Decision Nº M/04/045 from Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, 2004-09-03

• Jurisdiction: Ireland
• Parties: Willis Group Holdings Limited,Coyle Hamilton Holdings Limited
• Date: 03 September 2004
• Decision Date: 03 September 2004
• Status: Preliminary investigation (Phase 1)
• Court: Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (Ireland)
• Decision Number: M/04/045

1

Determination No. M/04/045 of the Competition Authority, dated 3rd September

2004, under Section 21 of the Competition Act, 2002

Notification No. M/04/045 – Acquisition by Willis Group Holdings Limited of

Coyle Hamilton Holdings Limited

Introduction

1. On 4th August 2004 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 Willis Group Holdings Limited (“Willis”) would acquire

51.7% of Coyle Hamilton Holdings Limited (“Coyle Hamilton”). Pursuant to the

agreement between the parties, Willis will subsequently acquire the remaining

48.3% of Coyle Hamilton’s issued share capital.

The Parties

2. Willis is one of the world’s leading risk management and insurance

intermediaries. In the State, Willis carries on business through Willis Insurance

Services (Ireland) Limited (“Willis Insurance”) and Willis Risk Management

(Ireland) Limited (“Willis Risk Management”). Willis Insurance provides

insurance broking and consultancy services. Willis Risk Management provides

risk management and safety consultancy advice.

3. Coyle Hamilton is incorporated in Ireland and provides non-life insurance

broking in the insurance segments comprising motor insurance, property

insurance, liability insurance (including employer’s, public, products and

professional) and other insurance (including personal accident insurance, travel

insurance, accident and sickness insurance, marine transit insurance, credit

insurance, miscellaneous financial loss insurance). In addition, Coyle Hamilton

provides related risk assessment consultancy services, provided through one of its

subsidiaries Loss Control Services Limited, which trades as “Nifast”. It also

offers re-insurance distribution services and life assurance and pension

distribution services.

Analysis

4. The parties’ activities overlap in the provision of non-life insurance broking, re-

insurance distribution, risk management consultancy services and life assurance

and pension distribution. For each of these activities the parties combined shares

vary but do not exceed [10-20%]. For each activity there is sufficient

competitive constraints on the merged entity. For non-life insurance distribution

the principal competitors include AON and Marsh. In addition there are a

number of other providers who offer some or all aspects of non-life insurance

broking including Wright’s, AA Insurance Services, Culletons, McCarthy’s, JTL

and Frank Glennon. In addition there are hundreds of other brokers and a