricted Group, including Employer, and may be enforced by the Company and/or by its Subsidiaries, including for avoidance of doubt, Employer, on behalf of all or any of them and that such Subsidiaries are intended beneficiaries of this Non-U.S. RCA.

 

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  6.2

The parties acknowledge that the provisions of this Non-U.S. RCA are severable. If any part or provision of this Non-U.S. RCA shall be determined by any court or tribunal to be invalid, then such partial invalidity shall not cause the remainder of this Non-U.S. RCA to be or become invalid. If any provision hereof is held unenforceable on the basis that it exceeds what is reasonable for the protection of the goodwill and interests of the Restricted Group, but would be valid if part of the wording were modified or deleted, as permitted by applicable law, then such restriction or obligation shall apply with such deletions or modifications as may be necessary to make it enforceable.

 

  6.3

The Colleague acknowledges that he or she remains bound by any Employment Agreement or any other agreement entered into by the Colleague with the Restricted Group and this Non-U.S. RCA shall be in addition to, and not in place of any such agreements. The Colleague further acknowledges that in the event of any breach by the Colleague of any provision contained in such agreements or this Non-U.S. RCA, the Company and/or any Subsidiary, including for avoidance of doubt Employer, may, in their discretion, enforce any term and condition of those agreements and/or this Non-U.S. RCA.

 

  6.4

The Colleague acknowledges that any Awards, separately and/or together, constitute adequate consideration to support the covenants and promises made by the Colleague within this Non-U.S. RCA.

Section 7 – Miscellaneous

 

  7.1

This Non-U.S. RCA may not be modified except by written agreement signed by both parties hereto.

 

  7.2

The rights of the Restricted Group under this Non-U.S. RCA shall inure to the benefit of any and all of its/their successors, assigns, parent companies, sister companies, subsidiaries and other affiliated corporations.

 

  7.3

The waiver by either party of any breach of this Non-U.S. RCA shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of that party’s rights on any subsequent breach.

 

  7.4

The Colleague acknowledges and agrees that the Colleague shall be obliged to draw the provisions of Section 3 to the attention of any third party who may, at any time before or after the termination of the Colleague’s employment with Employer, offer to employ or engage him or her and for or with whom the Colleague intends to work within the Relevant Period.

 

  7.5

The various section headings contained in this Non-U.S. RCA are for the purpose of convenience only and are not intended to define or limit the contents of such sections.

 

  7.6

This Non-U.S. RCA may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same document. This Non-U.S. RCA will be binding, notwithstanding that either party’s signature is displayed only on a facsimile copy of the signature page.

 

  7.7

Any provisions which by their nature survive termination of this Non-U.S. RCA, including the obligations set forth in Sections 3 and 4 shall survive termination of this Non-U.S. RCA.

 

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By the Colleague’s execution or electronic acceptance of this RCA in the manner specified in the Colleague’s online account with the Company’s designated broker/stock plan administrator, the Colleague and the Company have agreed to the terms and conditions of this RCA in connection with the Colleague’s Award.

 

Signed for and on behalf of
Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company by:

Name:

Title:

 

Colleague:

Signature: ___________________________________________

Print Name: __________________________________________

 

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SCHEDULE E

Willis Towers Watson

Employee Personal Information Protection Notice

Last Updated: October 2021

 

1.

Introduction

Willis Towers Watson operates as a global business through its affiliated entities (together “the Willis Towers Watson Group”). The Willis Towers Watson Group values the trust of its employees worldwide and is committed to protecting their personal information.

The Willis Towers Watson Group operates in many different countries. Some of these countries have laws related to the collection, use, transfer and disclosure of the personal information of individuals, including our employees. The purpose of this Global Employee Personal Information Protection Notice (the “Notice”) is to give you information about what personal information the Willis Towers Watson Group collects, uses, transfers and discloses, and why.

The Willis Towers Watson entity responsible for collecting and processing your personal data is the entity that employs you. Willis Towers Watson may also engage with outside entities to collect information consistent with this notice. You can check which entity employs you by checking your contract of employment or by asking your usual HR contact. In this Notice, the term “we” or “us” refers to that entity. The information that we collect about you as an employee allows us to administer your benefits and helps to support routine Human Resources and operational processes, contingency planning, and internal talent searches.

 

2.

What Personal Information about you that we collect, and how we collect Your Personal Information

In the course of your employment, we may have collected or will collect information about you and your working relationship with us, your spouse, domestic/civil partner and/or dependents (“Dependents”). We refer to such information as “Personal Information” (also known as Personal Data in the Cayman Islands). For more specific information regarding what Personal Information about you, we may collect, use, transfer and disclose, and the purposes for which it may be collected, used, transferred and disclosed, please see the Annex to this Notice. Local employee handbooks, office manuals, works council agreements and notices provided in your local office or on the Willis Towers Watson intranet site may provide additional details or information.

Sources of Personal Information

We normally collect your Personal Information directly from you, for example when you apply for a job with us, when you commence your role, and from time to time throughout your employment when we ask you to provide information. We may be required as a consequence of our relationship with you as your employer, or by law, to collect certain Personal Information about you. Failure to provide this information may prevent or delay the fulfilment of our obligations as an employer. We will inform you at the time your information is collected whether certain information is compulsory and the consequences of the failure to provide such information.

We also collect certain Personal Information about you from other sources, including:

 

  (a)

background check information from employment screening agencies or publicly available registers (as allowed by law), or references obtained during recruitment;

 

E-1


  (b)

publicly available professional profiles on websites or social media (e.g. LinkedIn); and

 

  (c)

information about your performance or conduct from other employees, clients or service providers you work with who may provide feedback about you or participate in performance evaluations or reviews.

 

3.

The Legal Bases and purposes for which we use, transfer and disclose Your Personal Information

In the EU, data protection laws and other laws, for example the Cayman Islands Data Protection Law (“DPL”) require that we only process personal information subject to one or more valid legal bases. In such cases our legal basis will be one of the following:

 

  (a)

to fulfil our contractual obligations to you in connection with your employment contract with us;

 

  (b)

to comply with our legal obligations, for example obtaining proof of your identity to enable us to meet our anti-money laundering obligations, or obtaining proof of your right to work status to enable us to meet relevant obligations;

 

  (c)

to comply with our legal obligations to you, for example health and safety obligations that we must comply with as your employer or to a third party (e.g. the taxation authorities);

 

  (d)

to meet our legitimate interests, for example to manage our employees effectively, to protect us against theft or other crime, to allow you access to our technology and HR resources, and to conduct analytics that allows us to manage our workforce efficiently and plan recruitment activities. When we process personal information to meet our legitimate interests, we put in place robust safeguards to ensure that your privacy is protected and to ensure that our legitimate interests are not overridden by your interests or fundamental rights and freedoms; or

 

  (e)

to protect your or another person’s vital interests, for example by providing your health information to a doctor in a medical emergency.

 

  (f)

the processing is necessary for medical purposes and is undertaken by (a) a health professional; or (2) a person who, in the circumstances, owes a duty of confidentiality equivalent to that which would arise if that person were a health professional. (see DPL).

We may obtain your explicit consent to collect and use certain types of Personal Information when we are required to do so by law (for example, when we process some categories of sensitive personal information). If we ask for your consent to process your personal information, you may withdraw your consent at any time by contacting privacy@willistowerswatson.com.

The purposes for which we use your personal information are explained in more detail in the Annex to this Notice.

 

4.

Monitoring tools, profiling and automated decision-making

Some of the technology we use to protect company confidential information and ensure compliance with company policies monitors employee IT usage and employee communications and may automatically filter, record or block the sending of communications, or flag certain communications for further review, subject to meeting local legal requirements. For further information on this, please contact privacy@willistowerswatson.com.

 

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Subject to restrictions under local laws, we may also use technology (including third party solutions) to process your Personal Information in a manner that constitutes “profiling”. This involves the use of software that is able to evaluate your personal aspects and predict risks or outcomes. We do this to assist in workforce management, for example we may use software to ensure our workforce is managed and utilised efficiently, to predict risks in staff retention, to detect problems in the workplace, and/or to ensure that employees are being compensated fairly.

Although we may use this type of technology to assist our decision-making, we do not make important decisions about employees (e.g. as to their compensation, dismissal or promotion) without a member of management and/or the HR team assessing all the circumstances.

 

5.

Transfer of Personal Information

Due to the global nature of Willis Towers Watson Group operations, we may disclose Personal Information to personnel and departments in other entities which are part of the Willis Towers Watson Group to fulfil the purposes described in this Notice. This may include transferring Personal Information to other countries (including countries other than where you are based that have a different data protection regime than is found in the country where you are based). If you are located in the European Economic Area (the “EEA”) this may include countries outside of the EEA. If you are located in the Cayman Islands, this may include India, and Bermuda. Some of these countries are recognized by the European Commission as providing an adequate level of protection according to EEA standards (the full list of these countries is available here), while others are not. With regard to transfers to other countries that do not provide an adequate level of protection according to EEA standards, we have put in place adequate measures, such as standard contractual clauses adopted by the European Commission, to protect your information. You may obtain more information about these measures and the Willis Towers Watson Group’s Global Privacy Program by contacting privacy@willistowerswatson.com.

Access to Personal Information within the Willis Towers Watson Group will be limited to those who have a need to know the information for the purposes described in the Annex to this Notice, and may include your managers and their designees, personnel in HR, IT, Compliance, Legal, Finance and Accounting and Internal Audit.

All personnel within the Willis Towers Watson Group will generally have access to your business contact information such as name, position, telephone number, postal address, email address and photograph.

From time to time, we and other entities within the Willis Towers Watson Group may need to make Personal Information available to other unaffiliated third parties. For a list of the categories of unaffiliated third parties, please see the Annex to this Notice. Some of the unaffiliated third parties will be located outside of your home jurisdiction, including in the United States and other jurisdictions that may not provide an adequate level of protection according to EEA standards. Third party service providers and professional advisors are required to protect the confidentiality and security of Personal Information, and only use Personal Information for the provision of services to Willis Towers Watson Group, and in compliance with applicable law.

 

6.

Security

Willis Towers Watson Group will take appropriate measures to protect Personal Information consistent with applicable privacy and data security laws and regulations, including requiring service providers to use appropriate measures to protect the confidentiality and security of Personal Information.

 

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7.

Data Retention

The Willis Towers Watson Group will keep your personal information for as long as you remain employed by us, and for a period of 10 years thereafter. We will only retain your personal information after this time if we are required to do so to comply with the law, or if there are outstanding claims or complaints that will reasonably require your personal information to be retained. For additional details, please review our Records Management Policy.

If there is any information that we are unable, for technical reasons, to delete entirely from our systems, we will put in place appropriate measures to prevent any further processing or use of the data.

 

8.

Access and correction requests, questions and complaints

You have certain rights regarding your Personal Information, subject to local law, which may include the right to:

 

   

access your Personal Information;

 

   

rectify the information we hold about you;

 

   

erase your Personal Information;

 

   

restrict our use of your Personal Information;

 

   

object to our use of your Personal Information;

 

   

receive your Personal Information in a usable electronic format and transmit it to a third party (right to data portability);

 

   

withdraw your consent to any processing based on consent at any time; and

 

   

lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority if you believe that we have not been able to assist with your complaint or concern (and the right to seek compensation pertaining to DPL).

