Decision Nº M/03/006 from Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, 2003-04-03

• Jurisdiction: Ireland
• Decision Date: 03 April 2003
• Decision Number: M/03/006
• Date: 03 April 2003
• Parties: Oliver Wyman,Mercer
• Court: Competition and Consumer Protection Commission

Determination of the Competition Authority

Determination No. M/03/006 of the Competition Authority, dated 3 April 2003,

under Section 21 of the Competition Act, 2002.

Notification No. M/03/006 – Mercer Management Consulting Inc/Oliver Wyman

& Company LLC

Introduction

1. On 4 March 2003 the Competition Authority, in accordance with Section 18(1) of

the Competition Act, 2002 (“the Act”) was notified, on a mandatory basis, of a

proposal whereby Mercer Management Consulting, Inc (“Mercer MC”) will

acquire substantially all of the assets of Oliver Wyman & Company LLC

(“OWC”) including the shares of OWC’s subsidiaries in the US, the UK, Italy

and Germany.

The Parties

2. Mercer MC, the purchaser, is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of both Mercer

Inc. and Marsh McLennan & Companies (“MMC”). MMC is a global provider

of professional services and the parent company of Marsh Inc., a global risk and

insurance services firm; Putnam Investments, a global investment management

company and Mercer Inc., a global provider of consulting services (see Table A

below)*.

Table A: Ownership Structure of Mercer MC

Putnam Investments Mercer Inc.

Mercer MC

Marsh Inc.

MMC

3. In Ireland, the MMC group is active in risk and insurance consultancy; insurance

broking; management and administration services to collective investment

undertakings; consultancy services for investments, insurance and pension funds;

and human resources consulting.

4. OWC is a global strategy consulting firm. A major part of its business is finance

and risk management consultancy to the financial services industry. Its clients

are engaged in retail and corporate banking, the capital markets and the insurance

sector. OWC does not have an office in Ireland but provides some credit risk

management services in Ireland.

1