-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, Hc9VxbkPqBF+NvWXqgAxtl7JMMXTwn780JiJ1HdN414i8p5JX6cCtQPtwQW1B7GH Yut3gew3eycQYT1rNVl6GQ== 0001104659-08-069209.txt : 20081107 0001104659-08-069209.hdr.sgml : 20081107 20081107161931 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001104659-08-069209 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 12 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20080930 FILED AS OF DATE: 20081107 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20081107 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: AON CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000315293 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ACCIDENT & HEALTH INSURANCE [6321] IRS NUMBER: 363051915 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-07933 FILM NUMBER: 081171657 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 200 EAST RANDOLPH STREET CITY: CHICAGO STATE: IL ZIP: 60601 BUSINESS PHONE: 3123811000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 200 EAST RANDOLPH STREET CITY: CHICAGO STATE: IL ZIP: 60601 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: COMBINED INTERNATIONAL CORP DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19870504 10-Q 1 a08-25372_110q.htm 10-Q

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

x           QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2008

 

OR

 

o         TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Commission file number 1-7933

 

Aon Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

DELAWARE

 

36-3051915

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Incorporation or Organization)

 

Identification No.)

 

 

 

200 E. RANDOLPH STREET, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

 

60601

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

(312) 381-1000

(Registrant’s Telephone Number,

Including Area Code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  YES  x  NO o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company.  See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer      x

Accelerated filer     o

Non-accelerated filer  o

Smaller reporting company   o

 

 

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  YES  o    NO  x

 

Number of shares of common stock, $1.00 par value, outstanding as of September 30, 2008:  269,782,261

 

 

 



 

Part I.  Financial Information

 

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Aon Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

 

 

 

As of

 

(millions)

 

Sept. 30, 2008

 

Dec. 31, 2007

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

$

478

 

$

584

 

Short-term investments

 

1,946

 

1,209

 

Receivables

 

1,877

 

1,996

 

Fiduciary assets

 

9,109

 

9,498

 

Other current assets

 

245

 

219

 

Assets held for sale

 

31

 

4,418

 

Total Current Assets

 

13,686

 

17,924

 

Goodwill

 

4,882

 

4,915

 

Other intangible assets

 

222

 

204

 

Fixed assets, net

 

449

 

497

 

Long-term investments

 

370

 

417

 

Other non-current assets

 

1,109

 

920

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

20,718

 

$

24,877

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Fiduciary liabilities

 

$

9,109

 

$

9,498

 

Short-term debt

 

 

252

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

1,180

 

1,416

 

Other current liabilities

 

346

 

288

 

Liabilities held for sale

 

3

 

3,028

 

Total Current Liabilities

 

10,638

 

14,482

 

Long-term debt

 

1,964

 

1,893

 

Pension, post employment and post retirement liabilities

 

1,136

 

1,251

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

1,033

 

1,030

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES

 

14,771

 

18,656

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock-$1 par value

 

361

 

361

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

3,153

 

3,064

 

Retained earnings

 

6,868

 

5,607

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(738

)

(726

)

Treasury stock at cost

 

(3,697

)

(2,085

)

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

5,947

 

6,221

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

$

20,718

 

$

24,877

 

 

See the accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

2



 

Aon Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

(millions, except per share data)

 

Sept. 30,
2008

 

Sept. 30,
2007

 

Sept. 30,
2008

 

Sept. 30,
2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commissions, fees and other

 

$

1,756

 

$

1,672

 

$

5,493

 

$

5,125

 

Investment income

 

91

 

77

 

218

 

236

 

Total revenue

 

1,847

 

1,749

 

5,711

 

5,361

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compensation and benefits

 

1,132

 

1,048

 

3,432

 

3,188

 

Other general expenses

 

425

 

397

 

1,350

 

1,228

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

49

 

48

 

157

 

141

 

Total operating expenses

 

1,606

 

1,493

 

4,939

 

4,557

 

 

 

241

 

256

 

772

 

804

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

32

 

33

 

96

 

102

 

Other income

 

(3

)

 

(9

)

(29

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before provision for income tax

 

212

 

223

 

685

 

731

 

Provision for income tax

 

59

 

93

 

191

 

262

 

Income from continuing operations

 

153

 

130

 

494

 

469

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations

 

(55

)

88

 

1,445

 

261

 

Provision for (benefit from) income tax

 

(19

)

14

 

471

 

73

 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

(36

)

74

 

974

 

188

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

117

 

$

204

 

$

1,468

 

$

657

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic net income (loss) per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

$

0.56

 

$

0.44

 

$

1.70

 

$

1.59

 

Discontinued operations

 

(0.13

)

0.25

 

3.37

 

0.63

 

Net income

 

$

0.43

 

$

0.69

 

$

5.07

 

$

2.22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted net income (loss) per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

$

0.52

 

$

0.41

 

$

1.62

 

$

1.47

 

Discontinued operations

 

(0.12

)

0.23

 

3.19

 

0.58

 

Net income

 

$

0.40

 

$

0.64

 

$

4.81

 

$

2.05

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash dividends per share paid on common stock

 

$

0.15

 

$

0.15

 

$

0.45

 

$

0.45

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted

 

290.3

 

321.5

 

305.2

 

322.6

 

 

See the accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

3



 

Aon Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

Sept. 30,

 

Sept. 30,

 

(millions)

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows - Operating Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

1,468

 

$

657

 

Gain from disposal of operations

 

(1,403

)

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and software

 

117

 

118

 

Stock compensation expense

 

194

 

152

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

40

 

31

 

Valuation changes on investments, income on disposals and net bond amortization

 

9

 

(12

)

Income taxes

 

318

 

155

 

Contribution to major defined benefit pension plans in excess of expense

 

(86

)

(83

)

Cash paid (in excess of) less than expense for restructuring plans

 

47

 

(30

)

Provision for New York and other state settlements

 

 

(37

)

Change in funds held on behalf of brokerage and consulting clients

 

50

 

150

 

Change in insurance underwriting assets and liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Net reinsurance and net due & deferred premium

 

6

 

49

 

Prepaid premiums

 

7

 

42

 

Deferred policy acquisition costs

 

(3

)

(14

)

Policy liabilities

 

(37

)

(10

)

Net due reinsurance

 

 

(4

)

Change in other assets and liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

(357

)

(418

)

Other assets and liabilities - net

 

43

 

180

 

Cash Provided by Operating Activities

 

413

 

926

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows - Investing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Sale of investments

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities

 

 

 

 

 

Maturities

 

54

 

102

 

Calls and prepayments

 

29

 

61

 

Sales

 

186

 

538

 

Equity securities and other investments

 

1

 

73

 

Purchase of investments

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed maturities

 

(273

)

(789

)

Other investments

 

(8

)

(21

)

Short-term investments - net

 

(761

)

363

 

Acquisition of subsidiaries

 

(85

)

(228

)

Net proceeds from sale of discontinued operations

 

2,427

 

39

 

Property and equipment and other - net

 

(80

)

(103

)

Cash Provided by Investing Activities

 

1,490

 

35

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows - Financing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Issuance of common stock

 

42

 

15

 

Treasury stock transactions - net

 

(1,773

)

(563

)

Repayments of short-term borrowings - net

 

(232

)

(29

)

Issuance of long-term debt

 

364

 

677

 

Repayments of long-term debt

 

(297

)

(924

)

Cash dividends to stockholders

 

(130

)

(132

)

Cash Used by Financing Activities

 

(2,026

)

(956

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash

 

17

 

35

 

Increase (Decrease) in Cash

 

(106

)

40

 

Cash at Beginning of Period

 

584

 

281

 

Cash at End of Period

 

$

478

 

$

321

 

 

See the accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

4



 

NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

 

1.                                     Statement of Accounting Principles

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and include all normal recurring adjustments which Aon Corporation (“Aon” or the “Company”) considers necessary for a fair presentation.  Operating results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2008 are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2008.

 

Refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 for additional details of Aon’s financial position, as well as a description of Aon’s accounting policies, which have been continued without material change, except as described in Note 12.

 

The Company’s operations include collecting premiums and claims amounts from clients and insurers. Beginning in 2008, the Company began reporting unremitted amounts as fiduciary assets. Previously, these amounts were reported in short-term investments and receivables.  2007 amounts have been reclassified to conform to this presentation.  At September 30, 2008, short-term investments of $3.1 billion and receivables of $6.0 billion are included in the Company’s fiduciary assets. At December 31, 2007, short-term investments of $3.1 billion and receivables of $6.4 billion are included in the Company’s fiduciary assets.

 

2.                                     New Accounting Pronouncement

 

In December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement No. 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations (“Statement No. 141(R)”) and Statement No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, an amendment of ARB No. 51.  Statement No. 141(R) replaces Statement No. 141 and applies to all transactions or other events in which an entity obtains control over one or more businesses.  This Statement requires an acquirer to recognize the assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at the acquisition date, measured at their fair values as of that date.  Business combinations achieved in stages require recognition of the identifiable assets and liabilities, as well as the noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, at the full amounts of their fair values.  Statement No. 141(R) also changes the requirements for recognizing assets acquired and liabilities assumed arising from contingencies, and requires direct acquisition costs to be expensed.

