Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. - MMC STOCK NEWS

Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC) has scheduled its fourth quarter financial results announcement for Thursday, January 30, 2025, before market opening. The results will be published via news release on the company's website. President and CEO John Doyle and CFO Mark McGivney will host an investor teleconference at 8:30 a.m. EST, including a question-and-answer session. The event will feature a live audio webcast accessible on marshmclennan.com, with a replay available approximately two hours after the event. While the webcast is listen-only, investors can register separately to participate in the Q&A session.

Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA) has announced the acquisition of Acumen Solutions Group , a Melville, New York-based full-service insurance agency. The acquisition strengthens MMA's presence in the Northeast region and expands its expertise in the construction, real estate, and aviation industries.

Founded in 2012, Acumen provides customized insurance programs to businesses and individuals nationwide. All Acumen employees, including President Tony D'Elia, will continue operating from the Melville, NY location. The integration aims to enhance MMA's service capabilities and provide Acumen's clients with access to a broader range of solutions and resources. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Mercer's November 2024 QuickPulse™ US Compensation Planning Survey reveals that employers plan to maintain elevated compensation budgets for 2025, with 3.3% merit increases and 3.7% total salary increases for non-unionized employees. The survey, covering over 850 US organizations, shows 69% of employers are confident in these projections.

The technology sector leads with above-average increases (3.5% merit, 3.8% total), while healthcare services reports lower figures (3.0% merit, 3.5% total). Notably, employers plan to promote 9.3% of employees in 2025, up from 8% in 2024.

The survey also highlights a growing focus on pay transparency, with 18% of companies sharing pay ranges with all employees and candidates, while 27% are considering this approach. Despite economic uncertainty, these figures demonstrate employers' continued commitment to talent investment and retention.

Credit Benchmark and Oliver Wyman have launched IRB Nexus, a credit analytics solution designed to help banks improve their internal ratings-based (IRB) models for low- and no-default portfolios. The solution aggregates over 10 million risk estimates annually from more than 40 major banks worldwide, helping financial institutions validate their IRB models and meet regulatory requirements. IRB Nexus addresses the challenge of assessing risk for portfolios lacking historical data, potentially helping banks avoid increased capital reserve requirements that could limit lending capacity.

Mercer's 2024 National Survey reveals employers are enhancing health benefits while managing rising costs. The average per-employee health insurance cost reached $16,501 in 2024, up 5% from 2023, with a projected 6% increase in 2025. Prescription drug costs rose 7.7% in 2024, driven by GLP-1 medications for diabetes and weight loss.

Notable trends include increased coverage for obesity medications (44% of large employers), IVF treatments (47% of large employers), and expanded medical plan choices. 65% of large employers now offer three or more healthcare options. Additionally, employers are focusing on cancer support, virtual primary care, and specialized health navigation services to improve care quality and accessibility.

ProSight Financial Association has released its fourth annual RMA Chief Risk Officer (CRO) Outlook Survey, revealing key banking risks for 2025. The survey, conducted with Oliver Wyman, gathered insights from 177 CROs and senior risk leaders across U.S. and Canadian banks.

Cybersecurity emerged as the top risk (63%), followed by fraud (44%), technology risk (38%), wholesale credit risk (32%), and third-party risk (32%). A significant 93% of respondents emphasized the need for banks to adapt to increased risk speed, while 84% reported facing higher regulatory standards.

The survey reflects ongoing impacts from the 2023 regional banking crisis, with institutions implementing new early warning indicators, enhanced scenario analysis, and revised crisis management plans.

Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC) has completed the acquisition of McGriff Insurance Services, integrating McGriff's 3,500 colleagues into Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA). The acquisition strengthens MMA's middle market presence and enhances its specialty and industry capabilities. McGriff, founded in 1886, is a leading U.S. provider of insurance broking and risk management services. The merger aims to deliver enhanced value to clients while maintaining McGriff's existing client relationships and service teams.

Mercer, a Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC) business, has completed the acquisition of Cardano, strengthening its position as a leading pension services provider in the UK and Netherlands. The deal includes Cardano's UK Defined Contribution Master Trust, now:pensions, expanding Mercer's DC Master Trust solutions. Over 550 Cardano employees from London, Nottingham, and Rotterdam will join Mercer. The acquisition enhances Mercer's investment solutions and advisory capabilities for institutional investors globally, though financial terms were not disclosed.

Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC) has announced the pricing of a $7.25 billion Senior Notes offering across multiple tranches with varying maturities and interest rates. The company plans to use the proceeds to partially fund the pending acquisition of McGriff Insurance Services' parent company and for general corporate purposes. The Notes offering is expected to close on November 8, 2024. Most series of Notes include a special mandatory redemption provision at 101% of principal plus accrued interest if the McGriff transaction doesn't close by an agreed date.