Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Operations: Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (the "Company”), a global professional services firm, is organized based on the different services that it offers. Under this organizational structure, the Company’s two business segments are Risk and Insurance Services and Consulting.

The Risk and Insurance Services segment provides risk management activities and insurance broking, reinsurance broking and insurance program management services for businesses, public entities, insurance companies, associations, professional services organizations, and private clients. The Company conducts business in this segment through Marsh and Guy Carpenter.

The Company conducts business in its Consulting segment through two main business groups. Mercer provides consulting expertise, advice, services and solutions in the areas of health, retirement, talent and investments. Oliver Wyman Group provides specialized management and economic and brand consulting services.

Acquisitions impacting the Risk and Insurance Services and Consulting segments are discussed in Note 4 below.

Principles of Consolidation: The accompanying consolidated financial statements include all wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries. All significant inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated.

Fiduciary Assets and Liabilities: In its capacity as an insurance broker or agent, the Company generally collects premiums from insureds and, after deducting its commissions, remits the premiums to the respective insurance underwriters. The Company also collects claims or refunds from underwriters on behalf of insureds. Unremitted insurance premiums and claims proceeds are held by the Company in a fiduciary capacity. Risk and Insurance Services revenue includes interest on fiduciary funds of $21 million, $24 million and $27 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The Consulting segment recorded fiduciary interest income of $4 million, $6 million and $5 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Since fiduciary assets are not available for corporate use, they are shown in the consolidated balance sheets as an offset to fiduciary liabilities.

Net uncollected premiums and claims and the related payables were $6.9 billion and $7.3 billion at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Company is not a principal to the contracts under which the right to receive premiums or the right to receive reimbursement of insured losses arises. Net uncollected premiums and claims and the related payables are, therefore, not assets and liabilities of the Company and are not included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

In certain instances, the Company advances premiums, refunds or claims to insurance underwriters or insureds prior to collection. These advances are made from corporate funds and are reflected in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as receivables.

Mercer manages approximately $21 billion of assets in trusts or funds for which Mercer’s management or trustee fee is considered a variable interest. Mercer is not the primary beneficiary of these trusts or funds. Mercer’s only variable interest in any of these trusts or funds is its unpaid fees, if any. Mercer’s maximum exposure to loss of its interests is, therefore, limited to collection of its fees.

Revenue: Risk and Insurance Services revenue includes insurance commissions, fees for services rendered and interest income on certain fiduciary funds. Insurance commissions and fees for risk transfer services generally are recorded as of the effective date of the applicable policies or, in certain cases (primarily in the Company's reinsurance broking operations), as of the effective date or billing date, whichever is later. A reserve for policy cancellation is provided based on historic and current data on cancellations. Consideration for fee arrangements covering multiple insurance placements, the provision of risk management and/or other services are allocated to all deliverables on the basis of their relative selling prices. Fees for non-risk transfer services provided to clients are recognized over the period in which the services are provided, using a proportional performance model. Fees resulting from achievement of certain performance thresholds are recorded when such levels are attained and such fees are not subject to forfeiture.

Consulting revenue includes fees paid by clients for advice and services and commissions from insurance companies for the placement of individual and group contracts. Fee revenue for engagements where remuneration is based on time plus out-of-pocket expenses is recognized based on the amount of time consulting professionals expend on the engagement. For fixed fee engagements, revenue is recognized using a proportional performance model. Revenue from insurance commissions not subject to a fee arrangement is recorded over the effective period of the applicable policies. Revenue for asset based fees is recognized on an accrual basis by applying the daily/monthly rate as contractually agreed with the client to the applicable net asset value. On a limited number of engagements, performance fees may also be earned for achieving certain prescribed performance criteria. Such fees are recognized when the performance criteria have been achieved and, when required, agreed to by the client. Reimbursable expenses incurred by professional staff in the generation of revenue and sub-advisory fees related to the majority of funds in the investment management business are included in revenue and the related expenses are included in other operating expenses.