 

Statement No. 160 amends ARB No. 51 to establish accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interests in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary.  It clarifies that a noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary is an ownership interest in the consolidated entity that should be reported as equity in the consolidated financial statements.  This Statement also requires consolidated net income to be reported at amounts that include the amounts attributable to both the parent and the noncontrolling interest. Statement No. 160 requires retrospective adjustments, for all periods presented, of stockholders’ equity and net income for noncontrolling interests.

 

Both Statements are effective for Aon as of January 1, 2009.  Early adoption is prohibited.  Aon is currently evaluating these Statements to determine what impact, if any, they will have on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In March 2008, the FASB issued Statement No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133. This

 

5



 

Statement changes disclosure requirements for derivative instruments and hedging activities.  Companies are required to provide enhanced disclosures about (i) how and why a company uses derivative instruments, (ii) how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under Statement No. 133 and its related interpretations, and (iii) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect a Company’s financial position, financial performance and cash flows.  This Statement is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008.  Aon is currently evaluating this Statement to determine the extent of disclosures that will be necessary.

 

In June 2008, the FASB issued Staff Position No. EITF 03-6-1 (“FSP EITF 03-6-1”), Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions are Participating Securities.  The staff position holds that unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents are “participating securities” as defined in EITF 03-6, Participating Securities and the Two-Class Method under FASB Statement No. 128, and therefore should be included in computing earnings per share using the two class method.  Certain of Aon’s restricted stock awards allow the holder to receive a nonforfeitable dividend equivalent.  FSP EITF 03-6-1 is effective for Aon as of January 1, 2009.  All prior periods earnings per share data that are disclosed must be adjusted to conform to the current presentation.  Early application is not permitted.  Aon is currently evaluating the FSP to determine what impact it will have on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In September 2008, the FASB issued Staff Position No. FAS 133-1 and FIN 45-4 (“FSP FAS 133-1 and FIN 45-4’), Disclosures about Credit Derivatives and Certain Guarantees:  An Amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 and FASB Interpretation No. 45; and Clarification of the Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 161.  This FSP (1) requires disclosures by sellers of credit derivatives, including credit derivatives embedded in a hybrid instrument (2) requires an additional disclosure about the current status of the payment/performance risk of a guarantee and (3) clarifies the FASB’s intent about the effective date of Statement No. 161.  The provisions of the FSP that amends Statement No. 133 and Interpretation No. 45 are effective for reporting periods ending after November 15, 2008.  The clarification of the effective date of Statement No. 161 is effective upon issuance of the FSP.  The portion of the FSP amending Statement No. 133 is not currently applicable to the Company.  Aon is currently evaluating the portion of the FSP amending Interpretation No. 45 to determine what impact, if any, it will have on its disclosures.

 

3.                                     Stock Compensation Plans

 

Aon’s Stock Incentive Plan (as amended and restated) provides for the grant of non-qualified and incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and restricted stock units (“RSUs”).  The annual rate at which awards are granted each year is based upon financial and competitive business conditions.

 

Compensation expense

 

Stock-based compensation expense recognized during 2008 and 2007, which includes RSUs, stock options, performance plan awards and stock purchases related to the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, are based on the value of the portion of stock-based payment awards that is ultimately expected to vest during the period.  Stock-based compensation expense recognized in Aon’s condensed consolidated statements of income includes compensation expense for stock-based payment awards granted prior to, but not yet vested as of December 31, 2005 based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the pro forma provisions of FASB Statement No. 123, and compensation expense for the stock-based payment awards granted subsequent to December 31, 2005 based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of FASB Statement No. 123(R).  Because stock-based compensation expense recognized is based on awards ultimately expected to vest, it has been reduced

 

6



 

for estimated forfeitures.  Forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates.

 

The following table summarizes stock-based compensation expense related to all stock-based payments recognized in continuing operations in the condensed consolidated statements of income in compensation and benefits (in millions):

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Nine months ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

RSUs

 

$

27

 

$

24

 

$

102

 

$

82

 

Performance plans

 

16

 

12

 

47

 

42

 

Stock options

 

7

 

5

 

20

 

16

 

Employee stock purchase plan

 

1

 

1

 

3

 

3

 

Total

 

$

51

 

$

42

 

$

172

 

$

143

 

 

Stock Awards

 

Stock awards, in the form of RSUs, are granted to certain executives and key employees of Aon.  Prior to 2006, RSUs granted to employees were service-based.  Beginning with awards granted in 2006, awards to employees may consist of performance-based RSUs and service-based RSUs.  Service-based awards generally vest between five and ten years from the date of grant.  For most employees, individuals whose incentive compensation is over $50,000 are partially paid in RSUs, which vest ratably over three years.  Stock awards are issued as they vest.  With certain limited exceptions, any break in continuous employment will cause forfeiture of all unvested awards.  The compensation cost associated with each stock award is amortized over the service period using the straight-line method.  Dividend equivalents are paid on certain service-based RSUs, based on the initial grant amount.

 

Performance-based RSUs are granted to certain executives and key employees.  Vesting of performance-based RSUs is contingent upon meeting various individual, divisional or company-wide performance conditions, including revenue generation or growth in revenue, pretax income or earnings per share over a three- to five-year period.  The performance condition is not considered in the determination of grant date fair value of these awards.  Compensation cost is recognized over the performance period, and in certain cases an additional vesting period, based on management’s estimate of the number of units expected to vest.  Compensation cost will be adjusted to reflect the actual number of shares earned at the end of the programs.  The issuance of shares under these performance-based plans may range from 0-200% of the number of units granted, based on the plan.  Dividend equivalents are generally not paid on performance-based RSUs.

 

Information regarding Aon’s performance-based plans follows (shares in thousands, dollars in millions):

 

 

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

Potential RSUs to be issued based on current performance levels

 

5,723

 

4,910

 

Shares forfeited during the period

 

370

 

66

 

RSUs awarded during the period

 

20

 

9

 

Unamortized expense, based on current performance levels

 

$

85

 

$

110

 

 

7



 

A summary of Aon’s non-vested stock awards is as follows (shares in thousands):

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

Shares

 

Fair
Value

 

Shares

 

Fair
Value

 

Non-vested at beginning of period

 

14,150

 

$

31

 

12,870

 

$

28

 

Granted

 

3,196

 

42

 

4,087

 

39

 

Vested

 

(3,586

)

28

 

(1,920

)

30

 

Forfeited

 

(429

)

33

 

(430

)

33

 

Non-vested at end of period

 

13,331

 

34

 

14,607

 

32

 

 

Stock Options

 

Options to purchase common stock are granted to certain executives and key employees of Aon and its subsidiaries, generally at 100% of market value on the date of grant.  Generally, employees are required to complete two continuous years of service before the options begin to vest in increments until the completion of a 4-year period of continuous employment, although a number of options were granted that require five continuous years of service before all options would vest.  The maximum contractual term on stock options is generally ten years from the date of grant.

 

Aon uses a lattice-binomial option-pricing model to value stock options.  Lattice-based option valuation models utilize a range of assumptions over the expected term of the options.  Expected volatilities are based on the average of the historical volatility of Aon’s stock price and the implied volatility of traded options and Aon’s stock.  Aon uses historical data to estimate option exercise and employee terminations within the valuation model, stratifying between executives and key employees.  The expected dividend yield assumption is based on the Company’s historical and expected future dividend rate.  The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.

 

The weighted average assumptions, the weighted average expected life and estimated fair value of employee stock options are summarized as follows:

 

 

 

Three months ended September 30,

 

Key employees

 

2008

 

2007

 

Weighted average volatility

 

30.1

%

26.9

%

Expected dividend yield

 

1.3

%

1.4

%

Risk-free rate

 

3.4

%

4.9

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average expected life, in years

 

5.7

 

5.8

 

Weighted average estimated fair value per share

 

$

13.98

 

$

12.59

 

 

 

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

Executives

 

Key Employees

 

Executives

 

Key
Employees

 

Weighted average volatility

 

29.4

%

29.9

%

26.2

%

26.8

%

Expected dividend yield

 

1.3

%

1.4

%

1.7

%

1.6

%

Risk-free rate

 

3.2

%

3.0

%

4.7

%

4.6

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average expected life, in years

 

5.1

 

5.7

 

4.6

 

5.8

 

Weighted average estimated fair value per share

 

$

11.87

 

$

12.95

 

$

9.58

 

$

11.67

 

 

8



 

A summary of Aon’s stock options is as follows (shares in thousands):

 

 

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

Shares

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise Price

 

Shares

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

 

Beginning outstanding

 

26,479

 

$

31

 

32,889

 

$

30

 

Granted

 

1,537

 

44

 

1,901

 

40

 

Excercised

 

(4,886

)

29

 

(5,885

)

28

 

Forfeited and expired

 

(1,517

)

41

 

(619

)

32

 

Outstanding at end of period

 

21,613

 

31

 

28,286

 

31

 

Excercisable at end of period

 

12,214

 

30

 

16,473

 

31

 

 

The weighted average remaining contractual life, in years, of outstanding options was 4.5 years and 5.2 years at September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

The aggregate intrinsic value represents the total pretax intrinsic value, based on options with an exercise price less than the Company’s closing stock price of $44.96 as of September 30, 2008, which would have been received by the option holders had those option holders exercised their options as of that date.  At September 30, 2008, the aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding was $296 million, of which $180 million was exercisable.  The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised during the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2008 were $17 million and $80 million, respectively, and for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2007 were $16 million and $75 million, respectively.

 

Unamortized deferred compensation expense, which includes both options and awards, amounted to $311 million as of September 30, 2008, with a remaining weighted-average amortization period of approximately 2.1 years.

