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{{Use British English|date=September 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2012}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Willis Group Holdings plc
| logo =Willis logo.png
| type = [[subsidiary]]
| traded_as =
| foundation = {{Start date|df=yes|1828}} (London)
| location = [[London]], United Kingdom
| key_people = Dominic Casserley<br>(CEO)
| industry = [[Insurance broker]]
| num_employees = 18,000
| products = Insurance, [[Risk management]],<br/>[[Human resource consulting]]
| revenue = $3.8 billion (2014)
| operating_income = $647 million (2014)
| net_income = $362 million (2014)
| homepage = [http://www.willis.com/ willis.com]
|parent = [[Willis Towers Watson]]}}
'''Willis Group Holdings plc''' is a [[Multinational corporation|multinational]] risk advisor, [[insurance broker]]age and [[reinsurance]] brokerage company with its headquarters in the [[Willis Building (London)|Willis Building]] in London. It is the world's fourth-largest insurance broker when measured by revenues.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/3e10faa8#/3e10faa8/74|title=Top Global Insurance Brokers|accessdate=13 July 2015}}</ref> Willis has around 400 offices in 120 countries and approximately 18,000 employees.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://phx.corporate-ir.net/External.File?item=UGFyZW50SUQ9NTc1MjR8Q2hpbGRJRD0tMXxUeXBlPTM=&t=1 |title=Willis Group Holdings Fact Book| accessdate=21 August 2010|publisher=Willis Group Holdings}}</ref>

Willis was previously listed on the [[New York Stock Exchange]] before its early-2016 'merger of equals' with [[Towers Watson]]. After the deal closed, the combined company began trading on the [[Nasdaq]] exchange under the symbol, WLTW ([[Nasdaq]]: WLTW).<ref>{{cite news|last1=Tan|first1=Gillian|title=Towers Watson's Odd Choice of Words|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/gadfly/articles/2015-12-09/willis-could-still-increase-bid-for-towers-watson|accessdate=7 May 2016|work=BloombergGadfly|date=9 Dec 2015}}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Willis Building (London).jpg|thumb|left|upright|The [[Willis Building (London)|Willis Building]] in London]]
The company was founded by Henry Willis in London in 1828, and initially operated as ''Henry Willis & Co.''<ref name=history>[http://www.willis.com/About_Willis/History/ Willis: History]</ref> In 1898 it merged with ''Faber Brothers'' (founded in 1886) to form ''Willis Faber'',<ref name=history/> and then in 1928 it merged with ''Dumas & Wylie'' (founded in 1843) to create ''Willis, Faber & Dumas''.<ref name=history/> It was first listed on the [[London Stock Exchange]] in 1976 as ''Willis Faber''.<ref name=history/>

It expanded into the United States in 1990 when it merged with ''Corroon & Black'' (founded as ''R. A. Corroon & Co.'' in 1905) to form the ''Willis Corroon Group''.<ref name=history/> In 1998 in a [[leveraged buyout]] the Company was acquired by ''Trinity Acquisition'' on behalf of [[Kohlberg Kravis Roberts]],<ref name=history/> and in 1999 the name ''Willis Group'' was adopted.<ref name=history/> It was first listed on the [[New York Stock Exchange]] in 2001.<ref name=history/>

In October 2008, Willis acquired ''[[Hilb, Rogal & Hobbs Co.]]'' (HRH), one of the largest insurance and risk management intermediaries in North America and this has boosted their North American presence, as well as acquired Glencairn Limited which has augmented its Lloyd's of London Market strength.<ref>[http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/jun2008/db2008068_039462.htm Insurance broker Willis to buy HRH], ''[[Business Week]]'', June 2008</ref>

Willis announced plans in 2009 to relocate its registered office from [[Bermuda]] to Ireland.<ref>[http://www.willis.com/Media_Room/Press_Releases_(Browse_All)/2009/20090921_Willis_Redomestication_Press_Release_-_FINAL/ Willis Proposes Change in Place of Incorporation to Ireland], Press Release</ref> Its shareholders approved the move in December 2009, and the company announced on 31 December 2009, that its reorganisation has been completed and the new parent company of the Willis Group – known as Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company – is incorporated in Ireland.<ref>[http://www.willis.com/Investor_Relations/Financial_Press_Releases_%28Browse_All%29/2009/20091231_Willis_Completes_Change_in_Place_of_Incorporation_to_Ireland_31-12-2009/ "Willis Investor Relations"], 31 December 2009</ref><ref>[https://www.cnbc.com/id/34380843 "Willis Group holders agree to move co. to Ireland"], [[Associated Press]], 11 December 2009. Retrieved 17 December 2009</ref>