 

   

the right to be informed about the collection and use of Personal Information

 

   

the right to stop direct marketing;

If you have any questions about this Notice or if you would like to discuss or exercise your rights, please contact Human Resources or email privacy@willistowerswatson.com.

If you wish to file a complaint about the way your information is processed, we encourage you to first contact your local Human Resources Representative, who will take all reasonable efforts to solve the issue. You have the right at all times to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority responsible for your country or region.

 

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9.

Employee’s Obligations

Please keep Personal Information up to date and inform us of any significant changes to Personal Information. You agree to inform your Dependents whose Personal Information you provide to us about the content of this Notice and to explain the use (including transfer and disclosure) of that Personal Information by us as set out in this Notice.

 

10.

Changes to the Policy

We may modify or update this Notice from time to time.

If we change this Notice, we will notify you of the changes. Where changes to this Notice will have a fundamental impact on the nature of the processing or otherwise have a substantial impact on you, we will give you sufficient advance notice so that you have the opportunity to exercise your rights (e.g. to object to the processing).

 

11.

Contact

The Willis Towers Watson entity that employs you is the controller, business or responsible party responsible for processing your Personal Information in accordance with this Notice. Please contact your local Human Resources representative for further information on this entity and the appropriate means to contact them.

For questions or comments about this Notice, please contact Human Resources or email privacy@willistowerswatson.com.

In some countries, there is a legal requirement to provide a named individual and their contact details. These are:

 

Country

  

Name

  

                        Contact details

Nigeria    Adewunmi Akinmodiro   

Adewunmi.Akinmodiro@willistowerswatson.com

Willis Towers Watson Nigeria Limited

 

6th Floor, Africa RE Building. Plot 1679

Karimu Kotun Street, Victoria Island Lagos, Nigeria.

South Africa    André Wild   

Andre.Wild@willistowerswatson.com

Towers Watson (Pty) Ltd

Level 4, MontClare Place, 23 Main Road, Claremont, Cape Town, 7708

Private Bag X30, Rondebosch, 7701

   Pasha Karodia   

Pasha.Karodia@willistowerswatson.com

Willis South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Illovo Edge, 1 Harries Road, Illovo, Johannesburg 2196

 

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ANNEX

Categories of Personal Information Collected About Employees

Generally, we may collect the below categories of personal information about Employees:

Name, Contact Info and other Identifiers: identifiers including, but not limited to:

 

   

Personal Details: Name, employee identification number, work and home contact details (email, phone numbers, physical address) language(s) spoken, gender, date of birth, nationality, place of birth, national identification number, passport number, social security number, marital/civil partnership status, domestic partners, dependants, disability status, emergency contact information, health, insurance and benefits details, vehicle data, and photograph.

 

   

Documentation Required under Immigration Laws: Citizenship, passport data, details of residency or work permit.

 

   

System and Application Access Data: Information required to access company systems and applications such as System ID, LAN ID, email account, instant messaging account, mainframe ID, employee ID, manager employee ID, system credentials, employee status, branch state, country code, previous company details, previous branch details, and previous department details..

Protected Classifications: characteristics of protected classifications under California or federal law including, but not limited to:

 

   

Citizenship information, as well as residency and work permit details

 

   

Medical information and disability information

 

   

Information we collect as part of our diversity and inclusion efforts including, but not limited to, race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, disability, and citizenship status

Usage Data: internet or other electronic network activity information including, but not limited to, browsing history, search history, and information regarding a resident’s interaction with an internet website, application, or advertisement. This includes:

 

   

Access logs and usage details regarding activities on Willis Towers Watson network, systems and devices, including but not limited to website and browsing history.

 

   

Physical access logs and call logs

 

   

Electronic content produced using Willis Towers Watson systems

Geolocation Data: precise geographic location information about a particular Willis Towers Watson device.

Audio, Video and other Electronic Data: audio, electronic, visual, thermal, olfactory, or similar information. This includes:

 

   

CCTV footage and photographs

 

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Call recordings and other audio recording (e.g., recorded meetings and webinars)

Employment History: professional or employment-related information. This includes, but is not limited to:

 

   

Compensation and Payroll: Base salary, bonus, benefits, compensation type, salary step within assigned grade, details on stock options, stock grants and other awards, currency, pay frequency, effective date of current compensation, salary reviews, banking details, working time records (including vacation and other absence records, leave status, hours worked and department standard hours), pay data and termination date.

 

   

Position: Description of current position, job title, corporate status, management category, job code, salary plan, pay grade or level, job function(s) and subfunction(s), company name and code (legal employer entity), branch/unit/department, location, employment status and type, full-time/part-time, terms of employment, employment contract, work history, hire/re-hire and termination date(s) and reason, length of service, retirement eligibility, promotions and disciplinary records, date of transfers, and reporting manager(s) information.

 

   

Talent Acquisition and Talent Management Information: Professional qualifications, language and other relevant skills, certification, certification expiration dates), information necessary to complete a background check, details on performance management ratings, development programs planned and attended, e-learning programs, performance and development reviews, willingness to relocate, driver’s license information, and information used to populate employee biographies.

 

   

Management Records: Details of any shares of common stock or directorships.

Education Information: information about education history or background that is not publicly available personally identifiable information as defined in the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (20 U.S.C. section 1232g, 34 C.F.R. Part 99). This includes, but is not limited to:

 

   

Degrees, certificates or other training completed, schools attended and relevant dates.

 

   

Details contained in letters of application and resume/CV (previous employment background.

Profiles and Inferences: inferences drawn from any of the information identified above to create a profile about a resident reflecting the resident’s preferences, characteristics, psychological trends, predispositions, behaviour, attitudes, intelligence, abilities, and aptitudes.

What About Sensitive Information?

We may also collect certain types of information that is considered sensitive data (or special categories of data) under applicable law; we will only collect such information when permitted by local law, such as health/medical information, place of birth, trade union membership information, religion, and race or ethnicity. We collect this information for specific purposes, such as health/medical information in order to accommodate a disability or illness and to provide benefits; religion or church affiliation in countries such as Germany where required for statutory tax deductions; and diversity-related Personal Information (such as gender, race or ethnicity) in order to comply with legal obligations and internal policies relating to diversity and anti-discrimination.

 

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Please be assured that, as explained in the following section, we will only use such sensitive information for the following purposes and as provided by law.

The Purposes for which we may collect, use, transfer and disclose Personal Information:

 

   

Managing Workforce: Managing work activities and personnel generally, including recruitment, appraisals, performance management, promotions and succession planning, rehiring, administering salary, and payment administration and reviews, wages and other awards such as stock options, stock grants and bonuses, healthcare, pensions and savings plans, training, leave, managing sickness leave, promotions, transfers, secondments, honoring other contractual benefits, providing employment references, loans, performing workforce analysis and planning, performing employee surveys, performing background checks, managing disciplinary matters, grievances and terminations, reviewing employment decisions, making business travel arrangements, managing business expenses and reimbursements, planning and monitoring of training requirements and career development activities and skills, and creating and maintaining one or more internal employee directories.

 

   

Communications and Emergencies: Facilitating communication with you, ensuring business continuity, providing references, protecting the health and safety of employees and others, safeguarding IT infrastructure, office equipment and other property, facilitating communication with you and/or your nominated contacts in an emergency.

 

   

Business Operations: Operating and managing the IT and communications systems, ensuring the security of Company systems, networks and information, managing product and service development, improving products and services, managing company assets, allocating company assets and human resources, strategic planning, project management, business continuity, compilation of audit trails and other reporting tools, maintaining records relating to business activities, budgeting, financial management and reporting, communications, managing mergers, acquisitions, sales, re-organizations or disposals and integration with purchaser.

 

   

Compliance: Complying with legal and other requirements, such as income tax and national insurance deductions, record-keeping and reporting obligations, conducting audits, compliance with government inspections and other requests from government or other public authorities, responding to legal process such as subpoenas, pursuing legal rights and remedies, for the purpose of observing our legal obligations, which include preventing business transactions with restricted parties and complying with relevant global trade control laws, defending litigation and managing any internal complaints or claims, conducting investigations and complying with internal policies and procedures.

 

   

Monitoring: Monitoring compliance with internal policies and Code of Business Conduct, monitoring activity in public places by CCTV and monitoring of telephone, email, Internet, instant messaging and other company resources as detailed in our policies and permitted by local law, regulation and any applicable works council agreements.

The categories of unaffiliated third parties with whom Willis Towers Watson may share Personal Information:

 

   

Professional Advisors: Accountants, auditors, lawyers, insurers, bankers, and other outside professional advisors in all of the countries in which the Willis Towers Watson Group operates.

 

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Service Providers: Companies that provide products and services to the Willis Towers Watson Group such as payroll, pension scheme, benefits providers; human resources services, performance management, training, expense management, IT systems suppliers and support; third parties assisting with equity compensation programs, credit card companies, medical or health practitioners, trade bodies and associations, and other service providers.

 

   

Public and Governmental Authorities: Entities that regulate or have jurisdiction over companies in the Willis Towers Watson Group such as regulatory authorities, law enforcement, public bodies, and judicial bodies (who may be located in other countries around the world).

 

   

Corporate Transaction: A third party in connection with any proposed or actual reorganization, merger, sale, joint venture, assignment, transfer or other disposition of all or any portion of the Willis Towers Watson Group’s business, assets or stock (including in connection with any bankruptcy or similar proceedings.

 

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EX-10.3

Exhibit 10.3

WILLIS TOWERS WATSON PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY

SEVERANCE AND CHANGE IN CONTROL PAY PLAN FOR US EXECUTIVES

(Adopted March 8, 2020 and as amended June 5, 2020 and February 22, 2022)

The purpose of the Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company Severance and Change in Control Pay Plan for US Executives, as amended from time to time (the “Plan”), is to better provide for the retention of key executives through providing them with a higher degree of financial security, on the terms and conditions hereinafter stated. The Plan is intended to be a severance pay plan governed by Title I of ERISA primarily for the purpose of providing benefits for a select group of management or highly compensated employees. All benefits under the Plan will be paid solely from the general assets of the Company. The amended and restated Plan shall be effective as of February 22, 2022 (the “Effective Date”); provided that, any change to the terms of the Plan pursuant to this amendment and restatement that materially and adversely impacts the right of a Participant under the Plan shall not be effective until the first anniversary of the Effective Date, in accordance with Section 5.01.

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01 As used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below:

(a) “409A CIC” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.04 of the Plan.

(b) “Accountants” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6.04 of the Plan.

(c) “AFR” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6.05 of the Plan.

(d) “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.

(e) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(f) “Bonus” means the annual bonuses payable pursuant to the Company’s Annual Incentive Plan or such other plan that provides for the payment of annual incentive bonuses as may be, from time to time, authorized by the Board or the Compensation Committee.

