Marsh & McLennan doubled its net income to $990m (€759.9m) last year and boosted bonuses for employees who remained loyal through the insurer's recent restructuring and the pending sale of its troubled Putnam Investments unit.

Marsh & McLennan, the US insurer that owns Putnam as well as consultancy Mercer Human Resources, reinsurer Guy Carpenter and security firm Kroll, raked in net income of $990m in 2006, more than double the $404m the firm earned in 2005.