== Merger ==
{{Main|Willis Towers Watson}}On June 30, 2015, Willis Group announced it would merge with [[Towers Watson]] to create [[Willis Towers Watson]]. The combined company operates in 120 countries, with a workforce of approximately 39,000 employees, revenues of $8.2 billion<ref>[http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150630005494/en/Willis-Group-Towers-Watson-Announce-Merger-Create#.VZJ5xeMayc3 "Willis Group and Towers Watson Announce Merger to Create Leading Global Advisory, Broking and Solutions Firm"], 30 June 2015.</ref> and a value of $18 billion.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.cnbc.com/id/102789583|title = Willis and Towers Watson to merge in $18B deal|accessdate = 30 August 2010|publisher = CNBC}}</ref> The merger was concluded on 5 January 2016 after all regulatory approvals were received.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.pionline.com/article/20150713/PRINT/307139974/towers-watson-willis-merger-to-combine-strengths|title = Towers Watson, Willis merger to combine strengths|date = 2015-07-13|accessdate = 2015-09-07|website = Pensions & Investments|publisher = [[Crain Communications, Inc.]]|last = Comtois|first = James}}</ref>

==Buildings==
[[File:KM 6167 sears tower august 2007 D.jpg|thumb|right|130px|The [[Willis Tower]] in Chicago]]
Willis moved into the [[Willis Building (London)|Willis Building]], its new London headquarters, in May 2008.<ref>[http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=2283 Crunch? And the Willis building is sold],'' World Architecture News'', 13 May 2008</ref>

The [[Willis Building (Ipswich)|Willis Building]] in [[Ipswich]], England, is one of the earliest buildings designed by [[Norman Foster, Baron Foster of Thames Bank|Norman Foster]] after establishing [[Foster and Partners|Foster Associates]]. Constructed between 1970 and 1975 it is now seen as a landmark in the development of the 'high tech' architectural style. It is one of the youngest buildings to be given [[Grade I listed building]] status in Britain.<ref>{{cite web | title=Pioneering management guidelines for modern listed buildings | url=http://ihbc.org.uk/context_archive/47/williscarroon.htm |publisher=Context | date = September 1995}}</ref>

The 108-story Sears Tower in Chicago was renamed the [[Willis Tower]] in July 2009. Willis secured the naming rights as part of its agreement to lease {{convert|140000|sqft|m2|sigfig=2}} of space in the {{convert|3800000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} tower.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/16/willis-tower-becomes-offi_n_235939.html "Willis Tower Becomes Official: Sears Tower Renamed"], ''[[Huffington Post]]'', 17 July 2009</ref> It was the world's tallest building from 1974 until 1998, when it was surpassed by the [[Petronas Towers]] in [[Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=e1vL7GVGBRAC&pg=PA125&dq=%22Willis+Group+Holdings%22&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=100&as_brr=3&cd=14&v=onepage&q=%22Willis%20Group%20Holdings%22&f=false ''Fodor's Chicago 2010''], p. 125, Stephanie Butler, Kelly Kealy, Alexis Kelly, [[Random House]], Inc., 2009, {{ISBN|1-4000-0860-3}}. Retrieved 17 December 2009</ref>

==Operations==

Willis has 400 offices in more than 100 countries.<ref>[http://www.willis.com/About_Willis/The_Willis_Way/ Willis: The Willis Way]</ref>

==Sponsorship==
Willis Group is sponsor of The [[Willis Resilience Expedition]], a scientific program in [[Antarctica]] to better understand our changing climate and build resilience to weather-related risk.<ref name=five>[http://www.travelbite.co.uk/holiday-ideas/2013/09/30/five-minutes-with-teenage-polar-explorer-parker-liautaud Five minutes with...teen polar explorer Parker Liautaud] Travel Bite, 30 September 2013</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|London|Companies}}
*[[Marsh & McLennan Companies]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.willis.com/ Official website]

[[Category:Companies formerly listed on the New York Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:British companies established in 1828]]
[[Category:Financial services companies based in the City of London‎]]
[[Category:Insurance companies of the United Kingdom]]

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Rathfelder: removed Category:Companies based in London; added Category:Financial services companies based in the City of London‎ using HotCat