(g) “Cause” means: the Participant’s (i) gross or chronic neglect or negligence in the performance of the Participant’s employment duties with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries having been provided reasonable notice of such neglect or negligence and a period of at least ten (10) days after the Participant’s receipt of such notice to cure and/or correct such performance neglect or negligence, (ii) willful misconduct in connection with the Participant’s employment which is injurious to the Company or its Subsidiaries (willful misconduct shall be understood to include, but not be limited to, any breach of the duty of loyalty owed by the Participant to the Company or its Subsidiaries), (iii) conviction of any criminal act (other than


minor road traffic violations not involving imprisonment), (iv) breach of any of the Participant’s restrictive covenants and other obligations as provided in the Participant’s employment agreement (if any), or any other non-compete agreement and/or confidentiality agreement entered into between the Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than an insubstantial, inadvertent and non-recurring breach), or (v) violation of any material written Company policy, which includes any policy regarding sexual harassment, after reasonable notice and an opportunity to cure such violation (if curable as determined by the Board) within ten (10) days after the Participant’s receipt of such notice.

(h) “Change in Control” means:

(i) the acquisition (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, combination or other similar transaction) of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group of Persons of the Ordinary Shares representing more than 50% of the aggregate voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares; or

(ii) occupation of a majority of the Board (other than vacant seats) by Persons who were neither (A) nominated by the Board nor (B) appointed by members of the Board so nominated; or

(iii) the consummation of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in any single transaction or series of related transactions.

For the avoidance of doubt, a transaction shall not constitute a Change in Control (x) if effected for the purpose of changing the place of incorporation or form of organization of the ultimate parent entity of the Company or its Subsidiaries (including where the Company is succeeded by an issuer incorporated under the laws of another state, country or foreign government for such purpose and whether or not the Company remains in existence following such transaction) and (y) where all or substantially all of the Person(s) who are the beneficial owners of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such transaction will beneficially own, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the ultimate parent entity resulting from such transaction in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such transaction, of such outstanding securities of the Company.

(i) “Chief Executive Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

(j) “CIC Period” means the period of time beginning on the date that is six (6) months prior to a Change in Control and ending on the date that is twenty-four (24) months following such Change in Control.

(k) “COBRA” means the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended, and also has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.01(c).

(l) “COBRA Payment Period” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.01(c) of the Plan.

 

2


(m) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(n) “Company” means Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company, a corporation organized under the laws of Ireland, and any successor corporation thereto.

(o) “Company Change” means any merger, consolidation or corporate reorganization of the Company, including, for the avoidance of any doubt, a Change in Control.

(p) “Compensation Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board.

(q) “Date of Termination” means the date on which a Participant’s employment by the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates.

(r) “Dodd – Frank Act” means the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

(s) “Eligible Executive” means an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary who is considered a Section 16 officer within the meaning of the Exchange Act.

(t) “EIP” means the Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company 2012 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time, or any successor plan thereto.

(u) “ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

(v) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(w) “Excise Tax” means the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code.

(x) “Good Reason” means that one or more of the following events has occurred without the Participant’s written consent: (i) a material adverse diminution in the Participant’s position, authority or responsibilities or the assignment to Participant of duties or responsibilities which are materially inconsistent with the Participant’s position; (ii) a material reduction in the Participant’s monthly base salary or target annual incentive plan percentage; or (iii) the Participant is required to relocate the Participant’s primary work location of record, either (A) if the Participant is designated to work primarily at a Company office, to an office outside a radius of fifty (50) miles from the Participant’s current office location, or (B) if the Participant is designated to work primarily on a “remote” basis, to any office or location that is not materially consistent with the Participant’s remote work arrangement. The Participant may not resign or otherwise terminate the Participant’s employment for any reason set forth above as Good Reason unless the Participant first notifies the Employer in writing describing such Good Reason within ninety (90) days of the first occurrence of such circumstances, and, thereafter, such Good Reason is not corrected by the Employer within thirty (30) days of the Participant’s written notice of such Good Reason, and the Participant actually terminates employment within ninety (90) days following the expiration of the Employer’s 30-day cure period described above.

 

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(y) “Involuntary Termination” means a termination of the Participant’s employment by the Company other than for Cause and other than as a result of the Participant’s death or Permanent Disability.

(z) “LTI Award” means an award covering the outstanding shares of the Company granted under the EIP.

(aa) “LTI Award Agreement” means the form of award agreement evidencing, and governing the terms of, an LTI Award.

(bb) “Non-CIC Period” means the period prior to or following a CIC Period.

(cc) “Nonqualifying Termination” means a termination of the Participant’s employment other than a Qualifying Termination.

(dd) “Notification Letter” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.01 of the Plan.

(ee) “Ordinary Shares” means the ordinary shares of the Company, with a nominal value of $0.000304635 per Share.

(ff) “Participant” means any Eligible Executive who is selected to be a participant in the Plan by action of the Compensation Committee as specified herein.

(gg) “Permanent Disability” means that the Participant would qualify to receive long-term disability payments under the long-term disability policy, as it may be amended from time to time, of the Company or the Subsidiary to which the Participant provides services covering the Participant or, if no such plan exists or applies, such term will mean a determination that a person is “totally disabled” by the Social Security Administration.

(hh) “Person” shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, except that such term shall not include (i) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities or (iv) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company.

(ii) “Plan Administrator” means the Company, acting through the Compensation Committee or another duly constituted committee of members of the Board, or any Person to whom the Plan Administrator has delegated, in writing, any authority or responsibility with respect to the Plan, but only to the extent of such delegation.

(jj) “Qualifying Termination” means (i) an Involuntary Termination, or (ii) a termination of the Participant’s employment as a result of a resignation by the Employee for Good Reason.

 

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(kk) “Recoupment Rules” means the Company’s Compensation Recoupment Policy, as in effect on the date of a Qualifying Termination or, if earlier, the effective date of a Change in Control and any rules or regulations promulgated under the Dodd-Frank Act or by any stock exchange on which the Company’s securities are listed.

(ll) “Release” means the form of waiver and release of claims attached hereto as Exhibit A, as may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in law.

(mm) “Separation from Service” means a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.

(nn) “Subsidiary” means any corporation or other entity in which the Company has a direct or indirect ownership interest of fifty (50) % or more of the total combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of such corporation or other entity.

(oo) “Target Bonus Amount” means, with respect to any Year, the Participant’s target Bonus for such Year based upon the Company’s forecasted operational plan.

(pp) “Year” means the fiscal year of the Company.

ARTICLE II

PARTICIPATION

Section 2.01 Participation in the Plan. The Compensation Committee may designate any Eligible Executive to be a Participant. Promptly following such designation, each Participant shall be notified of his or her participation in a formal communication from the Compensation Committee or the Company (a “Notification Letter”). Participation in the Plan shall be determined in the Compensation Committee’s sole discretion. Each Eligible Executive shall become a Participant on the date the Eligible Executive signs and properly returns the Notification Letter. Participation in the Plan means that the severance payments and benefits under the Plan supersede and replace any previously offered or agreed payments or benefits (including non-monetary) in the nature of severance, howsoever arising. Once participation in the Plan has commenced, a Participant shall remain a Participant until the first to occur of (i) a Nonqualifying Termination and (ii) the completion of the delivery of all benefits under the Plan following the termination of his or her employment under circumstances giving rise to a right to such benefits. In addition, if at any time on or following the Effective Date and prior to a Change in Control a Participant no longer meets the definition of an Eligible Executive by reason of not being considered a Section 16 officer within the meaning of the Exchange Act, the Participant shall cease participation in the Plan effective as of the first anniversary of any such change in status, unless the Participant has become eligible for benefits under Section 2.02 of the Plan prior to such first anniversary date.

Section 2.02 Benefits Eligibility. A Participant shall become entitled to benefits under the Plan in the event he or she experiences a Qualifying Termination, provided that all of the conditions set forth in Section 2.03 are satisfied in the case of a Qualifying Termination, and provided further that any benefits or severance entitlements provided to a Participant under this Plan shall be offset as contemplated under Section 2.05.

 

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Section 2.03 Conditions.

(a) As a condition precedent to entitlement of each Participant to benefits under Sections 3.01(b) and (c) of the Plan (Involuntary Termination During a Non-CIC Period), the Participant agrees to each of the following:

(i) The Participant shall have executed, within twenty-one (21) days, or if required for an effective age release, forty-five (45) days, following the Participant’s Date of Termination, a Release, and the applicable revocation period set forth in such release shall have expired;

(ii) The Participant agrees to execute a resignation letter stating that effective as of the Participant’s Date of Termination, or such earlier date as required or requested by the Company, the Participant resigns as any officer or director position with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of which he or she is a member and/or to which he or she has been appointed;

(iii) The Participant shall return to the Company all property of the Company (or Subsidiary) in the possession of the Participant (or of a person controlled by the Participant); and

(iv) The Participant shall reasonably cooperate with the Company to complete the transition of matters with which the Participant is familiar or responsible to other executives or employees and to make himself or herself reasonably available to answer questions or assist in matters which may require attention after the Participant’s Date of Termination.

(v) The Participant shall have executed, as of the date participation in this Plan by the Participant becomes effective, the consent in the form provided by the Company pursuant to which the Participant shall acknowledge and agree to waive any and all rights to any severance payments or benefits to which the Participant may be entitled to under any other agreement, policy or other arrangements other than as contemplated in this Plan.

(b) As a condition precedent to entitlement of each Participant to benefits under Sections 3.02(b), (c) and (d) of the Plan (Qualifying Termination During CIC Period), the Participant shall have executed, within twenty-one (21) days, or if required for an effective age release, forty-five (45) days, following the Participant’s Date of Termination, a Release, and the applicable revocation period set forth in such release shall have expired.

Section 2.04 A Participant shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment or benefit provided for in the Plan by seeking other employment or otherwise and, except as provided in Sections 3.01(c) or 3.02(d), no such payment or benefit shall be offset or reduced by the amount of any compensation or benefits provided to the Participant in any subsequent employment.

 

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Section 2.05 The severance payments and benefits under the Plan to a Participant are intended to constitute the exclusive payments and benefits in the nature of severance or termination pay that shall be due to a Participant upon termination of his or her employment and to supersede any previously offered or agreed payments or benefits (including non-monetary) in the nature of severance, howsoever arising. Without limiting any of the foregoing, the severance payments and benefits under the Plan shall be in lieu of (or offset by) severance benefits or entitlements, termination indemnities, pay in lieu of notice, or the like provided under any of the Participant’s other agreements, plans, practices or arrangements with the Company or a Subsidiary. Any reductions in payments or benefits shall be made in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code. For the avoidance of doubt, there shall be no duplication of benefits under the Plan or otherwise.