 

Cash received from the exercise of stock options was $146 million and $165 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.  The tax benefit realized from stock options exercised in the first nine months of 2008 and 2007 was $21 million and $25 million, respectively.

 

During the first nine months ended September 30, 2008, a majority of option exercises and award vestings were satisfied through the reissuance of treasury shares.

 

9



 

4.                                     Income Per Share

 

Income per share is calculated as follows:

 

 

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

(millions, except per share data)

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

153

 

$

130

 

$

494

 

$

469

 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

(36

)

74

 

974

 

188

 

Net income for basic per share calculation

 

117

 

204

 

1,468

 

657

 

Interest expense on convertible debt securities, net of tax

 

 

2

 

 

5

 

Net income for diluted per share calculation

 

$

117

 

$

206

 

$

1,468

 

$

662

 

Basic shares outstanding

 

274

 

295

 

289

 

296

 

Effect of convertible debt securities

 

 

11

 

 

13

 

Common stock equivalents

 

16

 

15

 

16

 

14

 

Diluted potential common shares

 

290

 

321

 

305

 

323

 

Basic net income (loss) per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

$

0.56

 

$

0.44

 

$

1.70

 

$

1.59

 

Discontinued operations

 

(0.13

)

0.25

 

3.37

 

0.63

 

Net income

 

$

0.43

 

$

0.69

 

$

5.07

 

$

2.22

 

Diluted net income (loss) per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

$

0.52

 

$

0.41

 

$

1.62

 

$

1.47

 

Discontinued operations

 

(0.12

)

0.23

 

3.19

 

0.58

 

Net income

 

$

0.40

 

$

0.64

 

$

4.81

 

$

2.05

 

 

Certain common stock equivalents related to options were not included in the computation of diluted net income per share because those options’ exercise price was greater than the average market price of the common shares.  The number of options excluded from the quarterly calculation was 2 million and 7 million at September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.  For nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, the number of options excluded was 3 million and 7 million, respectively.

 

5.                                     Comprehensive Income

 

The components of comprehensive income, net of tax, are as follows:

 

 

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

(millions)

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

Net income

 

$

117

 

$

204

 

$

1,468

 

$

657

 

Net derivative (losses) gains

 

(12

)

10

 

(31

)

8

 

Net unrealized investment (losses) gains

 

(24

)

18

 

(4

)

(10

)

Net foreign exchange translation

 

(221

)

97

 

25

 

159

 

Change in postretirement plans

 

9

 

12

 

(2

)

62

 

 

 

$

(131

)

$

341

 

$

1,456

 

$

876

 

 

10



 

The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, are as follows:

 

(millions)

 

September 30, 2008

 

December 31, 2007

 

Net derivative gains (losses)

 

$

(7

)

$

24

 

Net unrealized investment gains

 

72

 

76

 

Net foreign exchange translation

 

309

 

284

 

Postretirement plans

 

(1,112

)

(1,110

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

$

(738

)

$

(726

)

 

6.                                     Business Segments

 

Aon classifies its businesses into two operating segments: Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services and Consulting.  Unallocated income and expense, when combined with the operating segments and after the elimination of intersegment revenues, totals to the amounts in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

The Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services segment consists primarily of Aon’s retail and reinsurance brokerage operations, as well as related insurance services, including underwriting management, captive insurance company management services, investment banking products and services, and premium financing.  The Consulting segment provides a broad range of consulting services.  These services are delivered predominantly to corporate clientele utilizing two subsegments (Consulting Services and Outsourcing) that operate in the following practice areas: Consulting Services - employee benefits, compensation, management consulting, communications, strategic human resource consulting and financial advisory and litigation consulting, and Outsourcing - human resource outsourcing.  Results relating to Aon’s accident, health and life operations, which were previously reported in a separate Insurance Underwriting segment, have been reclassified to discontinued operations for all periods presented.  The remaining operations that were previously reported in the Insurance Underwriting segment, which relate to property and casualty insurance that is in runoff, are now included in unallocated income and expense for all periods presented.  Unallocated income consists of investment income from equity, fixed-maturity and short-term investments.  These assets include non-income producing equities.  Unallocated expenses include administrative costs not attributable to the operating segments, such as corporate governance costs.  Interest expense represents the cost of worldwide debt obligations.

 

The accounting policies of the operating segments are the same as those described in this Form 10-Q and Aon’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, except that the disaggregated financial results have been prepared using a management approach, which is consistent with the basis and manner in which Aon senior management internally disaggregates financial information for the purposes of assisting in making internal operating decisions.  Aon evaluates performance based on stand-alone operating segment income before income taxes and generally accounts for intersegment revenue as if the revenue were from third parties, that is, considered by management to be at current market prices.

 

Revenues are generally attributed to geographic areas based on the location of the resources producing the revenues.  Intercompany revenues and expenses are eliminated in computing consolidated revenues and operating expenses.

 

11



 

Commissions, fees and other revenue by operating segment is as follows:

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Nine months ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

(millions)

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

Risk management and insurance brokerage:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Americas

 

$

557

 

$

546

 

$

1,638

 

$

1,609

 

United Kingdom

 

182

 

193

 

546

 

545

 

Europe, Middle East & Africa

 

314

 

268

 

1,188

 

988

 

Asia Pacific

 

120

 

116

 

373

 

343

 

Reinsurance brokerage and related services

 

252

 

232

 

756

 

691

 

Total Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services

 

1,425

 

1,355

 

4,501

 

4,176

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consulting services

 

284

 

269

 

850

 

794

 

Outsourcing

 

51

 

55

 

162

 

177

 

Total Consulting

 

335

 

324

 

1,012

 

971

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total commissions, fees and other revenue

 

$

1,760

 

$

1,679

 

$

5,513

 

$

5,147

 

 

Investment income by operating segment is as follows:

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Nine months ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

(millions)

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services

 

$

48

 

$

56

 

$

148

 

$

154

 

Consulting

 

2

 

1

 

4

 

8

 

Total operating segment investment income

 

$

50

 

$

57

 

$

152

 

$

162

 

 

Aon’s total revenue is as follows:

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Nine months ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

(millions)

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services

 

$

1,473

 

$

1,411

 

$

4,649

 

$

4,330

 

Consulting

 

337

 

325

 

1,016

 

979

 

Unallocated

 

41

 

21

 

66

 

76

 

Intersegment

 

(4

)

(8

)

(20

)

(24

)

Total revenue

 

$

1,847

 

$

1,749

 

$

5,711

 

$

5,361

 

 

12



 

Aon’s operating segments’ geographic revenue and income before income tax is as follows:

 

Three months ended September 30:

 

Risk and Insurance
Brokerage Services

 

Consulting

 

(millions)

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

Revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United States

 

$

503

 

$

504

 

$

158

 

$

156

 

Americas, other than U.S.

 

184

 

162

 

30

 

27

 

United Kingdom

 

251

 

266

 

65

 

69

 

Europe, Middle East & Africa

 

389

 

341

 

63

 

56

 

Asia Pacific

 

146

 

138

 

21

 

17

 

Total revenue

 

$

1,473

 

$

1,411

 

$

337

 

$

325

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income tax

 

$

188

 

$

228

 

$

52

 

$

38

 

 

Nine months ended September 30:

 

Risk and Insurance
Brokerage Services

 

Consulting

 

(millions)

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

Revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United States

 

$

1,465

 

$

1,485

 

$

459

 

$

484

 

Americas, other than U.S.

 

548

 

468

 

100

 

88

 

United Kingdom

 

743

 

749

 

199

 

197

 

Europe, Middle East & Africa

 

1,449

 

1,226

 

201

 

168

 

Asia Pacific

 

444

 

402

 

57

 

42

 

Total revenue

 

$

4,649

 

$

4,330

 

$

1,016

 

$

979

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income tax

 

$

657

 

$

734

 

$

158

 

$

129

 

 

A reconciliation of segment income before income tax to income from continuing operations before provision for income tax is as follows:

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Nine months ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

(millions)

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services

 

$

188

 

$

228

 

$

657

 

$

734

 

Consulting

 

52

 

38

 

158

 

129

 

Segment income before income tax

 

240

 

266

 

815

 

863

 

Unallocated investment income

 

40

 

19

 

62

 

70

 

Unallocated expenses

 

(34

)

(24

)

(91

)

(91

)

Property & Casualty - revenues

 

1

 

2

 

4

 

6

 

Property & Casualty - expenses

 

(3

)

(7

)

(9

)

(15

)

Interest expense

 

(32

)

(33

)

(96

)

(102

)

Income from continuing operations before provision for income tax

 

$

212

 

$

223

 

$

685

 

$

731

 

 

13



 

7.                                     Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

 

Goodwill represents the excess of cost over the fair market value of net assets acquired.  Goodwill is allocated to Aon’s various reporting units, which are either its operating segments or one reporting level below the operating segments.  Goodwill is not amortized but is instead subject to impairment testing at least annually.  When a business entity is sold, goodwill is allocated to the disposed entity based on the fair value of that entity compared to the fair value of the reporting unit in which it was included.

