Willis Group Holdings Plc reported organic growth in the third quarter of 2012, but a lower quarterly profit with overall commissions and fees falling.The broker’s net income for the third quarter fell to $26 million, or 15 cents per share, from $60 million, or 34 cents per share, a year earlier, the company announced yesterday.“Our organic growth this quarter of two percent, which includes strong performances in a number of areas, offers encouraging signs that Willis is moving past a range of issues that have affected our comparable results quarter-over-quarter,” said Joe Plumeri, chairman and CEO of Willis Group Holdings. “While we aimed to do better, the five percent organic growth for International — aided by an impressive turnaround for our UK business and the flat results for North America — are both well improved from the prior quarter.“The organic growth of three percent for Willis Global, while demonstrating excellent performance in many areas, also highlights some of the comparables that dragged on our results broadly across Willis this quarter. These comparables and other events warrant further elaboration,” Mr Plumeri added.Total revenue fell 0.78 percent to $754 million from $760 million in the second quarter of 2011 when the company benefited from a number of one-off items that were unlikely to repeat this year.Those unusual benefits included $5 million from a reinsurance profitability initiative; $5 million from the release of funds related to potential legal liabilities; $3 million of revenues related to the previously disclosed fraudulent activity in Chicago; and net beneficial tax adjustments that were significantly higher than what was recorded this quarter.“In addition, two items outside of our operational control, declines in investment income and our associates line for Gras Savoye, deducted $3 million and $12 million, respectively, from our earnings this quarter against a year ago. Taken together, it’s important to highlight that all of these items had a significant impact on earnings in the third quarter of 2011 and created an uneven comparison from this quarter to the prior year,” Mr Plumeri added.Total expenses were up two percent year over year to $684 million, primarily due to an increase in salaries and benefits.Adjusted operating income was $82 million, down from $105 million in the same quarter of 2011.The company’s reported operating margin was 9.3 percent compared to 11.8 percent in the third quarter of last year. Adjusted operating margin was 10.9 percent compared to 13.8 percent last year.The cash and cash equivalent balance at quarter end stood at $424 million, down 2.75 percent from the end of last year.Total debt was $2.4 billion. Total equity was $2.7 billion.