Under the name Marsh & McLennan Companies (MMC), Marsh has existed since 1871 and has been a pioneer in risk and insurance services for over 130 years.

Throughout, we have demonstrated our industry leadership in numerous ways.

• We introduced the concept of the insurance broker acting as a buyer of insurance on behalf of clients, rather than as a seller of insurance. Today, we continue to add new value for clients through innovative insurance programmes and efficient placement processes.

• We pioneered the concept of self-insurance, with associated risk management actions to mitigate exposures. In 2005, our Risk Consulting Practice in the UK was named as the best risk management service provider by large UK companies.

• We were the first broker to send risk experts to a catastrophe site - San Francisco in the aftermath of the earthquake. We are leaders today in evaluating catastrophe risk for clients and using the latest catastrophe modelling techniques.

• We arranged the first 'space-bound' life insurance coverage for Mercury astronauts. Currently, Marsh has the largest Aviation account world-wide.

• We introduced a suite of merger and acquisition solutions covering tax opinions, representations and warranties, and litigation buyouts to facilitate transactions and enhance their value. In 2005, our market-leading Private Equity and Mergers & Acquisitions (PEMA) Practice were advisers to over 400 deals in Europe.

In the UK, Marsh has grown both organically and through strategic acquisitions that have strengthened our expertise and resources.

• In 1980, Marsh acquired C.T. Bowring & Co in the UK.

• In 1997, we merged with Johnson & Higgins, further strengthening the Company's leadership in risk and insurance services.

• In 1998, we acquired the UK-based Sedgwick Group.