SINGAPORE REGULATOR BEGINS FRESH AON-WTW MERGER REVIEW

Singapore's competition regulator has started a fresh review of the Aon and Willis Towers Watson's planned merger after identifying additional areas of potential concern following its first review. The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) started a public consultation in April. Aon notified the CCCS in relation to the supply of retirement benefits consulting services and human capital consulting services, as Aon and Willis Towers Watson overlap in supplying such services. However, after receiving information from Aon and unnamed third parties, the regulator has now identified areas for further review about the merger, this time relating to executive compensation and related consulting services. The new Singapore review is the latest regulatory obstacle to hit the Aon-Willis Towers Watson merger. In the US the Department of Justice is suing to block the merger, with Aon pressing for a court date for the lawsuit in August to address it.