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): October 5, 2004
WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in Charter)
BERMUDA 001-16503 98-0352587
(Jurisdiction of incorporation (Commission File (IRS Employer
or organization) Number) Identification No.)
Ten Trinity Square
London EC3P 3AX, England
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: +44 20 7488 8111
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Item 8.01 Other Events
On October 5, 2004, Willis Group Holdings Limited issued a press
release announcing the purchase of the business portfolio of Hong
Kong-based insurance broker The Grande Insurance Broker Limited.
The press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c) The following document is filed as an exhibit to this report on
Form 8-K:
99.1 Press Release dated October 5, 2004 of Willis Group Holdings
Limited
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on their behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
By: /s/ Mary E. Caiazzo
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Mary E. Caiazzo
Assistant General Counsel
Dated: October 5, 2004
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number Title
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99.1 Press Release dated October 5, 2004, of Willis Group Holdings Limited
Exhibit 99.1
Willis Acquires The Grande Insurance Brokers in Hong Kong; Continues Asia
Expansion
LONDON & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 5, 2004--Willis Group Holdings
(NYSE: WSH), the global insurance broker, announces the purchase of the business
portfolio of Hong Kong-based insurance broker The Grande Insurance Broker
Limited (Grande). Terms of the transaction are not disclosed.
Willis has assumed responsibility and control of the business with
immediate effect. The integration of the business will be completed by November
1, 2004, at which time all Grande staff will have transferred to Willis offices
at Lee Gardens, Hong Kong.
The Grande Insurance Brokers Limited is a Hong Kong licensed general
insurance broker serving middle market corporate clients, particularly in the
financial and professional risk sectors. It has annual revenues of around
HK$5,500,000 (US$700,000).
Welcoming the Grande team to Willis, Joe Plumeri, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of Willis said: "This acquisition reflects our commitment to
expanding in Asia, where we see excellent opportunities for growth. Following
recent regulatory approval for our Chinese joint venture, Willis Pudong
Insurance Brokers, to operate throughout China, Willis is now the fastest
growing international insurance broker in the Greater China area and we will
continue to seek further opportunities for expansion in the region, including
via acquisition".
Willis Group Holdings Limited is a leading global insurance broker,
developing and delivering professional insurance, reinsurance, risk management,
financial and human resource consulting and actuarial services to corporations,
public entities and institutions around the world. With over 300 offices in more
than 100 countries, its global team of 13,000 associates serves clients in some
180 countries. Additional information on Willis may be found on its web site
www.willis.com.
CONTACT: Willis Group Holdings
Investors Contact:
Kerry K. Calaiaro, 212-837-0880
calaiaro_ke@willis.com
or
Media Contact:
Nicholas Jones, +44 20 7488-8190
jonesnr@willis.com
or
Dan Prince, 212-837-0806
prince_da@willis.com