It’s been reported that the US Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division may not challenge Aon’s acquisition of rival Willis Towers Watson (WTW), which, after the EC related divestment package, means additional disposals to remedy any DOJ concerns is perhaps now the most likely outcome.Yesterday, our sister publication Reinsurance News commented on reports that .With simultaneous settlement talks, related to potential additional divestments or remedies we assume, said to be underway in tandem with preparations for a trial, in case it decides to challenge the deal.As we’d previously reported, it was said that , as the broker sought to get on the front-foot of negotiations.

But another report from specialist antitrust and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) publisher CTFN, cites sources claiming that even staff at the US DOJ believe that ultimately the leadership at the department will not seek to challenge the transaction.CTFN’s Diane Alter reports that staff at the US DOJ continue to have “real concerns”, which are largely related to the large corporate insurance broking segment, particularly where big multinationals buy their protection and how the coming together of Aon and Willis could impact competition there.While DOJ staff are described as “hawkish” the acting leadership there does not seem disposed to bring a case against the deal, with a more conventional approach anticipated.

It’s likely this conventional approach would involve additional divestments, some of our sources have told us, as while the package of divestments from the European Commission was significant, it has not been seen to properly address concerns over the large corporate broking market.The positive stance on the Aon and WTW merger from the European Commission, which was previously there is a remedy package agreed, is reported by CTFN as having eroded the case for the DOJ.That EC remedy package, which includes reinsurance broking unit and a package of other operations being sold to rival Gallagher, goes a long way towards satisfying concerns of the DOJ, we understand, although not as far as it wanted on the global corporate risk broking space, we’re told.

There are said to be other concerns at the US DOJ, including health benefits consulting business, private retiree health exchanges and pensions consulting and actuarial offerings in the US, according to CTFN’s report.Interestingly, a source of CTFN told the publisher that the EC is considered to have “caved” on the issue of large, global corporate risk broking, with its remedy package not resolving concerns in that segment.Which potentially puts the DOJ on the back foot, in having to find a remedy to that itself, as being the last biggest antitrust unit examining the Aon and Willis deal.

CTFN said that the DOJ is not expected to make any decision known until after the EC issues a statement on the merger, which is still slated for July.– .– .

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