Marsh & McLennan Swings To 1Q Profit; Consulting Weak

   DOW JONES NEWSWIRES 
 

Marsh & McLennan Cos. (MMC) reversed a year-earlier loss in the first quarter caused by a $425 million write-down of its Kroll security business as the insurance broker saw weaker operating results on woes at its consulting business.

Economic volatility is boosting business at Marsh & McLennan's core insurance brokerages as customers look for help managing risk, with Chief Executive Brian Duperreault in February saying the company's relative strength will help it.

But the recession has weighed on the company's other operations, such as its consulting and technology segments. Insurers are also in the midst of policy price wars because of below-average catastrophe rates.

Marsh & McLennan, one of the world's biggest insurance brokerages, reported a profit of $176 million, or 33 cents a share, compared with a prior-year loss of $210 million, or 40 cents a share. Excluding items such as the Kroll write-down, earnings fell to 40 cents a share from 45 cents.

Revenue decreased 13% to $2.63 million, or 4% on an underlying basis, which excludes acquisitions, divestitures and other impacts.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters projecting earnings of 43 cents a share on $2.95 billion in revenue.

The company's risk and insurance division, which includes its core insurance brokerage business Marsh Inc. and the Guy Carpenter unit, saw a 27% earnings increase as underlying revenue rose 1%.

Earnings excluding items at its Mercer and Oliver Wyman consulting businesses, more exposed to economic woes, were halved on reduced demand at Oliver Wyman. Underlying revenue decreased 7%.

Marsh & McLennan shares closed at $20.59 Tuesday and weren't active premarket. The stock is down 15% this year and 44% from its September highs.

-By Joan E. Solsman and Kevin Kingsbury, Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-5500; [e-mail]