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Debt (Details)
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12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dec. 31, 2011
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2010
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2009
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2010
Private Equity Partnership Structures I, LLC (PEPS I)
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2010
Hewitt Associates, Inc (Hewitt)
USD ($)
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Oct. 02, 2010
Hewitt Associates, Inc (Hewitt)
USD ($)
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Jul. 31, 2009
2005 Facility
USD ($)
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Oct. 31, 2010
Euro Facility
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Dec. 31, 2011
Euro Facility
USD ($)
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Oct. 15, 2010
Euro Facility
EUR (€)
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Dec. 31, 2009
U.S. committed bank credit facility
USD ($)
Y
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Dec. 31, 2009
Commercial paper and other short-term borrowings facility
USD ($)
Y
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Jun. 30, 2011
2011 Term loan credit facility
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Dec. 31, 2011
2011 Term loan credit facility
USD ($)
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Jun. 15, 2011
2011 Term loan credit facility
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2011
3.125% Senior notes due 2016
USD ($)
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May 24, 2011
3.125% Senior notes due 2016
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2011
4.76% CAD 375 senior unsecured debt securities due March 2018
USD ($)
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Mar. 08, 2011
4.76% CAD 375 senior unsecured debt securities due March 2018
CAD
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Aug. 31, 2010
2010 Term loan credit facility
Y
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Dec. 31, 2011
2010 Term loan credit facility
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2010
2010 Term loan credit facility
USD ($)
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Aug. 13, 2010
2010 Term loan credit facility
USD ($)
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Oct. 30, 2010
2010 Term loan credit facility
Hewitt Associates, Inc (Hewitt)
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2011
8.205% Junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures due January 2027
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2010
8.205% Junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures due January 2027
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2011
6.25% EUR 500 debt securities due July 2014
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2010
6.25% EUR 500 debt securities due July 2014
USD ($)
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Jul. 02, 2009
6.25% EUR 500 debt securities due July 2014
USD ($)
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Jul. 02, 2009
6.25% EUR 500 debt securities due July 2014
EUR (€)
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Dec. 31, 2011
5.00% Senior notes due September 2020
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2010
5.00% Senior notes due September 2020
USD ($)
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Sep. 07, 2010
5.00% Senior notes due September 2020
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2011
3.50% senior notes due September 2015
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2010
3.50% senior notes due September 2015
USD ($)
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Sep. 07, 2010
3.50% senior notes due September 2015
USD ($)
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Apr. 30, 2011
5.05% CAD 375 debt securities due April 2011
CAD
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Dec. 31, 2010
5.05% CAD 375 debt securities due April 2011
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2010
5.05% CAD 375 debt securities due April 2011
CAD
|
Dec. 31, 2011
6.25% Senior notes due September 2040
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2010
6.25% Senior notes due September 2040
USD ($)
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Sep. 07, 2010
6.25% Senior notes due September 2040
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2011
7.375% Debt securities due December 2012
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2010
7.375% Debt securities due December 2012
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2011
Notes
USD ($)
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Sep. 07, 2010
Notes
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2011
Other
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2010
Other
USD ($)
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Oct. 02, 2010
Senior Notes
Hewitt Associates, Inc (Hewitt)
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2010
Bridge Loan Facility
USD ($)
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Aug. 13, 2010
Bridge Loan Facility
USD ($)
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Dec. 31, 2011
Commercial paper
USD ($)
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| Debt Instrument | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt face value | $ 450,000,000 | $ 500,000,000 | 375,000,000 | $ 653,000,000 | € 500,000,000 | $ 600,000,000 | $ 600,000,000 | 375,000,000 | $ 300,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate on debt (as a percent) | 3.125% | 3.125% | 4.76% | 4.76% | 8.205% | 6.25% | 6.25% | 6.25% | 5.00% | 5.00% | 3.50% | 3.50% | 3.50% | 5.05% | 5.05% | 6.25% | 6.25% | 7.375% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total debt | 4,492,000,000 | 4,506,000,000 | 428,000,000 | 500,000,000 | 368,000,000 | 975,000,000 | 687,000,000 | 687,000,000 | 653,000,000 | 667,000,000 | 598,000,000 | 598,000,000 | 597,000,000 | 597,000,000 | 372,000,000 | 297,000,000 | 297,000,000 | 225,000,000 | 225,000,000 | 139,000,000 | 88,000,000 | 50,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Less short-term and current portion of long-term debt | 337,000,000 | 492,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total long-term debt | 4,155,000,000 | 4,014,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New credit and loan facility | 849,000,000 | 650,000,000 | 400,000,000 | 1,000,000,000 | 1,500,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred financing cost amortization for Term Loan Credit Facility and Notes | 2,000,000 | 26,000,000 | 12,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred financing costs expense | 14,000,000 | 14,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Loss) gain on extinguishment of debt | 19,000,000 | 8,000,000 | (5,000,000) | 19,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt assumed on acquisition | 346,000,000 | 299,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carrying value of debt related to hedging activities | 11,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount borrowed under five-year multi-currency foreign credit facility (""Euro credit facility"") | 1,000,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commitment fees (in basis points) | 87.50% | 0.35% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt repayment | 677,000,000 | 1,000,000,000 | 375,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Term of credit facility (in years) | 5 | 3 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cancellation of credit facility | 600,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Annualized interest rate including LIBOR (as a percent) | 1.67% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt instrument base interest rate | LIBOR | LIBOR | LIBOR | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt Instrument, Variable Rate | 13.80% | 1.38% | 2.50% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Repurchase of debt held by PEPS I | 47,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred financing cost amortization | $ 2,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||