Watson Wyatt Eyes Brans & Co

Watson to Reacquire Partner: Washington HR consultancy Watson Wyatt Worldwide plans to acquire its partner in the Netherlands sometime during the first quarter of 2007, according to the Washington Business Journal. Although declining to release details of the proposed transaction, Watson Wyatt’s acquisition of Watson Wyatt Brans & Co.—created when its Dutch office merged with Dutch actuarial consultant Brans & Co. for $37 million in 1999—continues a string of deals. Last summer it bought boutique compensation company Briggs & Sands, while in 2005 it acquired Davis, Conder, Enderle & Sloan, a Chicago-based actuarial and retirement benefits consulting firm.