Cash and Cash Equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents primarily consist of certificates of deposit and time deposits, with original maturities of three months or less, and money market funds. The estimated fair value of the Company's cash and cash equivalents approximates their carrying value. The Company is required to maintain operating funds primarily related to regulatory requirements outside the U.S. or as collateral under captive insurance arrangements. At December 31, 2015, the Company maintained $209 million related to these regulatory requirements.

Fixed Assets: Fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Expenditures for improvements are capitalized. Upon sale or retirement, the cost and related accumulated depreciation and amortization are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is reflected in income. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred.

Depreciation of buildings, building improvements, furniture, and equipment is provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of these assets. Furniture and equipment is depreciated over periods ranging from three to ten years. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the periods covered by the applicable leases or the estimated useful life of the improvement, whichever is less. Buildings are depreciated over periods ranging from thirty to forty years. The Company periodically reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes indicate that the carrying value of assets may not be recoverable.

The components of fixed assets are as follows:



December 31,
(In millions of dollars)	2015			2014
Furniture and equipment	$	1,133		$	1,193
Land and buildings	396			401
Leasehold and building improvements	865			854
	2,394			2,448
Less-accumulated depreciation and amortization	(1,621		)	(1,639		)
	$	773		$	809

Investments: The Company holds investments in private companies and private equity funds.

Investments in private equity funds are accounted for under the equity method of accounting using a consistently applied three-month lag period adjusted for any known significant changes from the lag period to the reporting date of the Company. The underlying private equity funds follow investment company accounting, where investments within the fund are carried at fair value. The Company records in earnings, investment gains/losses for its proportionate share of the change in fair value of the funds. Investments using the equity method of accounting are included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets.

As part of the sale of MMC Capital in 2005, the Company retained the rights to receive certain performance fees related to the Trident II and Trident III private equity partnerships. The Company recognizes performance fee income when such fees are no longer subject to forfeiture, which may take a number of years to resolve. This income is based on the investment performance over the life of each investment in the private equity fund, and future declines in the fund performance from current levels may result in forfeiture of such revenue. Since Trident II fully harvested all its portfolio investments and made final distributions to its partners in 2013, the Company no longer holds any rights to Trident II performance fees. In 2015, the Company recorded investment income of $38 million compared to $37 million in 2014 and $69 million in 2013. The Company recorded investment income related to its general partner carried interest from Trident III no longer subject to clawback of $29 million, $31 million and $41 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. In 2013, the Company recorded $15 million of general partner carried interest from Trident II. Stonepoint Capital, the investment manager of Trident III, harvested its remaining two investments in Trident III in the third quarter of 2015, which resulted in the Company recognizing its remaining deferred performance fees.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets: Goodwill represents acquisition costs in excess of the fair value of net assets acquired. Goodwill is reviewed at least annually for impairment. The Company performs an annual impairment test for each of its reporting units during the third quarter of each year. When a step 1 test is performed, fair values of the reporting units are estimated using either a market approach or a discounted cash flow model. Carrying values for the reporting units are based on balances at the prior quarter end and include directly identified assets and liabilities as well as an allocation of those assets and liabilities not recorded at the reporting unit level. As discussed in Note 6, the Company may elect to assess qualitative factors to determine if a step 1 test is necessary. Other intangible assets, which primarily consist of customer lists that are not deemed to have an indefinite life, are amortized over their estimated lives, typically ranging from 10 to 15 years, and reviewed for impairment upon the occurrence of certain triggering events in accordance with applicable accounting literature. The Company had no indefinite lived identified intangible assets at December 31, 2015 and 2014.

Capitalized Software Costs: The Company capitalizes certain costs to develop, purchase or modify software for the internal use of the Company. These costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over periods ranging from 3 to 10 years. Costs incurred during the preliminary project stage and post implementation stage, are expensed as incurred. Costs incurred during the application development stage are capitalized. Costs related to updates and enhancements are only capitalized if they will result in additional functionality. Capitalized computer software costs of $498 million and $501 million, net of accumulated amortization of $958 million and $837 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, are included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets.

