Watching from Chicago as its arch-rival Marsh takes a caning from the New York Attorney-General, the media and investors, No 2 broker Aon has moved quickly to ban contingent commissions from underwriters.

Aon admits it received $US200 million in such payments last year.

No 3 broker Willis also says it will immediately end the use of contingent commission arrangements with insurers in North America and elsewhere as soon as possible. Willis Chairman and CEO Joe Plumeri says there is no evidence at Willis of bid-rigging with insurers or of so-called “tie-in” deals whereby placements with insurers are linked to sales of treaty reinsurance contracts.