* Willis Q3 profit more than doubles

* Helped by higher revenue, offsetting rising expenses

* Adjusted per shr profit beats Wall St view

(Adds financial detail, analyst estimate)

NEW YORK, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Willis Group Holdings (WSH.N: Quote, Profile, Research), the world's third largest insurance broker, said on Monday that quarterly net income more than doubled, helped by a jump in revenue, driven by its acquisition of a smaller rival.

Willis said third-quarter net earnings from continuing operations rose to $78 million, or 46 cents per share, from $36 million, or 25 cents a share, in the year-earlier quarter.

On an adjusted basis, the profit was 53 cents compared with 32 cents in the year-ago quarter. Analysts had on average expected a profit per share of about 37 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Willis recorded a 28 percent jump in commissions and fees to $714 million, offsetting lower investment income and outpacing a 25 percent increase in expenses.

The company credited much of the increase in revenue to its acquisition of U.S. competitor Hilb Rogal & Hobbs last year.