 

The changes in the net carrying amount of goodwill by operating segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 are as follows:

 

(millions)

 

Risk and
Insurance
Brokerage
Services

 

Consulting

 

Total

 

Balance as of December 31, 2007

 

$

4,527

 

$

388

 

$

4,915

 

Goodwill acquired

 

16

 

1

 

17

 

Foreign currency revaluation

 

(47

)

(3

)

(50

)

Balance as of September 30, 2008

 

$

4,496

 

$

386

 

$

4,882

 

 

Other intangible assets are classified into two categories:
 

·                  “Customer Related and Contract Based” include client lists as well as non-compete covenants, and

·                  “Marketing, Technology and Other” are all other purchased intangibles.

 

Other intangible assets by asset class are as follows:

 

(millions)

 

Customer
Related and
Contract
Based

 

Marketing,
Technology
and Other

 

Total

 

As of September 30, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross carrying amount

 

$

242

 

$

347

 

$

589

 

Accumulated amortization

 

177

 

190

 

367

 

Net carrying amount

 

$

65

 

$

157

 

$

222

 

 

(millions)

 

Customer
Related and
Contract
Based

 

Marketing,
Technology
and Other

 

Total

 

As of December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross carrying amount

 

$

206

 

$

332

 

$

538

 

Accumulated amortization

 

168

 

166

 

334

 

Net carrying amount

 

$

38

 

$

166

 

$

204

 

 

Amortization expense for intangible assets for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 is estimated to be $50 million, $44 million, $41 million, $35 million and $27 million, respectively.

 

14



 

8.                                       Restructuring Charges

 

2007 Restructuring Plan

 

In 2007, the Company announced a global restructuring plan intended to create a more streamlined organization and reduce future expense growth to better serve clients (“2007 Plan”).  The Company estimates that the 2007 Plan will result in cumulative pretax charges totaling approximately $450 million.  Expenses will include workforce reduction and lease consolidation costs, asset impairments, as well as other expenses necessary to implement the restructuring initiative.  Costs related to the restructuring are included in compensation and benefits, other general expenses, and depreciation and amortization in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income.  The Company expects the restructuring and related expenses to affect continuing operations through the end of 2009.

 

Below is a summary of the 2007 Plan restructuring and related expenses by type incurred and estimated to be incurred through the end of the restructuring initiative.

 

 

 

Actual

 

Estimated

 

 

 

 

 

2008

 

Total

 

Total for

 

(millions)

 

2007

 

Six
Months

 

Third
Quarter

 

Nine
Months

 

Incurred
to Date

 

Restructuring
Period (1)

 

Workforce reduction

 

$

17

 

$

76

 

$

42

 

$

118

 

$

135

 

$

284

 

Lease consolidation

 

22

 

18

 

7

 

25

 

47

 

88

 

Asset impairments

 

4

 

14

 

(1

)

13

 

17

 

44

 

Other costs associated with restructuring

 

3

 

5

 

4

 

9

 

12

 

34

 

Total restructuring and related expenses

 

$

46

 

$

113

 

$

52

 

$

165

 

$

211

 

$

450

 

 


(1)          Actual costs, when incurred, will vary due to changes in the assumptions built into this plan.  Significant assumptions likely to change when plans are finalized and approved include, but are not limited to, changes in severance calculations, changes in the assumptions underlying sublease loss calculations due to changing market conditions, and changes in the overall analysis that might cause the Company to add or cancel component initiatives.

 

The following is a summary of actual restructuring and related expenses incurred and estimated to be incurred through the end of the restructuring initiative, by segment.

 

 

 

Actual

 

Estimated

 

 

 

 

 

2008

 

Total

 

Total for

 

(millions)

 

2007

 

Six
Months

 

Third
Quarter

 

Nine
Months

 

Incurred
to Date

 

Restructuring
Period

 

Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services

 

$

41

 

$

106

 

$

51

 

$

157

 

$

198

 

$

403

 

Consulting

 

5

 

7

 

1

 

8

 

13

 

47

 

Total restructuring and related expenses

 

$

46

 

$

113

 

$

52

 

$

165

 

$

211

 

$

450

 

 

15



 

As of September 30, 2008, the Company’s liabilities for the 2007 plan are as follows:

 

(millions)

 

 

 

Balance at January 1, 2007

 

$

 

Expensed in 2007

 

42

 

Cash payments in 2007

 

(17

)

Balance at December 31, 2007

 

25

 

Expensed in 2008

 

152

 

Cash payments in 2008

 

(85

)

Foreign exchange translation

 

(4

)

Balance at September 30, 2008

 

$

88

 

 

2005 Restructuring Plan

 

In 2005, the Company commenced a restructuring plan that resulted in cumulative pretax charges totaling $368 million, including $2 million in third quarter 2008.  There were no charges in third quarter 2007; however, $34 million and $2 million was recorded in continuing and discontinued operations, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2007.  Restructuring costs included $18 million in workforce reductions, $11 million in lease consolidation costs, $3 million of asset impairments and $4 million of other expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2007.  These costs are included in compensation and benefits, other general expenses and depreciation and amortization in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income.

 

Restructuring and related expenses incurred by segment were as follows for the nine months ended September 30, 2007:  Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services - $28 million and Consulting - $6 million.

 

The following table sets forth the activity related to the 2005 restructuring plan liabilities:

 

(millions)

 

 

 

Balance at January 1, 2007

 

$

134

 

Expensed in 2007

 

38

 

Cash payments in 2007

 

(110

)

Foreign currency revaluation

 

1

 

Balance at December 31, 2007

 

63

 

Expensed in 2008

 

2

 

Cash payments in 2008

 

(27

)

Foreign exchange translation

 

(1

)

Balance at September 30, 2008

 

$

37

 

 

Aon’s unpaid restructuring liabilities are included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities as well as other non-current liabilities in the condensed consolidated statements of financial position.

 

9.                                       Capital Stock

 

During the first nine months of 2008, Aon issued 47,000 new shares of common stock for employee benefit plans.  In addition, Aon reissued approximately 7.5 million shares of treasury stock for employee benefit programs and 255,000 shares in connection with the employee stock purchase plans.

 

16



 

In 2007, Aon announced that its Board of Directors had increased the authorized repurchase program to $4.6 billion.  Shares may be repurchased through the open market or in privately negotiated transactions from time to time, based on prevailing market conditions and will be funded from available capital.  Any repurchased shares will be available for employee stock plans and for other corporate purposes.  The Company repurchased approximately 9.3 million shares at a cost of $426 million in third quarter 2008.  For the first nine months of 2008, the Company repurchased approximately 42.6 million shares at a cost of $1.9 billion.

 

There are also 22.4 million shares of common stock held in treasury at September 30, 2008 which are restricted as to their reissuance.

 

10.                                 Disposal of Operations

 

In October 2008, Aon reached a definitive agreement to sell AIS Management Corporation (“AIS”), which was previously included in the Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services segment, to Mercury General Corporation, for approximately $120 million in cash, plus a potential earn-out of up to $35 million, payable over the two years following the completion of the agreement.  The disposition is subject to various closing conditions and is expected to be completed in first quarter 2009.  Operating results have been reclassified to discontinued operations for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007.

 

In accordance with FASB Statement No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Aon has reclassified the assets and liabilities of this operation to assets held-for-sale and liabilities held-for-sale, respectively, in the September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 condensed consolidated statements of financial position.  Goodwill has been allocated to AIS based on an estimate of its fair value compared to the fair value of the reporting unit in which it was previously included.  The Company does not expect a pretax loss from the sale of AIS.

 

In fourth quarter 2007, the Company announced that it had signed separate definitive agreements to sell its Combined Insurance Company of America (“CICA”) and Sterling Life Insurance Company (“Sterling”) subsidiaries.  These two subsidiaries were previously included in the Insurance Underwriting segment.  On April 1, 2008, the CICA business was sold to ACE Limited and Sterling was sold to Munich Re Group.  After final adjustments, Aon received $2.525 billion in cash for CICA and $341 million in cash for Sterling.  Additionally, CICA paid a $325 million dividend to Aon before the sale transaction was completed.  A pretax gain of $1.4 billion was recognized on the sale of these businesses.

 

Aon’s insurance subsidiaries have been involved in both the cession and assumption of reinsurance with other companies.  Aon’s reinsurance consists primarily of certain property and casualty lines that are in runoff.  Aon’s insurance subsidiaries remain liable to the extent that the reinsurers are unable to meet their obligations.  In connection with the sale of Aon Warranty Group (“AWG”) in 2006, Aon sold Virginia Surety Company (“VSC”).  VSC remains liable to policyholders to the extent reinsurers of the property and casualty business do not meet their obligations.  Aon has provided a corporate guarantee with respect to these reinsurance recoverables, which totals $663 million at September 30, 2008.  Trust balances and letters of credit offsetting these reinsurance recoverables total approximately $149 million.  The estimated fair value of the guarantee was $9 million at September 30, 2008.

 

A&A Discontinued Operations

 

Prior to its acquisition by Aon, Alexander & Alexander Services, Inc. (“A&A”) discontinued its property and casualty insurance underwriting operations in 1985, some of which were then placed into run-off, with the remainder sold in 1987.  In connection with those sales, A&A provided indemnities to the purchaser for

 

17



 

various estimated and potential liabilities, including provisions to cover future losses attributable to insurance pooling arrangements, a stop-loss reinsurance agreement, and actions or omissions by various underwriting agencies previously managed by an A&A subsidiary.