ARTICLE III

TERMINATION BENEFITS

Section 3.01 Involuntary Termination During Non-CIC Period. If, during a Non-CIC Period, the employment of a Participant terminates as a result of an Involuntary Termination, then, subject to the terms of the Plan, the Participant shall be entitled to the following (which, to the extent payable directly to the Participant, shall be payable in accordance with Article IV):

(a) a lump-sum cash amount equal to the sum of (A) the Participant’s earned and unpaid base salary from the Company and its Subsidiaries through the Date of Termination, (B) any outstanding Bonus for which (i) the performance period has been completed and (ii) the Compensation Committee has determined that the payment for the Bonus is due and owing with respect to the Participant, (C) any paid time off pay that is accrued and unused as of the Date of Termination, and (D) any unreimbursed expenses properly incurred by the Participant in accordance with the Company’s business expense reimbursement policy;

(b) an amount equal to the sum of (A) twelve (12) months (twenty-four (24) months in the case of the Chief Executive Officer) of base salary calculated using the Participant’s base salary as of the Date of Termination, and (B) one (1) times (two (2) times in the case of the Chief Executive Officer) the Participant’s Target Bonus Amount for the Year in which the Participant’s Date of Termination occurs, to be paid in twelve (12) equal monthly installments in accordance with Article IV;

(c) provided that the Participant properly and timely elects continuation healthcare coverage under Section 4980B of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder or any similar state medical and dental insurance continuation coverage program (“COBRA”), the cost of the entire amount of the COBRA premiums for the continuation of group healthcare coverage for the Participant and the Participant’s eligible dependents, if applicable, under the Company’s group medical and dental plans from the date immediately following the Date of Termination and continuing until the earlier of (i) the date that is eighteen (18) months (twenty-four (24) months in the case of the Chief Executive Officer) following the Date of Termination, (ii) the date that the Participant becomes eligible to receive benefits under another employer’s group health plan and (iii) the date that the Participant ceases to be eligible for COBRA (the “COBRA Payment Period”), with the understanding that following the COBRA Payment Period, any further continuation of coverage under applicable law shall be at the Participant’s sole responsibility and expense. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the payment of COBRA premiums or the provision of benefits hereunder is likely to result in a penalty to the Participant or at any time the Company determines,

 

7


in its sole discretion, that the payment of COBRA premiums or the provision of benefits hereunder is likely to result in a penalty to the Company or violation of the nondiscrimination rules of Section 105(h)(2) of the Code or any statute or regulation of similar effect (including, without limitation, the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the 2010 Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act), then in lieu of providing the COBRA premiums, the Company will instead pay the Participant, on the Company’s regular payroll dates during the remainder of the COBRA Payment Period, a fully taxable cash payment equal to the amount of the COBRA premiums that the Company has agreed to pay pursuant to this Section 3.01(c) for the corresponding payroll period; and

(d) the Participant shall be entitled to such benefits under his or her outstanding LTI Awards as may be provided under the applicable LTI Award Agreement.

Section 3.02 Qualifying Termination During CIC Period. If, during the CIC Period, the employment of the Participant terminates as a result of Qualifying Termination, then, subject to the terms of the Plan, the Participant shall be entitled to the following (which, to the extent payable directly to the Participant, shall be payable in accordance with Article IV):

(a) a lump-sum cash amount equal to the sum of (A) the Participant’s earned and unpaid base salary from the Company and its Subsidiaries through the Date of Termination, (B) any outstanding Bonus for which (i) the performance period has been completed and (ii) the Compensation Committee makes a determination that Bonuses are payable generally to participants based on the attainment level of performance goals, (C) any paid time off pay that is accrued and unused as of the Date of Termination, and (D) any unreimbursed expenses properly incurred by the Participant in accordance with the Company’s business expense reimbursement policy;

(b) a pro-rata portion of the Bonus payable for the Year in which the Date of Termination occurs, calculated by multiplying the amount of the Bonus that is determined to be payable based on the actual attainment level, by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of full and partial months the Participant was employed during the Year in which the Date of Termination occurs and the denominator of which is 12;

(c) a lump-sum cash amount equal to the sum of (A) twenty-four (24) months (thirty-six (36) months in the case of the Chief Executive Officer) of base salary calculated using the Participant’s highest monthly rate of base salary during the twelve (12) month period immediately preceding the Date of Termination, or if greater, immediately preceding the Change in Control in the case of a Qualifying Termination occurring on a date that follows a Change in Control, and (B) two (2) times (three (3) times in the case of the Chief Executive Officer) the Participant’s Target Bonus Amount for the Year in which the Date of Termination occurs, or if greater, for the Year in which the Change in Control occurs in the case of a Qualifying Termination occurring on a date that follows a Change in Control, provided that the amount contemplated under this Section 3.02(c) shall be reduced by any amounts payable under Section 3.01(b);

 

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(d) provided that the Participant properly and timely elects continuation healthcare coverage under COBRA, the cost of the entire amount of the COBRA premiums for the continuation of group healthcare coverage for the Participant and the Participant’s eligible dependents, if applicable, under the Company’s group medical and dental plans from the Date of Termination through the last day of the COBRA Payment Period, with the understanding that following the COBRA Payment Period, any further continuation of coverage under applicable law shall be at the Participant’s sole responsibility and expense. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the payment of COBRA premiums or the provision of benefits hereunder is likely to result in a penalty to the Participant or at any time the Company determines, in its sole discretion, that the payment of COBRA premiums or the provision of benefits hereunder is likely to result in a penalty to the Company or violation of the nondiscrimination rules of Section 105(h)(2) of the Code or any statute or regulation of similar effect (including, without limitation, the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the 2010 Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act), then in lieu of providing the COBRA premiums, the Company will instead pay the Participant, on the Company’s regular payroll dates during the remainder of the COBRA Payment Period, a fully taxable cash payment equal to the amount of the COBRA premiums that the Company has agreed to pay pursuant to this Section 3.02(d) for the corresponding payroll period; and

(e) the Participant shall be entitled to such benefits under his or her outstanding LTI Awards as may be provided under the applicable LTI Award Agreement.

ARTICLE IV

FORM AND TIME OF PAYMENT

Section 4.01 The payments and amounts contemplated under Sections 3.01(a) and 3.02(a) shall be made as of the Date of Termination (and, in the event of the amounts contemplated under Sections 3.01(a)(B) and 3.02(a)(B), at the time that such Bonuses are generally payable to all participants).

Section 4.02 The monthly installments contemplated under Section 3.01(b) shall begin on the sixtieth (60th) day after the Participant’s Date of Termination, provided that the Participant shall have executed the Release and the revocation period will have expired within such sixty (60) day period.

Section 4.03 The payment contemplated under Section 3.02(b) shall be made at the time that such Bonuses are generally payable to all participants and in any event prior to March 15th of the calendar year following the end of the Year in which the Date of Termination occurs.

Section 4.04 The lump sum payment contemplated under Section 3.02(c) shall be made on the sixtieth (60th) day after the later of the Participant’s Date of Termination and the date of the Change in Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the amount contemplated under Section 3.02(c) constitutes deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code, then if the (i) Change in Control does not constitute a “change in control event” within the meaning of the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 409A of the Code (a “409A CIC”), the amount contemplated under Section 3.02(c) shall instead be paid (or continue to be paid, as applicable) in installments in accordance with Section 4.02 (with the amount of installments that continue to be paid upon a Change in Control where installments have already commenced pursuant to Section 3.01(b) increased in equal amounts to reflect the amount payable under Section 3.02(c)); or (ii) Date of Termination occurs prior to a Change in Control and the Change in Control constitutes a

 

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409A CIC, then the amount contemplated under Section 3.02(c) shall be paid in accordance with the first sentence of this Section 4.04, but it shall be reduced by the aggregate amount payable pursuant to Section 3.01(b) and the amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01(b) will continue be paid in accordance with Section 4.02.

Section 4.05 The monthly installments contemplated under Section 3.01(c) and Section 3.02(d), if applicable, shall begin on the sixtieth (60th) day after the Participant’s Date of Termination, provided that, in the case of Section 3.01(c), the Participant shall have executed the Release and the revocation period will have expired within such sixty (60) day period.

Section 4.06 Anything in this Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no amount payable on a date or within a period that is by reference to a Participant’s termination of employment under Article III hereof that is nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code shall be paid unless the Participant experiences a Separation from Service, and if the Participant is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code as of the date of the Separation from Service (as determined in accordance with the methodology established by the Company as in effect on the Date of Termination), shall instead be paid with interest on any delayed payment at the applicable federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the Code, to the Participant on the first business day that immediately follows the earlier of (i) the date that is six months following the date of the Participant’s Separation from Service or (ii) the date of the Participant’s death, to the extent such delayed payment is otherwise required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Section 409A(a)(2) of the Code, or any successor provision thereto.

ARTICLE V

TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT OF PLAN

Section 5.01 This Plan may be amended or terminated at the sole discretion of the Board or Compensation Committee provided that the Board, or the Compensation Committee, as applicable, shall provide written notice to the Participant no less than one year prior to the effective date of any Plan termination or an amendment that materially and adversely impacts the right of a Participant under the Plan, and provided further that the Plan shall not be terminated or amended once the Company enters into a definite binding agreement, the consummation of which would result in the occurrence of a Change in Control.

ARTICLE VI

FEDERAL EXCISE TAX UNDER SECTION 4999 OF THE CODE

Section 6.01 In the event that the benefits provided for in this Plan (together with any other benefits or amounts payable or provided to a Participant) otherwise constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code and would, but for this Article VI be subject to the Excise Tax, then the Participant’s benefits under this Plan (together with any other benefits or amounts payable or provided to such Participant) shall be either: (i) delivered in full, or (ii) delivered as to such lesser extent as would result in no portion of such benefits being subject to the Excise Tax, whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the Excise Tax, results in the receipt by the Participant on an

 

10


after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of benefits, notwithstanding that all or some portion of such benefits may be taxable under Section 4999 of the Code. In the event of a reduction of benefits hereunder, the Accountants (as defined below) shall determine which benefits shall be reduced, in accordance with Section 6.02 hereof, so as to achieve the principle set forth in the preceding sentence. In no event shall the foregoing be interpreted or administered so as to result in an acceleration of payment or further deferral of payment of any amounts (whether under this Plan or any other arrangement) in violation of Section 409A.

Section 6.02 Any reduction in the Participant’s benefits under this Plan and/or otherwise payable or provided to such Participant shall be made as follows:

(a) first, payments that are payable in cash that are valued at full value under Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q&A 24(a) will be reduced (if necessary, to zero), with amounts that are payable last reduced first;

(b) second, payments due in respect of any equity valued at full value under Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q&A 24(a) will be reduced (if necessary, to zero), with amounts that are payable or deliverable last reduced first;

(c) third, payments that are payable in cash that are valued at less than full value under Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q&A 24 will be reduced (if necessary, to zero), with the highest values reduced first (as such values are determined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q&A 24);

(d) fourth, payments due in respect of any equity valued at less than full value under Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q&A 24 will be reduced (if necessary, to zero), with the highest values reduced first (as such values are determined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q&A 24); and

(e) fifth, all other non-cash benefits will be reduced pro-rata.

Section 6.03 In each case, the amounts of the payments and benefits shall be reduced in the inverse order of their originally scheduled dates of payment or vesting, as applicable, and shall be so reduced only to the extent necessary to achieve the reductions contemplated under Section 6.01.