Legal and Other Loss Contingencies: The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to a significant number of claims, lawsuits and proceedings including claims for errors and omissions ("E&O"). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP") requires that a liability be recorded when a loss is both probable and reasonably estimable. Significant management judgment is required to apply this guidance. The Company utilizes case level reviews by inside and outside counsel, an internal actuarial analysis and other analysis to estimate potential losses. The liability is reviewed quarterly and adjusted as developments warrant. In many cases, the Company has not recorded a liability, other than for legal fees to defend the claim, because we are unable, at the present time, to make a determination that a loss is both probable and reasonably estimable. Given the unpredictability of E&O claims and of litigation that could flow from them, it is possible that an adverse outcome in a particular matter could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s businesses, results of operations, financial condition or cash flow in a given quarterly or annual period.

In addition, to the extent that insurance coverage is available, significant management judgment is required to determine the amount of recoveries that are probable of collection under the Company’s various insurance programs.

The legal and other contingent liabilities described above are not discounted.

Income Taxes: The Company's effective tax rate reflects its income, statutory tax rates and tax planning in the various jurisdictions in which it operates. Significant judgment is required in determining the annual effective tax rate and in evaluating uncertain tax positions and the ability to realize deferred tax assets.

The Company records a liability for unrecognized tax benefits resulting from uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The evaluation of a tax position is a two-step process. The first step involves recognition. The Company determines whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon tax examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation, based on only the technical merits of the position. The technical merits of a tax position derive from both statutory and judicial authority (legislation and statutes, legislative intent, regulations, rulings, and case law) and their applicability to the facts and circumstances of the tax position. If a tax position does not meet the more likely than not recognition threshold, the benefit of that position is not recognized in the financial statements. The second step is measurement. A tax position that meets the more likely than not recognition threshold is measured to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the financial statements. The tax position is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely to be realized upon ultimate resolution with a taxing authority. Uncertain tax positions are evaluated based upon the facts and circumstances that exist at each reporting period. Subsequent changes in judgment based upon new information may lead to changes in recognition, de-recognition, and measurement. Adjustments may result, for example, upon resolution of an issue with the taxing authorities, or expiration of a statute of limitations barring an assessment for an issue. The Company recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense.

Tax law requires items to be included in the Company's tax returns at different times than the items are reflected in the financial statements. As a result, the annual tax expense reflected in the consolidated statements of income is different than that reported in the income tax returns. Some of these differences are permanent, such as expenses that are not deductible in the returns, and some differences are temporary and reverse over time, such as depreciation expense. Temporary differences create deferred tax assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets generally represent items that can be used as a tax deduction or credit in tax returns in future years for which benefit has already been recorded in the financial statements. Valuation allowances are established for deferred tax assets when it is estimated that future taxable income will be insufficient to use a deduction or credit in that jurisdiction. Deferred tax liabilities generally represent tax expense recognized in the financial statements for which payment has been deferred, or expense for which a deduction has been taken already in the tax return but the expense has not yet been recognized in the financial statements.

Derivative Instruments: All derivatives, whether designated in hedging relationships or not, are recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. If the derivative is designated as a fair value hedge, the changes in the fair value of the derivative and of the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk are recognized in earnings. The fair value of the derivative is recorded in the consolidated balance sheet in other receivables or accounts payable and accrued liabilities. The change in the fair value of a derivative is recorded in the consolidated statement of income in other operating expenses. If the derivative is designated as a cash flow hedge, the effective portions of changes in the fair value of the derivative are recorded in other comprehensive income and are recognized in the income statement when the hedged item affects earnings. Changes in the fair value attributable to the ineffective portion of cash flow hedges are recognized in earnings.