 

As of September 30, 2008, the liabilities associated with the foregoing indemnities were included in other non-current liabilities in the condensed consolidated statements of financial position.  Such liabilities amounted to $53 million.  Reinsurance recoverables and other assets related to these liabilities are $70 million.  The remaining insurance liabilities represent estimates of known and future claims expected to be settled over the next 20 to 30 years, principally with regard to asbestos, pollution and other health exposures.  Although these insurance liabilities represent a best estimate of the probable liabilities, adverse developments may occur given the nature of the information available and the variables inherent in the estimation processes.

 

The operating results of the businesses that are classified as discontinued operations are as follows:

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Nine months ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

(millions)

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CICA and Sterling

 

$

 

$

632

 

$

677

 

$

1,837

 

AIS

 

23

 

26

 

71

 

78

 

Total

 

$

23

 

$

658

 

$

748

 

$

1,915

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretax income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CICA and Sterling

 

$

 

$

82

 

$

66

 

$

237

 

AIS

 

(22

)

7

 

(13

)

20

 

Other

 

 

2

 

(1

)

3

 

 

 

(22

)

91

 

52

 

260

 

Gain (loss) on sale

 

(33

)

(3

)

1,393

 

1

 

Total

 

$

(55

)

$

88

 

$

1,445

 

$

261

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After-tax income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operations

 

$

(14

)

$

61

 

$

27

 

$

172

 

Sale

 

(22

)

13

 

947

 

16

 

Total

 

$

(36

)

$

74

 

$

974

 

$

188

 

 

18



 

11.                                 Net Periodic Benefit Cost

 

The following table provides the components of the net periodic benefit cost for Aon’s U.S. pension plans, along with the material international plans, which are located in the U.K., The Netherlands, and Canada.

 

 

 

U.S.

 

International

 

(millions) Three months ended September 30,

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

Service cost

 

$

7

 

$

10

 

$

4

 

$

6

 

Interest cost

 

28

 

25

 

71

 

69

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(32

)

(30

)

(76

)

(79

)

Amortization of prior service costs

 

(3

)

(4

)

1

 

 

Amortization of net loss

 

7

 

11

 

10

 

10

 

Net periodic benefit cost

 

$

7

 

$

12

 

$

10

 

$

6

 

 

 

 

U.S.

 

International

 

(millions) Nine months ended September 30,

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

Service cost

 

$

29

 

$

38

 

$

18

 

$

28

 

Interest cost

 

81

 

74

 

219

 

203

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(96

)

(90

)

(234

)

(233

)

Amortization of prior service cost

 

(10

)

(11

)

1

 

 

Amortization of net loss

 

18

 

33

 

30

 

40

 

Net periodic benefit costs

 

$

22

 

$

44

 

$

34

 

$

38

 

 

In connection with the sale of CICA, curtailment gains of $12 million and $1 million were recognized in discontinued operations in second and third quarter 2008, respectively.

 

Aon previously disclosed in its 2007 financial statements that it expected to contribute $8 million and $187 million in 2008 to its U.S. and material international defined benefit pension plans, respectively.  Based on current rules and assumptions, Aon now plans to contribute $174 million to its material international defined benefit pension plans.  As of September 30, 2008, contributions of $6 million have been made to the U.S. pension plans and $136 million to its material international pension plans.

 

12.                                 Fair Value

 

Aon adopted the provisions of FASB Statement No. 157, Fair Value Measurements and Statement No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities as of January 1, 2008.  Both standards address aspects of fair-value accounting.  Statement No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a consistent framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure requirements about fair-value measurements. Under Statement No. 159, the Company has the ability to elect to report most financial instruments and certain other items at fair value on an instrument-by-instrument basis with changes in fair value reported in earnings.  After the initial adoption, the election is made at the acquisition of an eligible financial asset, financial liability, or firm commitment or when certain specified reconsideration events occur.  The fair value election may not be revoked once an election is made. The implementation of Statement No. 157 did not have a material impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements.  When adopting Statement No. 159, the Company did not elect to report any additional financial instruments at fair value.

 

Statement No. 157 establishes a hierarchy of fair value measurements based on whether the inputs to those measurements are observable or unobservable.  Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s market assumptions.

 

19



 

The fair-value hierarchy consists of three levels:

 

·                  Level 1 – Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

·                  Level 2 – Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable in active markets.

·                  Level 3 – Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable.

 

This hierarchy requires the use of observable market data when available.

 

Aon measures fair value using the procedures set forth below for all assets and liabilities measured at fair value, irrespective of whether they are carried at fair value.

 

When available, the Company generally uses quoted market prices to determine fair value, and classifies such items in Level 1.  In some cases where a market price is available, the Company will make use of acceptable practical expedients (such as matrix pricing) to estimate fair value, in which case the items are classified in Level 2.

 

If quoted market prices are not available, fair value is based upon internally developed valuation techniques that use, where possible, current market-based or independently sourced market parameters, such as interest rates, currency rates, option volatilities, etc.  Items valued using such internally generated valuation techniques are classified according to the lowest level input that is significant to the valuation.  Thus, an item may be classified in Level 3 even though there may be some significant inputs that are observable.

 

The following table presents, for each of the fair-value hierarchy levels, the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 30, 2008.

 

 

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements at

 

 

 

 

 

September 30, 2008 Using

 

 

 

 

 

Quoted Prices in

 

Significant

 

Significant

 

 

 

 

 

Active Markets

 

Other

 

Unobservable

 

 

 

Balance at

 

for Identical

 

Observable

 

Inputs

 

(millions)

 

September 30, 2008

 

Assets (Level I)

 

Inputs (Level 2)

 

(Level 3)

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term investments including money market funds and highly liquid debt securities

 

$

2,928

 

$

 

$

2,928

 

$

 

Other investments

 

258

 

 

132

 

126

 

Derivatives

 

131

 

 

131

 

 

Retained interests

 

79

 

 

 

79

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives

 

24

 

 

24

 

 

Guarantees

 

9

 

 

 

9

 

 

20



 

The following table presents the changes in the Level 3 fair-value category for the three months ended September 30, 2008.

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements Using

 

 

 

Level 3 Inputs

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

Retained

 

 

 

(millions)

 

Investments

 

Derivatives

 

Interests

 

Guarantees

 

Balance at June 30, 2008

 

$

162

 

$

4

 

$

106

 

$

(10

)

Total gains (losses):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Included in earnings

 

 

6

 

9

 

1

 

Included in other comprehensive income

 

(36

)

 

 

 

Purchases, issuances and settlements

 

 

(8

)

(36

)

 

Transfers

 

 

(2

)

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2008

 

$

126

 

$

 

$

79

 

$

(9

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The amount of total gains (losses) for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized losses relating to assets or liabilities held at September 30, 2008

 

$

 

$

6

 

$

9

 

$

1

 

 

Gains (losses), both realized and unrealized, included in earnings for the three months ended September 30, 2008 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from

 

 

 

Other general

 

Commissions,

 

Discontinued

 

(millions)

 

expenses

 

fees and other

 

Operations

 

Total gains (losses) included in earnings

 

$

6

 

$

9

 

$

1

 

Change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets or liabilities held at September 30, 2008

 

$

6

 

$

9

 

$

1

 

 

The following table presents the changes in the Level 3 fair-value category for the nine months ended September 30, 2008.

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements Using

 

 

 

Level 3 Inputs

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

Retained

 

 

 

(millions)

 

Investments

 

Derivatives

 

Interests

 

Guarantees

 

Balance at December 31, 2007

 

$

168

 

$

1

 

$

103

 

$

(12

)

Total gains (losses):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Included in earnings

 

 

3

 

42

 

3

 

Included in other comprehensive income

 

(42

)

 

2

 

 

Purchases, issuances and settlements

 

 

(2

)

(68

)

 

Transfers

 

 

(2

)

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2008

 

$

126

 

$

 

$

79

 

$

(9

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The amount of total gains (losses) for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized losses relating to assets or liabilities held at September 30, 2008

 

$

 

$

3

 

$

42

 

$

3

 

 

21



 

Gains (losses), both realized and unrealized, included in earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from

 

 

 

Other general

 

Commissions,

 

Discontinued

 

(millions)

 

expenses

 

fees and other

 

Operations

 

Total gains (losses) included in earnings

 

$

3

 

$

42

 

$

3

 

Change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets or liabilities held at September 30, 2008

 

$

4

 

$

42

 

$

3

 

 

13.                                 Contingencies

 

Aon and its subsidiaries are subject to numerous claims, tax assessments, lawsuits and proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. The damages claimed in these matters are or may be substantial, including, in many instances, claims for punitive, treble or extraordinary damages. Aon has purchased errors and omissions (“E&O”) insurance and other appropriate insurance to provide protection against losses that arise in such matters. Accruals for these items, and related insurance receivables, when applicable, have been provided to the extent that losses are deemed probable and are reasonably estimable. These accruals and receivables are adjusted from time to time as developments warrant. Amounts related to settlement provisions are recorded in other general expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of income.

 

At the time of the 2004-05 investigation of the insurance industry by the Attorney General of New York (“NYAG”) and other regulators, purported classes of clients filed civil litigation against Aon and other companies under a variety of legal theories, including state tort, contract, fiduciary duty, antitrust and statutory theories and federal antitrust and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”) theories. The federal actions were consolidated in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, and a state court collective action was filed in California. In the New Jersey actions, the Court dismissed plaintiffs’ federal antitrust and RICO claims in separate orders in August and October 2007, respectively. Plaintiffs have appealed these dismissals. Aon believes it has meritorious defenses in all of these cases and intends to vigorously defend itself against these claims. The outcome of these lawsuits, and any losses or other payments that may occur as a result, cannot be predicted at this time.