Section 6.04 Unless the Company and the Participant otherwise agree in writing, all determinations required to be made under this Article VI, including the manner and amount of any reduction in the Participant’s benefits under this Plan, and the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determinations, shall be promptly determined and reported in writing to the Company and the Participant by the independent public accountants or other independent advisors selected by the Company that are not serving as the accountants or auditors for the individual, entity or group effecting the Change in Control (the “Accountants”), and all such computation and determinations shall be conclusive and binding upon the Participant and the Company. All fees and expenses of the Accountants shall be borne solely by the Company, and the Company shall enter into any agreement requested by the Accountants in connection with the performance of the services hereunder. For purposes of making the calculations required by this Article VI, the Accountants may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code. The Company and the Participant shall furnish to the Accountants such information and documents as the Accountants may reasonably request to make a determination under this Article VI.

 

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Section 6.05 As expressly permitted by Q/A #32 of the Treasury Regulations under Code Section 280G, with respect to performing any present value calculations that are required in connection with this Article VI, the Participant and the Company each affirmatively elect to utilize the Applicable Federal Rates (“AFR”) that are in effect as of the date this Plan is adopted and the Accountants shall therefore use such AFR in their determinations and calculations.

ARTICLE VII

PLAN ADMINISTRATION

Section 7.01 The Plan Administrator will administer the Plan and may interpret the Plan, prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations under the Plan and make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan, subject to all of the provisions of the Plan.

Section 7.02 The Plan Administrator may delegate any of its duties hereunder to such person or persons from time to time as it may designate.

Section 7.03 The Plan Administrator is empowered, on behalf of the Plan, to engage accountants, legal counsel and such other personnel as it deems necessary or advisable to assist it in the performance of its duties under the Plan. The functions of any such persons engaged by the Plan Administrator will be limited to the specified services and duties for which they are engaged, and such persons will have no other duties, obligations or responsibilities under the Plan. Such persons will exercise no discretionary authority or discretionary control respecting the management of the Plan. All reasonable expenses thereof will be borne by the Company.

Section 7.04 Following the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Company may not remove from office the individual or individuals who served as Plan Administrator immediately prior to the Change in Control; provided, however, if any such individual ceases to be affiliated with the Company, the Company may appoint another individual or individuals as Plan Administrator so long as the substitute Plan Administrator consists solely of an individual or individuals who (a) were officers of the Company immediately prior to the Change in Control, (b) were directors of the Company immediately prior to the Change in Control and are not affiliated with the acquiring entity in the Change in Control or (c) were selected or approved in writing by an officer or director described in clause (a) or (b).

ARTICLE VIII

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 8.01 Withholding Taxes. The Company may withhold from all payments due to the Participant (or his beneficiary or estate) hereunder all taxes which, by applicable federal, state, local or other law, the Company is required to withhold therefrom.

 

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Section 8.02 Scope of Benefits under Plan. Nothing in this Plan shall be deemed to entitle the Participant to continued employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any termination of the Participant’s employment shall be subject to all of the benefit and payment provisions of this Plan.

Section 8.03 Successors’ Binding Obligation.

(a) This Plan shall not be terminated by any Company Change or transfer of assets. In the event of any Company Change or transfer of assets, the provisions of this Plan shall be binding upon the surviving or resulting corporation or any person or entity to which the assets of the Company are transferred.

(b) The Company agrees that concurrently with any Company Change or transfer of assets, it will cause any successor or transferee unconditionally to assume by written instrument delivered to the Participant (or his beneficiary or estate) all of the obligations of the Company hereunder. Failure of the Company to obtain such assumption prior to the effectiveness of any such Company Change or transfer of assets that results in a Change in Control shall constitute Good Reason hereunder and shall entitle the Participant to compensation and other benefits from the Company in the same amount and on the same terms as the Participant would be entitled hereunder if the Participant’s employment were terminated in connection with a Change in Control other than by reason of a Nonqualifying Termination. For purposes of implementing the foregoing, the date on which any such Company Change or transfer of assets becomes effective shall be deemed the date Good Reason occurs, and the Participant may terminate employment for Good Reason on or following such date.

(c) The rights under this Plan shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Participant’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Participant shall die while any amounts would be payable to the Participant hereunder had the Participant continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Plan to such person or persons appointed in writing by the Participant to receive such amounts or, if no person is so appointed, to the Participant’s estate.

Section 8.04 Compensation Recoupment. Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, the benefits provided for in this Plan shall not be deemed fully earned or vested, even if paid or distributed to the Participant, if the amount payable under Article III or any portion thereof is deemed incentive compensation and subject to recovery, or “clawback” by the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act and any Recoupment Rules. In addition, the Participant hereby acknowledges that this Plan may be amended as necessary and/or shall be subject to any recoupment policies adopted by the Company to comply with the requirements and/or limitations under the Dodd-Frank Act and any Recoupment Rules, or any other federal or stock exchange requirements, including by expressly permitting (or, if applicable, requiring) the Company to revoke, recover and/or clawback the benefits provided herein.

 

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Section 8.05 Notice.

(a) For purposes of this Plan, all notices and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand or overnight courier or three (3) days after deposit in the United States mail, registered and return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

If to the Participant:

To the most recent address of the Participant set forth in the personnel records of the Company

If to the Company:

Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company

c/o Office of the General Counsel

200 Liberty Street, 7th Floor

New York, NY 10281

Attention: General Counsel

or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt. Alternatively, notice may be deemed to have been delivered when sent by facsimile to a location provided by the other party hereto.

(b) A written notice of the Participant’s Date of Termination by the Company or the Participant, as the case may be, to the other, shall (i) indicate the specific termination provision in this Plan relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable, set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of Participant’s employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) specify the Date of Termination. In the case of a termination by the Company other than a termination for Cause, the Date of Termination shall not be less than (30) days after the notice of termination is given. In the case of a termination by the Participant, the Date of Termination shall be the date that the cure period contemplated under Section 1.01(x) has expired if the Company has failed to remedy within such period the circumstances constituting Good Reason. The failure by the Participant or the Company to set forth in such notice any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of the Participant or the Company hereunder or preclude the Participant or the Company from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Participant’s or the Company’s rights hereunder.

Section 8.06 Employment with Subsidiaries. Employment with the Company for purposes of this Plan shall include employment with any Subsidiary.

Section 8.07 Governing Law; Validity. The interpretation, construction and performance of the provisions of this Plan shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York without regard to the principle of conflicts of laws, to the extent the laws of the State of New York are not preempted by ERISA. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Plan shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Plan, which other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

 

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Section 8.08 Waiver. No provision of this Plan may be waived unless such waiver is agreed to in writing and signed by the Participant and by a duly authorized officer of the Company. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Plan to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. Failure by the Participant or the Company to insist upon strict compliance with any provision of this Plan or to assert any right the Participant or the Company may have hereunder shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right of this Plan.

Section 8.09 Limitations on Assignment. Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, no right or interest of any Eligible Executive under the Plan will be assignable or transferable, in whole or in part, either directly or by operation of law or otherwise, including without limitation by execution, levy, garnishment, attachment, pledge or in any manner; no attempted assignment or transfer thereof will be effective; and no third party creditors of an Eligible Executive will have any right or interest in any Eligible Executive’s rights or interests under the Plan. When a payment is due under this Plan to a severed employee who is unable to care for his or her affairs or dies after accruing benefit rights under the Plan, payment may be made directly to his or her legal guardian or personal representative, executor or estate administrator, as the case may be.

Section 8.10 Code Section 409A. It is intended that this Plan shall comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, and the Plan shall be interpreted and administered in a manner consistent with this intent. The Company reserves the right, to the extent the Company deems necessary or advisable in its sole discretion, to unilaterally amend or modify the Plan to ensure that all payments are made in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code (including, without limitation, the avoidance of penalties thereunder) to the extent permitted under Section 409A of the Code; provided, however, that the Company is under no obligation to make such amendment or modification and makes no representations that the payments hereunder will be exempt from any penalties that may apply under Section 409A of the Code and makes no undertaking to preclude Section 409A of the Code from applying to this Plan. Nothing in this Plan shall provide a basis for any person to take action against the Company or any affiliate thereof based on matters covered by Section 409A of the Code, including the tax treatment of any amount paid under the Plan, and neither the Company nor any of its affiliates shall under any circumstances have any liability to the Participant or the Participant’s estate or any other party for any taxes, penalties or interest due on amounts paid or payable under this Plan, including taxes, penalties or interest imposed under Section 409A of the Code.

Section 8.11 Unfunded Plan. The Plan will not be required to be funded unless such funding is authorized by the Board in its sole discretion. Regardless of whether the Plan is funded, no Eligible Executive will have any right to, or interest in, any assets of the Company which may be applied by the Company to the payment of benefits or other rights under this Plan.

 

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ARTICLE IX

CLAIMS, INQUIRIES, APPEALS

Section 9.01 Applications for Benefits and Inquiries. Any application for benefits, inquiries about the Plan or inquiries about present or future rights under the Plan must be submitted to the claims administrator in writing by an applicant (or his or her authorized representative), as follows:

Claims Administrator

c/o Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer

Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company

1450 Brickell Avenue, Suite 1600

Miami, FL 33131

Attention: Chief Human Resources Officer

Section 9.02 Denial of Claims. In the event that any application for benefits is denied in whole or in part, the claims administrator must notify the applicant, in writing, of the denial of the application, and of the applicant’s right to review the denial. The written notice of denial will be set forth in a manner designed to be understood by the applicant, and will include specific reasons for the denial, specific references to the Plan provision upon which the denial is based, a description of any information or material that the claims administrator needs to complete the review (and an explanation of why such information or material is necessary), an explanation of the Plan’s review procedures and the time limits applicable to such procedures, including a statement of the applicant’s right to bring civil action under section 502(a) of ERISA, if his or her claim is denied upon review.

This written notice will be given to the applicant within (90) days after the claims administrator receives the application, unless special circumstances require an extension of time, in which case, the claims administrator has up to an additional (90) days for processing the application. If an extension of time for processing is required, written notice of the extension will be furnished to the applicant before the end of the initial (90) day period.

This notice of extension will describe the special circumstances necessitating the additional time and the date by which the claims administrator is to render his or her decision on the application.

If written notice of denial of the application for benefits is not furnished within the specified time, the application will be deemed to be denied. The applicant will then be permitted to appeal the denial in accordance with the review procedure described below.

Section 9.03 Request for a Review. Any person (or that person’s authorized representative) for whom an application for benefits is denied (or deemed denied), in whole or in part, may appeal the denial by submitting a request for a review to the Plan Administrator within sixty (60) days after the application is denied (or deemed denied). The Plan Administrator will give the applicant (or his or her representative) an opportunity to review pertinent documents in preparing a request for a review and submit written comments, documents, records and other information relating to the claim. A request for a review will be in writing and will be addressed to:

 

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Plan Administrator

c/o Office of the General Counsel

Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company

200 Liberty Street, 7th Floor

New York, NY 10281

Attention: General Counsel

A request for review must set forth all of the grounds on which it is based, all facts in support of the request and any other matters that the applicant feels are pertinent. The Plan Administrator may require the applicant to submit additional facts, documents or other material as he or she may find necessary or appropriate in making his or her review.