Concentrations of Credit Risk: Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, commissions and fees receivable and insurance recoverable. The Company maintains a policy providing for the diversification of cash and cash equivalent investments and places its investments in a large number of high quality financial institutions to limit the amount of credit risk exposure. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to receivables are generally limited due to the large number of clients and markets in which the Company does business, as well as the dispersion across many geographic areas.

Per Share Data: Basic net income per share attributable to the Company and income from continuing operations per share are calculated by dividing the respective after-tax income attributable to common shares by the weighted average number of outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock.

Diluted net income per share attributable to the Company and income from continuing operations per share are calculated by dividing the respective after-tax income attributable to common shares by the weighted average number of outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, which have been adjusted for the dilutive effect of potentially issuable common shares. Reconciliations of the applicable income components used for diluted EPS - Continuing Operations and basic weighted average common shares outstanding to diluted weighted average common shares outstanding are presented below. The reconciling items related to the calculation of diluted weighted average common shares outstanding are the same for net income attributable to the Company.



Basic and Diluted EPS Calculation - Continuing Operations
(In millions, except per share figures)	2015		2014		2013
Net income from continuing operations	$	1,636	$	1,471	$	1,379
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	37		32		28
	$	1,599	$	1,439	$	1,351
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding	531		545		549
Dilutive effect of potentially issuable common shares	5		8		9
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding	536		553		558
Average stock price used to calculate common stock equivalents	$	56.27	$	51.15	$	40.97

There were 14.8 million, 18.0 million and 22.6 million stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Estimates: GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may vary from those estimates.

New Accounting Pronouncements: In September 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued new guidance intended to simplify the accounting for adjustments made to provisional amounts recognized in business combinations. The guidance requires the acquirer to recognize adjustments to estimated amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustments are determined, and to record, in the same period's financial statements, the effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization, or other income effects, if any, as a result of the change to the estimated amounts, calculated as if the accounting had been completed as of the acquisition date. The guidance also includes additional disclosures required for the amounts recorded in current period earnings arising from such adjustments. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The guidance should be applied prospectively for adjustments to provisional amounts after the effective date, with earlier application permitted for financial statements that have not been issued. The adoption of this new guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements.

In May 2015, the FASB issued new guidance which removes the requirement to present certain investments for which the practical expedient is used to measure fair value at net asset value within the fair value hierarchy table. Instead, an entity would be required to include those investments as a reconciling item so that the total fair value amount of investments in the disclosure is consistent with the fair value investment balance on the statement of net assets. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015. The adoption of this new guidance will affect footnote disclosure and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements.

In February 2015, the FASB issued new accounting guidance intended to improve targeted areas of consolidation guidance for legal entities such as limited partnerships, limited liability corporations and securitization structures. The guidance focuses on the consolidation evaluation for reporting organizations that are required to evaluate whether they should consolidate certain legal entities. The guidance is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements.

In January 2015, the FASB issued new accounting guidance that eliminated the concept of extraordinary items. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The guidance may be adopted prospectively, or retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. Early adoption is permitted provided the guidance is applied from the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. Adoption of the guidance is not expected to materially affect the Company's financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

In June 2014, the FASB issued new accounting guidance to clarify the treatment of share-based payment awards that require a specific performance target to be achieved in order for employees to be eligible to vest in the awards which include terms that may provide that the performance conditions could be achieved after an employee completes the requisite service period. The guidance requires that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. As such, a reporting entity should apply the existing guidance as it relates to awards with performance conditions that affect vesting. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Earlier adoption is permitted. Adoption of the guidance is not expected to materially affect the Company's financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

In May 2014, the FASB issued new accounting guidance to clarify the principles for revenue recognition. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve that principle, the entity should apply the following steps: identify the contract(s) with the customer, identify the performance obligations in the contract(s), determine the transaction price, allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract and recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early application is not permitted. Entities are permitted to adopt the guidance under one of the following methods: retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented (with certain practical expedients allowed) or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying the guidance recognized at the date of initial application. If an entity elects this transition method, it must provide disclosures in reporting periods that include the date of initial application of the amount by which each financial statement line item is affected in the current reporting period by application of the guidance as compared to guidance that was in effect before the change, and an explanation for the reasons for significant changes. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of the guidance on its financial condition and results of operations.

New Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted

In November 2015, the FASB issued a new standard related to the balance sheet classification of deferred taxes ("deferred tax standard"), which simplifies the presentation of deferred income taxes. The deferred tax standard requires companies to classify deferred tax assets and liabilities as noncurrent in the consolidated balance sheet. The previous standard required companies to classify deferred tax assets and liabilities as current and noncurrent. The deferred tax standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is permitted for any interim and annual financial statements that have not yet been issued. Effective December 31, 2015, the Company early adopted the deferred tax standard retrospectively, as a change in accounting principle. The impact of this change on the Company's prior years Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows is shown in the table below. The adoption of this standard had no impact on our results of operations.

In April 2015, the FASB issued a new standard related to the presentation of debt issuance costs ("debt issuance costs standard"). The debt issuance cost standard requires debt issuance costs related to recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The previous standard required these debt issuance costs be classified as an asset and amortized ratably over the life of the debt. The debt issuance cost standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is permitted for any interim and annual financial statements that have not yet been issued. The Company has elected to early adopt the debt issuance costs standard, effective December 31, 2015. The adoption of the debt issuance costs standard had no impact on our results of operations. This guidance is effective on a retrospective basis, as a change in accounting principle. The impact of this change on the Company's prior years Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows is shown in the table below.



	2014
Consolidated Balance Sheet	As Previously Reported			Change in Deferred Tax Presentation			Change in Prepaid Debt Fees Presentation			As Amended
Current deferred tax asset	$	521		$	(521	)	$	—		$	—
Other current assets	199			—			(1		)	198
Total current assets	6,055			(521		)	(1		)	5,533
Deferred tax assets	876			482			—			1,358
Other assets	1,200			—			(7		)	1,193
Total assets	17,840			(39		)	(8		)	17,793
Accrued income taxes	178			(28		)	—			150
Total current liabilities	3,705			(28		)	—			3,677
Long-term debt	3,376			—			(8		)	3,368
Other liabilities	1,041			(11		)	—			1,030
Total liabilities and equity	$	17,840		$	(39	)	$	(8	)	$	17,793

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Other current assets	$	(32	)	$	39		$	1		$	8
Other assets	25			(18		)	6			13
Accrued income taxes	43			(10		)	—			33
Other liabilities	(185		)	(11		)	—			(196		)
Net cash provided by operations	2,112			—			7			2,119
Proceeds from debt	1,393			—			(7		)	1,386
Net cash used for financing activities	$	(961	)	$	—		$	(7	)	$	(968	)



	2013
	As Previously Reported			Change in Deferred Tax Presentation			As Amended
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Other current assets	$	(70	)	$	71		$	1
Other assets	(75		)	(66		)	(141		)
Accrued income taxes	43			—			43
Other liabilities	13			(5		)	8
Net cash provided by operations	1,341			—			1,341
Proceeds from debt	547			—			547
Net cash used for financing activities	$	(834	)	$	—		$	(834	)

In April 2014, the FASB issued new accounting guidance which changes the criteria for reporting discontinued operations and enhances disclosures in this area. Under the new guidance, only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations, such as disposal of a major geographic area or a major line of business, should be presented as discontinued operations. Those strategic shifts should have a major impact on the organization's operations and financial results. In addition, the new guidance requires expanded disclosures about discontinued operations. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014. Adoption of the guidance did not have a material affect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Reclassifications

In addition to the above changes, reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform with current year separate presentation of goodwill and other intangible assets in the consolidated balance sheets.