 

Also at the time of the NYAG investigation, putative classes filed actions against Aon in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois under the federal securities laws and ERISA. Plaintiffs in the federal securities class action have recently submitted purported expert reports estimating a range of alleged damages of $353 million to $498 million, and plaintiffs in the ERISA class actions have recently submitted purported expert reports estimating a range of alleged damages of $59 million to $349 million. Aon will soon submit its own expert reports, which will vigorously challenge these damage estimates, as well as plaintiffs’ underlying theories of liability. Aon believes it has meritorious defenses in all of these cases and intends to vigorously defend itself against these claims. The outcome of these lawsuits, and any losses or other payments that may occur as a result, cannot be predicted at this time.

 

Following inquiries from regulators, the Company commenced an internal review of its compliance with certain U.S. and non-U.S. anti-bribery laws, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”). An outside law firm with significant experience in the area is overseeing the review. Certain governmental agencies, including the U.K. Financial Services Authority, the City of London police, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and the U.S. Department of Justice, are also investigating these matters. Aon is fully cooperating with these investigations, and has agreed with the U.S. agencies to toll any applicable statute of limitations pending completion of the investigations. Based on current information, the Company is unable to predict at this time when these matters will be concluded, or what regulatory or other outcomes may result.

 

22



 

A financial institution in the U.K. called Standard Life Assurance Ltd. brought an action in London Commercial Court against Aon seeking more than £50 million ($92 million at September 30, 2008 exchange rates) for alleged errors or omissions in the placement of a professional indemnity policy with certain underwriters. In a preliminary decision issued on February 13, 2008, the court construed the relevant policy language to excuse underwriters from paying Standard Life and concluded that Aon was negligent in not seeking changes to the language. Aon filed an interlocutory appeal of this preliminary decision. In July 2008, Aon reached a settlement with underwriters under which underwriters agreed to pay a portion of the ultimate recovery by Standard Life in exchange for Aon dropping its appeal of the preliminary decision. In subsequent proceedings in the Commercial Court, Aon will vigorously contest Standard Life’s claims based on a variety of legal and factual arguments. Aon has a potential negligence claim against a different third party which provided advice with respect of the relevant policy language, and Aon further believes that, as a result of an indemnity given to Aon by a third party, Aon is entitled to indemnification in whole or part for its losses in this matter.

 

A putative class action, Buckner v. Resource Life, is pending in state court in Columbus, Georgia against a former subsidiary of Aon, Resource Life Insurance Company. The complaint alleges that Resource Life, which wrote policies insuring repayment of auto loans, was obligated to identify and return unearned premium to policyholders whose loans terminated before the end of their scheduled terms. In connection with the sale of Resource Life in 2006, Aon agreed to indemnify Resource Life’s buyer in certain respects relating to this action. Aon believes that Resource Life has meritorious defenses and is vigorously defending this action. The outcome of the action, and the amount of any losses or other payments that may result, cannot be predicted at this time.

 

VSC, a former property and casualty underwriting subsidiary of Aon, is engaged in arbitration and litigation proceedings with Applied Underwriters, Inc. (“Applied”), a managing general agent (“MGA”). In these proceedings, Applied seeks approximately $190 million for, inter alia, an alleged diminution in Applied’s value following VSC’s termination of an MGA contract between the parties. In connection with the sale of AWG (which includes VSC) in 2006, Aon agreed to retain certain obligations related to VSC’s property and casualty underwriting business, now in runoff, including this matter. Aon believes that VSC has meritorious defenses and is vigorously defending the arbitration and litigation. The outcome of the action, and the amount of any losses or other payments that may result, cannot be predicted at this time.

 

Although the ultimate outcome of all matters referred to above cannot be ascertained, and liabilities in indeterminate amounts may be imposed on Aon or its subsidiaries, on the basis of present information, amounts already provided, availability of insurance coverages and legal advice received, it is the opinion of management that the disposition or ultimate determination of such claims will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position of Aon. However, it is possible that future results of operations or cash flows for any particular quarterly or annual period could be materially affected by an unfavorable resolution of these matters.

 

14.                                 Premium Financing Operations

 

Some of Aon’s U.S., U.K., Canadian, and Australian subsidiaries originate short-term loans (generally with terms of 12 months or less) to businesses to finance their insurance premium obligations, and then sell these premium finance agreements in securitization transactions that meet the criteria for sale accounting under FASB Statement No. 140, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishment of Liabilities. In the U.S. and U.K., premium finance agreements are sold to special purpose entities (“SPEs”), which are considered qualified special purpose entities (“QSPEs”), as defined by Statement No. 140. The QSPEs fund their purchases of premium finance agreements by selling

 

23



 

undivided beneficial interests in the agreements to multi-seller commercial paper conduit SPEs sponsored by unaffiliated banks (“Bank SPEs”). In Canada and Australia, undivided interests in the premium finance agreements are sold directly to Bank SPEs. The Bank SPEs are variable interest entities as defined by FIN 46R.

 

The QSPEs used in the U.S. and U.K are not consolidated in Aon’s financial statements because the criteria for sale accounting have been met under Statement No. 140.

 

For the Canadian and Australian sales, the Company has analyzed qualitative and quantitative factors related to the transactions with the Bank SPEs and have determined that non-consolidation of the Bank SPEs is appropriate in accordance with FIN 46R because Aon is not their primary beneficiary. Specific factors considered include the fact that Aon is not the sponsor of any of the Bank SPEs, various other unaffiliated companies sell receivables to the Bank SPEs, and unaffiliated third parties have either made substantial equity investments in the Bank SPEs, hold voting control of the Bank SPEs, or generally have the risks and rewards of ownership of the assets of the Bank SPEs through liquidity support agreements or other arrangements involving significant variable interests.

 

Aon’s variable interest in the Bank SPEs in these jurisdictions is limited to the retained interests in premium finance agreements sold to the Bank SPEs. The Company reviews all material off-balance sheet transactions annually or whenever a reconsideration event occurs for the continued propriety of its accounting.

 

Pursuant to the sale agreements, the total amount advanced by the Bank SPEs on premium finance agreements sold to them at any one time is limited by the sale agreements to $1.8 billion. The Bank SPEs had advanced $1.2 billion and $1.4 billion at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively, on portfolios sold to the Bank SPEs of $1.3 billion and $1.5 billion at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.

 

Aon records gains on the sale of premium finance agreements. When Aon calculates the gain, all costs expected to be incurred for the relevant Bank SPEs are included. The gains, which are included in commissions, fees and other revenue in the condensed consolidated statements of income, were $9 million and $15 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and $41 million and $46 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

Aon records its retained interest in the sold premium finance agreements at fair value, and reports it in receivables in the condensed consolidated statements of financial position. Aon estimates fair value by discounting estimated future cash flows using discount rates that are commensurate with the underlying risk, expected future prepayment rates, and credit loss estimates.

 

Aon also retains servicing rights for sold agreements, and earns servicing fee income over the servicing period. Because the servicing fees represent adequate compensation for the servicing of the receivables, the Company has not recorded any servicing assets or liabilities.

 

The third-party bank sponsors or other participants in the Bank SPEs provide the liquidity support and bear the credit risks on the receivables, subject to limited recourse, in the form of over-collateralization provided by Aon (and other sellers) as required by the sales agreements. The over-collateralization of the sold receivables represents Aon’s maximum exposure to credit-related losses, and was approximately $115 million at September 30, 2008. Aon also remains contingently liable should the funding costs of the U.S. Bank SPEs exceed the interest and late fees accrued or collected on the sold U.S. portfolio. The Company continually reviews the retained interest in the sold portfolio, taking into

 

24



 

consideration credit loss trends in the sold portfolio, conditions in the credit markets and other factors, and adjusts its carrying value accordingly.

 

With the exception of the Australian sales agreements, all the other sales agreements require Aon to meet the following covenants:

 

·                  consolidated net worth, as defined, of at least $2.5 billion,

·                  consolidated EBITDA to consolidated net interest of at least 4 to 1, and

·                  consolidated indebtedness to consolidated EBITDA of no more than 3 to 1.

 

Aon intends to renew these sales agreements as they expire. The Company renewed the U.S. sales agreement on October 3, 2008 and intends to renew its European agreement in the fourth quarter of 2008. The current environment in the credit market influenced the renewal process and the renewed U.S. terms are more restrictive: the over-collateralization requirements increased significantly ($40 million on the renewal date), and, based upon the Company’s estimated needs for the coming year, Aon reduced the level of committed availability by $436 million and scheduled additional decreases of $220 million by March 31, 2009. In addition, the securitization program costs added on the pass-through funding costs from the U.S. Bank SPEs. Similar restricted terms are expected for the European agreement. Moreover, as Aon’s ability to originate and fund new premium finance agreements is dependent on the pass-through funding costs of the Bank SPEs, disruptions in the markets through which the Bank SPEs obtain funds could further have a significant impact on Aon’s premium finance results of operations and cash flows. The Company also faces the risk that the Bank SPEs will be unable to provide the liquidity or will become an unreliable source of the liquidity necessary to fund new premium finance agreements. Such an occurrence would require the Company to consider alternate sources of funding, including other forms of off-balance sheet as well as on-balance sheet financing, or discontinue the origination of premium finance agreements. Additionally, if there were adverse bank, regulatory, tax, or accounting rule changes, Aon’s access to the conduit facilities and special purpose vehicles could be affected.