Section 9.04 Decision on Review. The Plan Administrator will act on each request for review within sixty (60) days after receipt of the request, unless special circumstances require an extension of time (not to exceed an additional sixty (60) days), for processing the request for a review. If an extension for review is required, written notice of the extension will be furnished to the applicant within the initial sixty (60) day period. In the event that the Plan Administrator confirms the denial of the application for benefits in whole or in part, the notice will outline, in a manner calculated to be understood by the applicant, the specific reason or reasons for the denial, references to the specific Plan provisions upon which the decision is based, a statement that the applicant is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant to his or her claim, and a statement of the applicant’s right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA. If written notice of the Plan Administrator’s decision is not given to the applicant within the time prescribed in this Section 9.04 the application will be deemed denied on review.

Section 9.05 Rules and Procedures. The Plan Administrator may establish rules and procedures, consistent with the Plan and with ERISA, as necessary and appropriate in carrying out his or her responsibilities in reviewing benefit claims. The Plan Administrator may require an applicant who wishes to submit additional information in connection with an appeal from the denial (or deemed denial) of benefits to do so at the applicant’s own expense.

Section 9.06 Exhaustion of Remedies. No claim for benefits under the Plan may be brought in any forum until the claimant (a) has submitted a written application for benefits in accordance with the procedures described by Section 9.01 above, (b) has been notified by the claims administrator that the application is denied (or the application is deemed denied due to the claims administrator’s failure to act on it within the established time period), (c) has filed a written request for a review of the application in accordance with the appeal procedure described in Section 9.03 above and (d) has been notified in writing that the Plan Administrator has denied the appeal (or the appeal is deemed to be denied due to the Plan Administrator’s failure to take any action on the claim within the time prescribed by Section 9.04 above).

 

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Section 9.07 Final Dispute Resolution. Any and all disputes under this Plan (including but not limited to disputes regarding interpretation, scope, or validity of the Plan, any pendant state claims if not otherwise preempted by ERISA) remains unresolved after the exhaustion of the claims procedure outlined in Sections 9.01 through 9.06, above, will be submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

 

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Exhibit A

WAIVER AND RELEASE OF CLAIMS

In consideration of, and subject to, the delivery to me by Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company, a corporation organized under the laws of Ireland, (the “Company”) of the severance payments and benefits as defined in the Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company Severance and Change in Control Pay Plan for US Executives, as amended from time to time (the “Plan”), I hereby waive any claims I may have for employment or re-employment in the future by the Company and its affiliates and subsidiaries after the date on which my employment with the Company terminated (the “Termination Date”), and I further agree to and do release and forever discharge the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates and their respective past and present officers, directors, shareholders, employees and agents (the “Releasees”) from any and all claims and causes of action, known or unknown, arising out of or relating to (i) my employment with any such Releasees or the termination thereof, including, but not limited to, wrongful discharge, breach of contract, tort, fraud, defamation and claims under the Civil Rights Acts, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (the “ADEA”), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, [additional statutes from state where Participant is located to be inserted here] , or any other federal, state, local or foreign legislation or common law relating to employment or discrimination in employment or otherwise.

The waiver and release of claims in the immediately preceding paragraph does not include (i) earned but unpaid salary and vacation pay owing for the period through the Termination Date; (ii) vested benefits under any employee benefit plans sponsored by the Company under any pension plan; (iii) the delivery of the severance payments and benefits under the Plan; (iv) my right to receive an award from a Government Agency under its whistleblower program for reporting in good faith a possible violation of law to such Government Agency; (v) coverage or indemnification under the Company’s insurance policies, applicable certificates of incorporation, by-laws or a resolution of the Company’s board of directors (vi) any recovery to which I may be entitled pursuant to Washington workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance laws; (vii) my right to challenge the validity of the Release under the ADEA, (viii) or any right where a waiver is expressly prohibited by law.    For purposes of this Waiver and Release of Claims, “Government Agency” means the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or any other self-regulatory organization or any other federal, state or local governmental agency or commission.

 

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By signing this Waiver and Release of Claims, I acknowledge and agree as follows:

(1) I have carefully read the Plan and this Waiver and Release of Claims [with the attached Appendix A]1;

(2) I have had the opportunity to consult with an attorney or other advisor of my choice about this matter, and have been advised by the Company to do so if I choose;

(3) the severance payments and benefits under the Plan are greater than any other payment or benefit to which I otherwise would have been legally entitled as a result of the termination of my employment;

(4) I have signed this Waiver and Release of Claims of my own free will and no promises or representations have been made to me by any person to induce me to do so other than the Plan;

(5) I have been given [forty-five (45)][twenty-one (21)] days to review and consider this Waiver and Release of Claims [with attached Appendix A]; and

(6) I may revoke this Waiver and Release of Claims after signing it, by delivering a written revocation to the Company’s Chief Human Resources Officer, Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company, 555 17th Street, Suite 2050, Denver, Colorado 80202 no later than seven (7) days after the date I sign it as shown below.

 

 

Employee’s Signature
Print Name

 

Date Signed

 

1 

The bracketed and highlighted language here and below will be used when two or more employees are separated from the Company as part of a termination program. An appendix with disclosures is as required by the ADEA.

 

20

EX-10.4

Exhibit 10.4

WILLIS TOWERS WATSON

SEVERANCE AND CHANGE IN CONTROL PAY PLAN FOR NON-US EXECUTIVES

(Adopted March 8, 2020 and as amended June 5, 2020 and February 22, 2022)

The purpose of the Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company Severance and Change in Control Pay Plan for Non-US Executives, as amended from time to time (the “Plan”), is to better provide for the retention of key executives through providing them with a higher degree of financial security, on the terms and conditions hereinafter stated. The amended and restated Plan shall be effective as of February 22, 2022 (the “Effective Date”); provided that, any change to the terms of the Plan pursuant to this amendment and restatement that materially and adversely impacts the right of a Participant under the Plan shall not be effective until the first anniversary of the Effective Date, in accordance with Section 5.01.

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01 As used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below:

(a) “409A CIC” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.04 of the Plan.

(b) “Accountants” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6.04 of the Plan.

(c) “AFR” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6.05 of the Plan.

(d) “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.

(e) “Board” means the Board of Directors of WTW.

(f) “Bonus” means the annual bonuses payable pursuant to the Company’s Annual Incentive Plan or such other plan that provides for the payment of annual incentive bonuses as may be, from time to time, authorized by the Board or the Compensation Committee.

(g) “Cause” means: the Participant’s (i) gross or chronic neglect or negligence in the performance of the Participant’s employment duties with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries having been provided reasonable notice of such neglect or negligence and a period of at least ten (10) days after the Participant’s receipt of such notice to cure and/or correct such performance neglect or negligence, (ii) willful misconduct in connection with the Participant’s employment which is injurious to the Company or its Subsidiaries (willful misconduct shall be understood to include, but not be limited to, any breach of the duty of loyalty owed by the Participant to the Company or its Subsidiaries), (iii) conviction of any criminal act (other than minor road traffic violations not involving imprisonment), (iv) breach of any of the Participant’s restrictive covenants and other obligations as provided in the Participant’s employment agreement (if any), or any other non-compete agreement and/or confidentiality agreement entered into


between the Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than an insubstantial, inadvertent and non-recurring breach), or (v) violation of any material written Company policy, which includes any policy regarding sexual harassment, after reasonable notice and an opportunity to cure such violation (if curable as determined by the Board) within ten (10) days after the Participant’s receipt of such notice.

(h) “Change in Control” means:

(i) the acquisition (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, combination or other similar transaction) of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group of Persons of the Ordinary Shares representing more than 50% of the aggregate voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares; or

(ii) occupation of a majority of the Board (other than vacant seats) by Persons who were neither (A) nominated by the Board nor (B) appointed by members of the Board so nominated; or

(iii) the consummation of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of WTW’s assets in any single transaction or series of related transactions.

For the avoidance of doubt, a transaction shall not constitute a Change in Control (x) if effected for the purpose of changing the place of incorporation or form of organization of the ultimate parent entity of the WTW or its Subsidiaries (including where WTW is succeeded by an issuer incorporated under the laws of another state, country or foreign government for such purpose and whether or not WTW remains in existence following such transaction) and (y) where all or substantially all of the Person(s) who are the beneficial owners of the outstanding voting securities of WTW immediately prior to such transaction will beneficially own, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the ultimate parent entity resulting from such transaction in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such transaction, of such outstanding securities of WTW.

(i) “CIC Period” means the period of time beginning on the date that is six (6) months prior to a Change in Control and ending on the date that is twenty-four (24) months following such Change in Control.

(j) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (references to the Code and provisions that include such Code Section references shall apply only to the extent a Participant is subject to taxation in the United States or a political subdivision thereof.).

(k) “Company” means WTW or, if different, the employing entity.

(l) “Company Change” means any merger, consolidation or corporate reorganization of WTW or the Company, including, for the avoidance of any doubt, a Change in Control.

(m) “Compensation Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board.

 

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(n) “Date of Termination” means the date on which a Participant’s employment by the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates.

(o) “Dodd – Frank Act” means the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

(p) “Eligible Executive” means an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary who is considered a Section 16 officer within the meaning of the Exchange Act.

(q) “EIP” means the Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company 2012 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time, or any successor plan thereto.

(r) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(s) “Excise Tax” means the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code .

(t) “Good Reason” means that one or more of the following events has occurred without the Participant’s written consent: (i) a material adverse diminution in the Participant’s position, authority or responsibilities or the assignment to Participant of duties or responsibilities which are materially inconsistent with the Participant’s position; (ii) a material reduction in the Participant’s monthly base salary or target annual incentive plan percentage; or (iii) the Participant is required to relocate the Participant’s primary work location of record, either (A) if the Participant is designated to work primarily at a Company office, to an office outside a radius of fifty (50) miles from the Participant’s current office location, or (B) if the Participant is designated to work primarily on a “remote” basis, to any office or location that is not materially consistent with the Participant’s remote work arrangement. The Participant may not resign or otherwise terminate the Participant’s employment for any reason set forth above as Good Reason unless the Participant first notifies the Employer in writing describing such Good Reason within ninety (90) days of the first occurrence of such circumstances, and, thereafter, such Good Reason is not corrected by the Employer within thirty (30) days of the Participant’s written notice of such Good Reason, and the Participant actually terminates employment within ninety (90) days following the expiration of the Employer’s 30-day cure period described above.

(u) “Involuntary Termination” means a termination of the Participant’s employment by the Company other than for Cause and other than as a result of the Participant’s death or permanent disability.

(v) “LTI Award” means an award covering the Ordinary Shares granted under the EIP.

(w) “LTI Award Agreement” means the form of award agreement evidencing, and governing the terms of, an LTI Award.

(x) “Non-CIC Period” means the period prior to or following a CIC Period.

(y) “Nonqualifying Termination” means a termination of the Participant’s employment other than a Qualifying Termination.

 

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(z) “Notification Letter” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.01 of the Plan.

(aa) “Ordinary Shares” means the ordinary shares of WTW, with a nominal value of $0.000304635 per Share.

(bb) “Participant” means any Eligible Executive who is selected to be a participant in the Plan by action of the Compensation Committee as specified herein.

(cc) “Person” shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, except that such term shall not include (i) WTW, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of WTW or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities or (iv) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of WTW in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of WTW.

