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NEW YORK, February 2, 2009 — Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (MMC) today said it has purchased the remaining 49% stake in the firm Companias DeLima S.A., headquartered in Cali, Colombia, from the company's minority partners. The transaction gives MMC full ownership of the firm, allowing it to expand the business already conducted in the country through its Marsh, Mercer and Guy Carpenter operating units.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Under the agreement, Ernesto de Lima will continue as Chairman of the Board of DeLima Marsh, the insurance unit of Companias DeLima. Jorge Alberto Uribe will also maintain his current involvement with the company. Gonzalo Sanin will continue as Chief Executive Officer, managing DeLima Marsh's day-to-day operations.

Companias DeLima has approximately 1,000 employees in Colombia, in locations including Bogota, Cali and Medellin. DeLima Marsh is the largest insurance broker in Colombia.

In June 1999, Marsh, then operating as J&H Marsh & McLennan, Inc., purchased a majority interest (51%) in Companias DeLima, and merged the two companies' insurance businesses in Colombia to form DeLima Marsh. The remaining reinsurance and human resources practices of Companias DeLima were absorbed into the businesses of Marsh & McLennan companies, Mercer and Guy Carpenter. Prior to the 1999 acquisition, Companias DeLima was a correspondent for Marsh for more than 40 years.

"Since purchasing a majority stake in DeLima in 1999, our business in Colombia has flourished, demonstrating significant growth and profitability," said Alexander S. Moczarski, President of Marsh International. "Completing this purchase now is a logical next step that will allow us to focus on new development opportunities, as well as achieve synergies and streamline our processes to more efficiently serve our clients."

Thomaz L. C. Menezes, Region Head of Latin America and Caribbean operations for Marsh, added, "Over the past several years, Colombia has become one of the fastest-growing markets in Latin America and has emerged as a key strategic location for MMC's presence in the region. Full ownership of DeLima, with its strong local reputation and employees of the highest caliber, further solidifies MMC's position in this market."

"The partnership between Marsh and DeLima has been a long and mutually beneficial one," said Ernesto de Lima, who founded Companias DeLima in Colombia in 1953. "With the support and global reach of MMC, DeLima was able to make important strides in Colombia, helping to solidify its position as the country's leading insurance broker. We look forward to the next step in our relationship with MMC."

MMC is a global professional services firm providing advice and solutions in the areas of risk, strategy and human capital. It is the parent company of a number of the world's leading risk experts and specialty consultants, including Marsh, the insurance broker and risk advisor; Guy Carpenter, the risk and reinsurance specialist; Mercer, the provider of HR and related financial advice and services; Oliver Wyman, the management consultancy; and Kroll, the risk consulting firm. With more than 55,000 employees worldwide and annual revenue exceeding $11 billion, MMC provides analysis, advice and transactional capabilities to clients in more than 100 countries. Its stock (ticker symbol: MMC) is listed on the New York, Chicago, and London stock exchanges. MMC's website address is www.mmc.com.