 

15.                                 Acquisition

 

On August 22, 2008, the Company announced that it had entered into an agreement to acquire Benfield Group Limited (“Benfield”), a leading independent reinsurance intermediary. Under the terms of the definitive agreement, the Company will acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Benfield for £844 million or 350 pence per share ($1,557 million at September 30, 2008 exchange rates) in cash and assume £91 million ($168 million at September 30, 2008 exchange rates) of Benfield debt.

 

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2008, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. On October 14, 2008, Benfield shareholders voted to approve the sale of Benfield.

 

25



 

ITEM 2.

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Overview

 

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis is divided into six sections. First, key recent events are described that have affected or will affect our financial results during 2008. We then review our consolidated results and segments with comparisons for the third quarter 2008 to the corresponding period in 2007. We then discuss our financial condition and liquidity as well as information on our off balance sheet arrangements. The final section addresses certain factors that can influence future results.

 

The outline for our Management’s Discussion and Analysis is as follows:

 

KEY RECENT EVENTS

Acquisitions and Divestitures

Restructuring Initiatives

Share Repurchase Program

Change in Chairman of Aon’s Board of Directors

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

REVIEW OF CONSOLIDATED RESULTS

General

Consolidated Results

 

REVIEW BY SEGMENT

General

Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services

Consulting

Unallocated Income and Expense

 

FINANCIAL CONDITION AND LIQUIDITY

Cash Flows

Financial Condition

Borrowings

Stockholders’ Equity

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

INFORMATION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

26



 

KEY RECENT EVENTS

 

Acquisitions and Divestitures

 

In October 2008, we reached a definitive agreement to sell AIS, which was previously included in our Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services segment, to Mercury General Corporation, for approximately $120 million in cash, plus a potential earn-out of up to $35 million, payable over the two years following the completion of the agreement.  The sale is subject to various closing conditions and is expected to be completed in first quarter 2009.  Operating results have been reclassified to discontinued operations for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007.

 

On August 22, 2008, we announced that we had entered into an agreement to acquire Benfield, a leading independent reinsurance intermediary.  Under the terms of the definitive agreement, we will acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Benfield for £844 million or 350 pence per share ($1,557 million at September 30, 2008 exchange rates) in cash and assume £91 million ($168 million) of Benfield debt.  We intend to fund the transaction through cash on hand.

 

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2008, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval.  On October 14, 2008, Benfield shareholders voted to approve the sale of Benfield.  Following the close of the transaction, we intend to integrate the Benfield business with our existing reinsurance operations (Aon Re Global) and operate the division globally under the newly created Aon Benfield Re brand.

 

In first quarter 2008, we agreed to buy substantially all of A. J. Gallagher’s U.S. and U.K. reinsurance brokerage business for $30 million in cash, plus the revenue produced by the acquired businesses in the first year after the deal closes.  This transaction gives us a larger presence as a reinsurance broker for accident, health and life insurance in the U.S., and for accident and specialty casualty and financial institutions insurance in the U.K.

 

In December 2007, we announced that we signed definitive agreements to sell our CICA and Sterling subsidiaries.  These two subsidiaries were previously included in an Insurance Underwriting segment.  Both of these transactions were completed on April 1, 2008.  In more detail:

 

·                  CICA was sold to ACE Limited for cash consideration of $2.525 billion, after final adjustments.  We also received a one-time dividend of $325 million from CICA prior to the close of the transaction.

·                  Sterling was sold to Munich Re Group for cash consideration of $341 million, after final adjustments.

 

We have included CICA and Sterling’s operating results through the date of sale in discontinued operations.  We recorded a pretax gain on these sales of approximately $1.4 billion.

 

Restructuring Initiatives

 

In 2007, we announced a global restructuring plan intended to create a more streamlined organization and reduce expense growth to better serve clients.  This three-year plan has evolved as new opportunities have been identified and existing initiatives have been finalized.  We estimate this restructuring plan will result in cumulative pretax charges totaling approximately $450 million, which is an increase of $90 million from our estimates in previous quarters.  Expenses will include workforce reduction and lease consolidation costs, asset impairments, and other expenses necessary to implement the restructuring initiative.  We recorded approximately $211 million of restructuring and related expenses through September 30, 2008, including $52 million and $165 million in the third

 

27



 

quarter and nine months of 2008, respectively.  We expect the remaining restructuring and related expenses to affect continuing operations through the end of 2009.  We anticipate that these initiatives will lead to annualized cost-savings of approximately $75-$80 million in 2008, $220-$245 million in 2009, and $300 million by 2010.  However, there can be no assurances that we will achieve the targeted savings.

 

Based on our current projections, the 2007 restructuring plan eliminates an estimated 2,700 jobs, 300 more jobs than previously disclosed, beginning in the third quarter of 2007 and continuing into 2009.  To date, approximately 1,000 jobs have been eliminated.  We also expect to close or consolidate several offices resulting in sublease losses or lease buy-outs.  These efforts will also trigger asset impairments in the form of accelerated amortization of the remaining leasehold improvements.

 

The following table summarizes 2007 restructuring and related expenses by type incurred and estimated to be incurred through the end of the restructuring initiative.

 

 

 

Actual

 

Estimated

 

 

 

 

 

2008

 

Total

 

Total for

 

(millions)

 

2007

 

Six
Months

 

Third
Quarter

 

Nine
Months

 

Incurred
to Date

 

Restructuring
Period (1)

 

Workforce reduction

 

$

17

 

$

76

 

$

42

 

$

118

 

$

135

 

$

284

 

Lease consolidation

 

22

 

18

 

7

 

25

 

47

 

88

 

Asset impairments

 

4

 

14

 

(1

)

13

 

17

 

44

 

Other costs associated with restructuring

 

3

 

5

 

4

 

9

 

12

 

34

 

Total restructuring and related expenses

 

$

46

 

$

113

 

$

52

 

$

165

 

$

211

 

$

450

 

 


(1)          Actual costs, when incurred, will vary due to changes in the assumptions built into this plan. Significant assumptions likely to change when plans are finalized and approved include, but are not limited to, changes in severance calculations, changes in the assumptions underlying our sublease loss calculations due to changing market conditions, and changes in our overall analysis that might cause us to add or cancel component initiatives.

 

Workforce reductions reflect a cash expense, though we may recognize the expense prior to paying for the expenditure.  Asset impairments are non-cash expenses.  Lease consolidation accruals reflect the present value of future cash flows.  Other costs are cash expenses, which are expensed in the period in which they are incurred.

 

The following table summarizes actual restructuring and related costs incurred and estimated to be incurred through the end of the restructuring initiative, by segment.

 

 

 

Actual

 

Estimated

 

 

 

 

 

2008

 

Total

 

Total for

 

(millions)

 

2007

 

Six
Months

 

Third
Quarter

 

Nine
Months

 

Incurred
to Date

 

Restructuring
Period

 

Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services

 

$

41

 

$

106

 

$

51

 

$

157

 

$

198

 

$

403

 

Consulting

 

5

 

7

 

1

 

8

 

13

 

47

 

Total restructuring and related expenses

 

$

46

 

$

113

 

$

52

 

$

165

 

$

211

 

$

450

 

 

Share Repurchase Program

 

We are currently authorized to repurchase $4.6 billion of Aon’s common stock.  Pursuant to this program, during the first nine months of 2008, we repurchased approximately 42.6 million shares at a cost of $1.9 billion.  The volume of share repurchases increased during the second quarter, as we began to use the proceeds received from the sales of CICA and Sterling to repurchase shares. Since the program began, through September 30, 2008, we have now repurchased 90.8 million shares at a cost of $3.7 billion.  Share repurchases were suspended

 

28



 

in August 2008 in light of the anticipated acquisition of Benfield.  We do not expect to make any further share repurchases in 2008, but expect to complete the share repurchase program by the end of 2009.

 

Any repurchased shares are available for issuance through employee stock plans and for other corporate purposes.  Of the shares repurchased since the program’s inception, we have reissued approximately 21.6 million shares for stock options, stock awards and other benefit plans.

 

Change in Chairman of Aon’s Board of Directors

 

Patrick Ryan, the Executive Chairman of Aon’s Board of Directors, retired from Aon on August 1, 2008.  Mr. Ryan founded Aon, which had its origin in a small insurance agency he started in 1964.

 

Mr. Ryan is succeeded by Lester B. Knight, an independent director since 1999.  Mr. Knight was elected Non-Executive Chairman of Aon’s Board of Directors on July 18, 2008.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

There have been no changes in our critical accounting policies, which include restructuring, pensions, contingencies, policy liabilities, valuation of investments, intangible assets, share-based payments and income taxes, as discussed in our 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

REVIEW OF CONSOLIDATED RESULTS
 

General

 

In our discussion of operating results, we sometimes refer to supplemental information derived from our consolidated financial information.

 

We use supplemental information related to organic revenue growth to help us and our investors evaluate business growth from existing operations.  Organic revenue growth excludes the impact of foreign exchange rate changes, acquisitions, divestitures, transfers between business units, investment income, reimbursable expenses, and unusual items.  Supplemental organic revenue growth information should be viewed in addition to, not instead of, our condensed consolidated statements of income.  Industry peers provide similar supplemental information about their revenue performance, although they may not make identical adjustments.