(dd) “Plan Administrator” means the Company, acting through the Compensation Committee or another duly constituted committee of members of the Board, or any Person to whom the Plan Administrator has delegated, in writing, any authority or responsibility with respect to the Plan, but only to the extent of such delegation.

(ee) “Qualifying Termination” means (i) an Involuntary Termination, or (ii) a termination of the Participant’s employment as a result of a resignation by the Employee for Good Reason.

(ff) “Recoupment Rules” means WTW’s Compensation Recoupment Policy, as in effect on the date of Qualifying Termination or, if earlier, the effective date of a Change in Control and any rules or regulations promulgated under the Dodd-Frank Act or by any stock exchange on which WTW’s securities are listed.

(gg) “Release” means the form of waiver and release of claims that is provided by the Plan Administrator.

(hh) “Separation from Service” means a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.

(ii) “Subsidiary” means any corporation or other entity in which WTW, or the Company, as applicable, has a direct or indirect ownership interest of fifty (50)% or more of the total combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of such corporation or other entity.

(jj) “Target Bonus Amount” means, with respect to any Year, the Participant’s target Bonus for such Year based upon the Company’s forecasted operational plan.

(kk) “WTW” the Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company, a corporation organized under the laws of Ireland, and any successor corporation thereto.

(ll) “Year” means the fiscal year of the Company.

 

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ARTICLE II

PARTICIPATION

Section 2.01 Participation in the Plan. The Compensation Committee may designate any Eligible Executive to be a Participant. Promptly following such designation, each Participant shall be notified of his or her participation in a formal communication from the Compensation Committee or the Company (a “Notification Letter”). Participation in the Plan shall be determined in the Compensation Committee’s sole discretion. Each Eligible Executive shall become a Participant on the date the Eligible Executive signs and properly returns the Notification Letter. Participation in the Plan means that the severance payments and benefits under the Plan supersede and replace any previously offered or agreed payments or benefits (including non-monetary) in the nature of severance, howsoever arising. Once participation in the Plan has commenced, a Participant shall remain a Participant until the first to occur of (i) a Nonqualifying Termination and (ii) the completion of the delivery of all benefits under the Plan following the termination of his or her employment under circumstances giving rise to a right to such benefits. In addition, if at any time on or following the Effective Date and prior to a Change in Control a Participant no longer meets the definition of an Eligible Executive by reason of not being considered a Section 16 officer within the meaning of the Exchange Act, the Participant shall cease participation in the Plan effective as of the first anniversary of any such change in status, unless the Participant has become eligible for benefits under Section 2.02 of the Plan prior to such first anniversary date.

Section 2.02 Benefits Eligibility. A Participant shall become entitled to benefits under the Plan in the event he or she experiences a Qualifying Termination, provided that all of the conditions set forth in Section 2.03 are satisfied in the case of a Qualifying Termination, and provided further that any benefits or severance entitlements provided to a Participant under this Plan shall be offset as contemplated under Section 2.05.

Section 2.03 Conditions.

(a) As a condition precedent to entitlement of each Participant to benefits under Section 3.01(b) of the Plan (Involuntary Termination During a Non-CIC Period), the Participant agrees to each of the following:

(i) The Participant shall have executed, within fifteen (15) days following the Participant’s Date of Termination, a Release;

(ii) The Participant agrees to execute a resignation letter stating that effective as of the Participant’s Date of Termination, or such earlier date as required or requested by the Company, the Participant resigns as any officer or director position with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of which he or she is a member and/or to which he or she has been appointed;

(iii) The Participant shall return to the Company all property of the Company (or Subsidiary) in the possession of the Participant (or of a person controlled by the Participant); and

 

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(iv) The Participant shall reasonably cooperate with the Company to complete the transition of matters with which the Participant is familiar or responsible to other executives or employees and to make himself or herself reasonably available to answer questions or assist in matters which may require attention after the Participant’s Date of Termination.

(v) The Participant shall have executed, as of the date participation in this Plan by the Participant becomes effective, a consent in the form provided by the Company pursuant to which the Participant shall acknowledge and agree to waive any and all rights to any severance payments or benefits to which the Participant may be entitled to under any other agreement, policy or other arrangements other than as contemplated in this Plan and to offset the severance benefits payable under the Plan by any severance benefits payable under any statute or other law.

(b) As a condition precedent to entitlement of each Participant to benefits under Sections 3.02(b) and (c) of the Plan (Qualifying Termination During CIC Period), the Participant shall have executed, within fifteen (15) days following the Participant’s Date of Termination, a Release.

Section 2.04 A Participant shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment or benefit provided for in the Plan by seeking other employment or otherwise and no such payment or benefit shall be offset or reduced by the amount of any compensation or benefits provided to the Participant in any subsequent employment.

Section 2.05 The severance payments and benefits under the Plan to a Participant are intended to constitute the exclusive payments and benefits in the nature of severance or termination pay that shall be due to a Participant upon termination of his or her employment and to supersede any previously offered or agreed payments or benefits (including non-monetary) in the nature of severance, howsoever arising. Without limiting any of the foregoing, the severance payments and benefits under the Plan shall be in lieu of (or offset by) severance benefits or entitlements, termination indemnities, pay in lieu of notice, or the like provided under any of the Participant’s other agreements, plans, practices or arrangements with the Company or a Subsidiary. The severance payments and benefits to which a Participant is otherwise entitled shall be further reduced (but not below zero) by any payments or benefits to which the Participant may be entitled under any statute or other law. Any reductions in payments or benefits shall be made in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code. For the avoidance of doubt, there shall be no duplication of benefits under the Plan or otherwise.

ARTICLE III

TERMINATION BENEFITS

Section 3.01 Involuntary Termination During Non-CIC Period. If, during a Non-CIC Period, the employment of a Participant terminates as a result of an Involuntary Termination, then, subject to the terms of the Plan, the Participant shall be entitled to the following (which, to the extent payable directly to the Participant, shall be payable in accordance with Article IV):

 

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(a) The payment of (A) the Participant’s earned and unpaid base salary and contractual benefits from the Company and its Subsidiaries through the Date of Termination, (B) any outstanding Bonus for which (i) the performance period applicable to the Bonus has been completed and (ii) the Compensation Committee has determined that the payment for the Bonus is due and owing with respect to the Participant, (C) any paid time off pay that is accrued and unused as of the Date of Termination, and (D) any unreimbursed expenses properly incurred by the Participant in accordance with the Company’s business expense reimbursement policy;

(b) an amount equal to the sum of (A) twelve (12) months of base salary calculated using the Participant’s base salary as of the Date of Termination, and (B) Participant’s Target Bonus Amount for the Year in which the Participant’s Date of Termination occurs, to be paid in twelve (12) equal monthly installments in accordance with Article IV; and

(c) the Participant shall be entitled to such benefits under his or her outstanding LTI Awards as may be provided under the applicable LTI Award Agreement.

Section 3.02 Qualifying Termination During CIC Period. If, during the CIC Period, the employment of the Participant terminates as a result of Qualifying Termination, then, subject to the terms of the Plan, the Participant shall be entitled to the following (which, to the extent payable directly to the Participant, shall be payable in accordance with Article IV):

(a) The payment of (A) the Participant’s earned and unpaid base salary and contractual benefits from the Company and its Subsidiaries through the Date of Termination, (B) any outstanding Bonus for which (i) the performance period applicable to the Bonus has been completed and (ii) the Compensation Committee makes a determination that Bonuses are payable generally to participants based on the attainment level of performance goals, (C) any paid time off pay that is accrued and unused as of the Date of Termination, and (D) any unreimbursed expenses properly incurred by the Participant in accordance with the Company’s business expense reimbursement policy;

(b) a pro-rata portion of the Bonus payable for the Year in which the Date of Termination occurs, calculated by multiplying the amount of the Bonus that is determined to be payable based on the actual attainment level, by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of full and partial months the Participant was employed during the Year in which the Date of Termination occurs and the denominator of which is 12;

(c) a lump-sum cash amount equal to the sum of (A) twenty-four (24) months of base salary calculated using the Participant’s highest monthly rate of base salary during the twelve (12) month period immediately preceding the Date of Termination, or if greater, immediately preceding the Change in Control in the case of a Qualifying Termination occurring on a date that follows a Change in Control, and (B) two (2) times the Participant’s Target Bonus Amount for the Year in which the Date of Termination occurs, or if greater, for the Year in which the Change in Control occurs in the case of a Qualifying Termination occurring on a date that follows a Change in Control, provided that the amount contemplated under this Section 3.02(c) shall be reduced by any amounts payable under Section 3.01(b); and

 

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(d) the Participant shall be entitled to such benefits under his or her outstanding LTI Awards as may be provided under the applicable LTI Award Agreement.

ARTICLE IV

FORM AND TIME OF PAYMENT

Section 4.01 The payments and amounts contemplated under Sections 3.01(a) and 3.02(a) shall be made as of the Date of Termination (and, in the event of the amounts contemplated under Sections 3.01(a)(B) and 3.02(a)(B), at the time that such Bonuses are generally payable to all participants).

Section 4.02 The monthly installments contemplated under Section 3.01(b) shall begin on the sixtieth (60th) day after the Participant’s Date of Termination, provided that the Participant shall have executed the Release and the revocation period will have expired within such sixty (60) day period.

Section 4.03 The payment contemplated under Section 3.02(b) shall be made at the time that such Bonuses are generally payable to all participants and in any event prior to March 15th of the calendar year following the end of the Year in which the Date of Termination occurs.

Section 4.04 The lump sum payment contemplated under Section 3.02(c) shall be made on the sixtieth (60th) day after the later of the Participant’s Date of Termination and the date of the Change in Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the amount contemplated under Section 3.02(c) constitutes deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code, then if the (i) Change in Control does not constitute a “change in control event” within the meaning of the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 409A of the Code (a “409A CIC”), the amount contemplated under Section 3.02(c) shall instead be paid (or continue to be paid, as applicable) in installments in accordance with Section 4.02 (with the amount of installments that continue to be paid upon a Change in Control where installments have already commenced pursuant to Section 3.01(b) increased in equal amounts to reflect the amount payable under Section 3.02(c)); or (ii) Date of Termination occurs prior to a Change in Control and the Change in Control constitutes a 409A CIC, then the amount contemplated under Section 3.02(c) shall be paid in accordance with the first sentence of this Section 4.04, but it shall be reduced by the aggregate amount payable pursuant to Section 3.01(b) and the amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01(b) will continue be paid in accordance with Section 4.02.

Section 4.05 Anything in this Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no amount payable on a date or within a period that is by reference to a Participant’s termination of employment under Article III hereof that is nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code shall be paid unless the Participant experiences a Separation from Service, and if the Participant is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code as of the date of the Separation from Service (as determined in accordance with the methodology established by the Company as in effect on the Date of Termination), shall instead be paid with interest on any delayed payment at the applicable federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the Code, to the Participant on the first business day that immediately follows the earlier of (i) the date that is six months following the date of the Participant’s Separation from Service or (ii) the date of the Participant’s death, to the extent such delayed payment is otherwise required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Section 409A(a)(2) of the Code, or any successor provision thereto.

