Net income rose to $148 million, or 94 cents a share, from $55 million, or 35 cents, a year earlier, London-based Willis said in a statement yesterday. The profit includes ?the resolution of prior-year tax matters,? Willis said.

Willis chief executive officer Joseph Plumeri has been poaching talent and clients from Marsh & McLennan Cos., the No. 1 broker, to post higher growth. Fourth-quarter revenue rose 10 percent to $621 million.

The company said it will raise its quarterly dividend 6.4 percent, to 25 cents a share. The dividend is payable on April 16 to shareholders of record on March 31. Willis trailed only Marsh & McLennan and Aon Corp. in 2005 global brokerage revenue, according to figures from Business Insurance magazine.

Willis shares fell 39 cents, or less than 1 percent, to $41.22 in New York Stock Exchange trading yesterday. They?ve gained 18 percent in the past 12 months, beating the 14 percent gain in the KBW Insurance Index. The results were released after the close of regular trading.