The company, which advises mainly on risk management and employee benefits insurance, said it was on track to achieve full-year business and financial objectives, despite headwinds which were expected to bite through the period.

JLT pointed to challenges including insurance and reinsurance rating pressure, slowing economic growth and weak energy and commodity prices.

The company said exceptional costs in the year would include 22 million pounds for a concluded litigation with Willis and 12 million pounds for the cost of restructuring its UK employee benefits business.

(Reporting by Noor Zainab Hussain, editing by Sinead Cruise)