 

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ARTICLE V

TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT OF PLAN

Section 5.01 This Plan may be amended or terminated at the sole discretion of the Board or Compensation Committee, provided that the Board, or Compensation Committee, as applicable, shall provide written notice to the Participant no less than one year prior to the effective date of any Plan termination or an amendment that materially and adversely impacts the right of a Participant under the Plan, and provided further that the Plan shall not be terminated or amended once WTW enters into a definite binding agreement, the consummation of which would result in the occurrence of a Change in Control.

ARTICLE VI

FEDERAL EXCISE TAX UNDER SECTION 4999 OF THE CODE

Section 6.01 In the event that the benefits provided for in this Plan (together with any other benefits or amounts payable or provided to a Participant) otherwise constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code and would, but for this Article VI be subject to the Excise Tax, then the Participant’s benefits under this Plan (together with any other benefits or amounts payable or provided to such Participant) shall be either: (i) delivered in full, or (ii) delivered as to such lesser extent as would result in no portion of such benefits being subject to the Excise Tax, whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the Excise Tax, results in the receipt by the Participant on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of benefits, notwithstanding that all or some portion of such benefits may be taxable under Section 4999 of the Code. In the event of a reduction of benefits hereunder, the Accountants (as defined below) shall determine which benefits shall be reduced, in accordance with Section 6.02 hereof, so as to achieve the principle set forth in the preceding sentence. In no event shall the foregoing be interpreted or administered so as to result in an acceleration of payment or further deferral of payment of any amounts (whether under this Plan or any other arrangement) in violation of Section 409A.

Section 6.02 Any reduction in the Participant’s benefits under this Plan and/or otherwise payable or provided to such Participant shall be made as follows:

(a) first, payments that are payable in cash that are valued at full value under Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q&A 24(a) will be reduced (if necessary, to zero), with amounts that are payable last reduced first;

(b) second, payments due in respect of any equity valued at full value under Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q&A 24(a) will be reduced (if necessary, to zero), with amounts that are payable or deliverable last reduced first;

(c) third, payments that are payable in cash that are valued at less than full value under Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q&A 24 will be reduced (if necessary, to zero), with the highest values reduced first (as such values are determined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q&A 24);

 

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(d) fourth, payments due in respect of any equity valued at less than full value under Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q&A 24 will be reduced (if necessary, to zero), with the highest values reduced first (as such values are determined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q&A 24); and

(e) fifth, all other non-cash benefits will be reduced pro-rata.

Section 6.03 In each case, the amounts of the payments and benefits shall be reduced in the inverse order of their originally scheduled dates of payment or vesting, as applicable, and shall be so reduced only to the extent necessary to achieve the reductions contemplated under Section 6.01.

Section 6.04 Unless WTW and the Participant otherwise agree in writing, all determinations required to be made under this Article VI, including the manner and amount of any reduction in the Participant’s benefits under this Plan, and the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determinations, shall be promptly determined and reported in writing to WTW and the Participant by the independent public accountants or other independent advisors selected by WTW that are not serving as the accountants or auditors for the individual, entity or group effecting the Change in Control (the “Accountants”), and all such computation and determinations shall be conclusive and binding upon the Participant and WTW. All fees and expenses of the Accountants shall be borne solely by WTW, and WTW shall enter into any agreement requested by the Accountants in connection with the performance of the services hereunder. For purposes of making the calculations required by this Article VI, the Accountants may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code. WTW and the Participant shall furnish to the Accountants such information and documents as the Accountants may reasonably request to make a determination under this Article VI.

Section 6.05 As expressly permitted by Q/A #32 of the Treasury Regulations under Code Section 280G, with respect to performing any present value calculations that are required in connection with this Article VI, the Participant and WTW each affirmatively elect to utilize the Applicable Federal Rates (“AFR”) that are in effect as of the date this Plan is adopted and the Accountants shall therefore use such AFR in their determinations and calculations.

ARTICLE VII

PLAN ADMINISTRATION

Section 7.01 The Plan Administrator will administer the Plan and may interpret the Plan, prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations under the Plan and make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan, subject to all of the provisions of the Plan.

Section 7.02 The Plan Administrator may delegate any of its duties hereunder to such person or persons from time to time as it may designate.

 

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Section 7.03 The Plan Administrator is empowered, on behalf of the Plan, to engage accountants, legal counsel and such other personnel as it deems necessary or advisable to assist it in the performance of its duties under the Plan. The functions of any such persons engaged by the Plan Administrator will be limited to the specified services and duties for which they are engaged, and such persons will have no other duties, obligations or responsibilities under the Plan. Such persons will exercise no discretionary authority or discretionary control respecting the management of the Plan. All reasonable expenses thereof will be borne by the Company.

Section 7.04 Following the occurrence of a Change in Control, WTW may not remove from office the individual or individuals who served as Plan Administrator immediately prior to the Change in Control; provided, however, if any such individual ceases to be affiliated with WTW, WTW may appoint another individual or individuals as Plan Administrator so long as the substitute Plan Administrator consists solely of an individual or individuals who (a) were officers of WTW immediately prior to the Change in Control, (b) were directors of WTW immediately prior to the Change in Control and are not affiliated with the acquiring entity in the Change in Control or (c) were selected or approved in writing by an officer or director described in clause (a) or (b).

ARTICLE VIII

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 8.01 Withholding Taxes. The Company may withhold from all payments due to the Participant (or his beneficiary or estate) hereunder all taxes which, by applicable federal, state, local or other law, the Company is required to withhold therefrom.

Section 8.02 Scope of Benefits under Plan. Nothing in this Plan shall be deemed to entitle the Participant to continued employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any termination of the Participant’s employment shall be subject to all of the benefit and payment provisions of this Plan.

Section 8.03 Successors’ Binding Obligation.

(a) This Plan shall not be terminated by any Company Change or transfer of assets. In the event of any Company Change or transfer of assets, the provisions of this Plan shall be binding upon the surviving or resulting corporation or any person or entity to which the assets of the Company are transferred.

(b) The Company agrees that concurrently with any Company Change or transfer of assets, it will cause any successor or transferee unconditionally to assume by written instrument delivered to the Participant (or his beneficiary or estate) all of the obligations of the Company hereunder. Failure of the Company to obtain such assumption prior to the effectiveness of any such Company Change or transfer of assets that results in a Change in Control shall constitute Good Reason hereunder and shall entitle the Participant to compensation and other benefits from the Company in the same amount and on the same terms as the Participant would be entitled hereunder if the Participant’s employment were terminated in connection with a Change in Control other than by reason of a Nonqualifying Termination. For purposes of implementing the foregoing, the date on which any such Company Change or transfer of assets becomes effective shall be deemed the date Good Reason occurs, and the Participant may terminate employment for Good Reason on or following such date.

 

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(c) The rights under this Plan shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Participant’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Participant shall die while any amounts would be payable to the Participant hereunder had the Participant continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Plan to such person or persons appointed in writing by the Participant to receive such amounts or, if no person is so appointed, to the Participant’s estate.

Section 8.04 Compensation Recoupment. Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, the benefits provided for in this Plan shall not be deemed fully earned or vested, even if paid or distributed to the Participant, if the amount payable under Article III or any portion thereof is deemed incentive compensation and subject to recovery, or “clawback” by WTW pursuant to the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act and any Recoupment Rules. In addition, the Participant hereby acknowledges that this Plan may be amended as necessary and/or shall be subject to any recoupment policies adopted by WTW to comply with the requirements and/or limitations under the Dodd-Frank Act and any Recoupment Rules, or any other federal or stock exchange requirements, including by expressly permitting (or, if applicable, requiring) WTW to revoke, recover and/or clawback the benefits provided herein.

Section 8.05 Notice.

(a) For purposes of this Plan, all notices and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand or overnight courier or three (3) days after deposit in the United States mail, registered and return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

If to the Participant:

To the most recent address of the Participant set forth in the personnel records of the Company

If to the Company:

Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company

c/o Office of the General Counsel

200 Liberty Street, 7th Floor

New York, NY 10281

Attention: General Counsel

or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt. Alternatively, notice may be deemed to have been delivered when sent by facsimile to a location provided by the other party hereto.

 

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(b) A written notice of the Participant’s Date of Termination by the Company or the Participant, as the case may be, to the other, shall (i) indicate the specific termination provision in this Plan relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable, set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of Participant’s employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) specify the Date of Termination. The failure by the Participant or the Company to set forth in such notice any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of the Participant or the Company hereunder or preclude the Participant or the Company from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Participant’s or the Company’s rights hereunder.

Section 8.06 Employment with Subsidiaries. Employment with the Company for purposes of this Plan shall include employment with any Subsidiary.

Section 8.07 Governing Law; Validity. The interpretation, construction and performance of the provisions of this Plan shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the jurisdiction in which the Participant is regularly payrolled without regard to the principle of conflicts of laws. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Plan shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Plan, which other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 8.08 Waiver. No provision of this Plan may be waived unless such waiver is agreed to in writing and signed by the Participant and by a duly authorized officer of the Company. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Plan to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. Failure by the Participant or the Company to insist upon strict compliance with any provision of this Plan or to assert any right the Participant or the Company may have hereunder shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right of this Plan.

Section 8.09 Limitations on Assignment. Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, no right or interest of any Eligible Executive under the Plan will be assignable or transferable, in whole or in part, either directly or by operation of law or otherwise, including without limitation by execution, levy, garnishment, attachment, pledge or in any manner; no attempted assignment or transfer thereof will be effective; and no third party creditors of an Eligible Executive will have any right or interest in any Eligible Executive’s rights or interests under the Plan. When a payment is due under this Plan to a severed employee who is unable to care for his or her affairs or dies after accruing benefit rights under the Plan, payment may be made directly to his or her legal guardian or personal representative, executor or estate administrator, as the case may be.

Section 8.10 Code Section 409A. It is intended that this Plan shall comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, and the Plan shall be interpreted and administered in a manner consistent with this intent. The Company reserves the right, to the extent the Company deems necessary or advisable in its sole discretion, to unilaterally amend or modify the Plan to ensure that all payments are made in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code (including, without limitation, the avoidance of penalties thereunder) to the extent permitted under Section 409A of the Code; provided, however, that the Company is under no obligation to make

 

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such amendment or modification and makes no representations that the payments hereunder will be exempt from any penalties that may apply under Section 409A of the Code and makes no undertaking to preclude Section 409A of the Code from applying to this Plan. Nothing in this Plan shall provide a basis for any person to take action against the Company or any affiliate thereof based on matters covered by Section 409A of the Code, including the tax treatment of any amount paid under the Plan, and neither the Company nor any of its affiliates shall under any circumstances have any liability to the Participant or the Participant’s estate or any other party for any taxes, penalties or interest due on amounts paid or payable under this Plan, including taxes, penalties or interest imposed under Section 409A of the Code.

Section 8.11 Unfunded Plan. The Plan will not be required to be funded unless such funding is authorized by the Board in its sole discretion. Regardless of whether the Plan is funded, no Eligible Executive will have any right to, or interest in, any assets of WTW or the Company which may be applied by WTW or the Company, as applicable, to the payment of benefits or other rights under this Plan.

 

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