 

Because we conduct business in over 120 countries, foreign exchange rate fluctuations have an impact on our business.  In comparison to the U.S. dollar, foreign exchange rate movements may be significant and may distort true period-to-period comparisons of changes in revenue or pretax income.  Therefore, we have isolated the impact of the change in currencies between periods by providing percentage changes on a comparable currency basis for revenue, and have disclosed the effect on earnings per share.  We have also provided this form of reporting to give financial statement users more meaningful information about our operations.

 

Some tables in the segment discussions reconcile organic revenue growth percentages to the reported commissions, fees and other revenue growth percentages for the segments and sub-segments.  We separately disclose the impact of foreign currency as well as the impact from acquisitions, divestitures, transfers of business units, reimbursable expenses, and unusual items, which represent the most significant reconciling items.

 

29



 

Consolidated Results

 

The following table and commentary provide selected consolidated financial information.

 

 

 

Third Quarter Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

Sept. 30,

 

Sept. 30,

 

(millions)

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commissions, fees and other

 

$

1,756

 

$

1,672

 

$

5,493

 

$

5,125

 

Investment income

 

91

 

77

 

218

 

236

 

Total revenue

 

1,847

 

1,749

 

5,711

 

5,361

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compensation and benefits

 

1,132

 

1,048

 

3,432

 

3,188

 

Other general expenses

 

425

 

397

 

1,350

 

1,228

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

49

 

48

 

157

 

141

 

Total operating expenses

 

1,606

 

1,493

 

4,939

 

4,557

 

Operating income

 

241

 

256

 

772

 

804

 

Interest expense

 

32

 

33

 

96

 

102

 

Other income

 

(3

)

 

(9

)

(29

)

Income from continuing operations before provision for income tax

 

$

212

 

$

223

 

$

685

 

$

731

 

Pretax margin - continuing operations

 

11.5

%

12.8

%

12.0

%

13.6

%

 

Revenue
 

Commissions, fees and other increased by $84 million or 5% on a quarterly basis and $368 million or 7% on a year-to-date basis. The impact of foreign currency translation and organic growth in the Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services and Consulting segments primarily drove the increases in both periods.

 

Investment income increased $14 million or 18% on a quarterly basis but decreased $18 million or 8% on a year-to-date basis. Interest income from investing the sale proceeds of CICA and Sterling positively impacted investment income on both a quarterly and year-to-date basis while distributions from our Private Equity Partnership Structures I, LLC (“PEPS I”) investment increased $13 million for the quarter but decreased $25 million on year-to-date basis from 2007.

 

Expenses

 

Compensation and benefits increased $84 million or 8% on a quarterly basis and $244 million or 8% on a year-to-date basis. The impact of foreign currency translation and higher restructuring charges primarily drove the increase in both periods. Partially offsetting these increases are benefits from our 2007 and 2005 restructuring programs, and on a year-to-date basis, lower pension expense from the 2007 changes to our U.K. defined benefit pension plans.

 

Other general expenses increased $28 million or 7% on a quarterly basis and $122 million or 10% on a year-to-date basis. The increases were driven by the impact of foreign currency translation, higher litigation and restructuring expenses, and costs related to anti-bribery investigations and related compliance initiatives. On a year-to-date basis, last year’s expenses included $21 million for the settlement of litigation in early 2007 for acquired employees in our U.K. reinsurance business. Partially offsetting these increases are benefits from our restructuring programs.

 

30



 

Depreciation and amortization expense increased $1 million or 2% on a quarterly basis and $16 million or 11% on a year-to-date basis. The nine month increase was due to restructuring-related impairments and foreign exchange translations, partially offset by lower software amortization.

 

Interest expense decreased $1 million on a quarterly basis and $6 million on a year-to-date basis, due primarily to the redemption of our 3.5% Senior Convertible Debentures during 2007.

 

Other income increased $3 million on a quarterly basis resulting from a restructuring of ownership interests of one of our subsidiaries in third quarter 2008, which more than offset expenses related to the pending Benfield acquisition. On a year-to-date basis, other income decreased $20 million primarily due to gains on the sales of businesses in 2007.

 

Income from Continuing Operations Before Provision for Income Tax

 

Income from continuing operations before provision for income tax decreased $11 million or 5% to $212 million on a quarterly basis and $46 million or 6% for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. The decrease is mainly attributable to higher restructuring costs and gains on the sale of businesses in 2007, which more than offset the favorable impacts of foreign currency translation and organic revenue growth in 2008.

 

Income Taxes

 

The effective tax rate for continuing operations was 27.8% for third quarter 2008 compared to 41.7% for third quarter 2007. The effective tax rate for continuing operations was 27.9% and 35.8% for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The rates for all reported periods were favorably impacted by the resolution of prior year tax items. In the third quarter 2007, legislation was finalized in the United Kingdom which reduced the corporate tax rate from 30% to 28%. This required us to revalue our deferred tax assets related to the U.K. operations, and which resulted in a one-time non-cash charge of approximately $22 million, which was included in the third quarter 2007 tax provision. Our 2008 third quarter and nine month tax rates also reflect the benefit of statutory rate reductions in key operating jurisdictions, particularly the U.K., and the projected geographic distribution of earnings. The underlying tax rate for continuing operations was 29% in 2008 and 33.5% in 2007.

 

Income from Continuing Operations

 

Income from continuing operations for third quarter 2008 and 2007 was $153 million and $130 million, respectively. Basic and diluted income per share in the third quarter 2008 was $0.56 and $0.52, respectively, versus $0.44 and $0.41 in 2007, respectively. Income from continuing operations for nine months 2008 and 2007 was $494 million and $469 million, respectively. Basic and diluted income per share for nine months 2008 was $1.70 and $1.62, respectively, versus $1.59 and $1.47 in 2007, respectively. Income from continuing operations in 2008 included $0.04 and $0.17 per share for foreign currency translation gains for the third quarter and nine months, respectively. Our basic and diluted per share calculation for the quarter and nine months 2008 was favorably impacted by lower shares outstanding as a result of our share repurchase program.

 

Discontinued Operations
 

The third quarter loss from discontinued operations was $36 million (($0.13) and ($0.12) per basic and diluted share, respectively) for 2008 versus income of $74 million for 2007 ($0.25 and $0.23 per basic and diluted share, respectively). Nine months income from discontinued operations was $974 million ($3.37 and $3.19 per basic and diluted share, respectively) for 2008 versus $188 million for 2007 ($0.63 and $0.58 per basic and diluted share, respectively). In third quarter 2008, a definitive agreement to sell AIS was reached and as such, the business was reclassified to discontinued operations for all periods presented.

 

31



 

Included in the third quarter 2008 results of AIS was a $25 million provision for a lawsuit settlement. Also included in third quarter 2008 results was a $26 million pretax expense related to final settlements with ACE Limited and Munich Re Group in connection with the sale of CICA and Sterling. Results for 2007 primarily reflect operating results from our AIS, CICA and Sterling businesses, while year-to-date results for 2008 primarily reflect first quarter operating results from our CICA and Sterling businesses and a $1.0 billion after-tax gain from the sales of these operations, which were sold on April 1, 2008.

 

REVIEW BY SEGMENT

 

General

 

We classify our businesses into two operating segments: Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services and Consulting. Our operating segments are identified as those that:

 

·                  report separate financial information, and

·                  are evaluated regularly when we are deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance.

 

Segment revenue includes investment income generated by invested assets of that segment, as well as the impact of related derivatives. Our Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services and Consulting businesses invest funds held on behalf of clients and operating funds in short-term obligations.

 

The following table and commentary provide selected financial information on the operating segments.

 

 

 

Third Quarter Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

Sept. 30,

 

Sept. 30,

 

(millions)

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

Operating segment revenue: (1) (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services

 

$

1,473

 

$

1,411

 

$

4,649

 

$

4,330

 

Consulting

 

337

 

325

 

1,016

 

979

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income tax:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services

 

$

188

 

$

228

 

$

657

 

$

734

 

Consulting

 

52

 

38

 

158

 

129

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretax Margins:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services

 

12.8

%

16.2

%

14.1

%

17.0

%

Consulting

 

15.4

%

11.7

%

15.6

%

13.2

%

 


(1)          Intersegment revenues of $4 million and $8 million were included in third quarter 2008 and 2007, respectively.

(2)          Intersegment revenues of $20 million and $24 million were included in nine months 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

32



 

The following table reflects investment income earned by the operating segments, which is included in the foregoing results.

 

 

 

Third Quarter Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

Sept. 30,

 

Sept. 30,

 

(millions)

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services

 

$

48

 

$

56

 

$

148

 

$

154

 

Consulting

 

2

 

1

 

4

 

8

 

 

Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services investment income decreased $8 million from third quarter 2007 and $6 million on a year-to-date basis reflecting the impact of lower interest rates, partially offset by overall weakness in the dollar and higher invested balances. The $4 million year-to-date decrease in Consulting investment income is attributable to a 2007 gain from the sale of an investment.

 

Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services

 

Aon is a leader in many sectors of the insurance industry. Aon was ranked in 2008 by Business Insurance as the world’s largest insurance broker, by A.M. Best as the number one global insurance brokerage in 2008 and 2007 based on brokerage revenues, and voted the best insurance intermediary and best reinsurance intermediary in 2008 and 2007 by the readers of Business Insurance.

 

Changes in premiums have a direct and potentially material impact on the insurance brokerage industry, as commission revenues are generally based on a percentage of the premiums paid by insureds. Insurance premiums are cyclical, and may vary widely based on market conditions. Premium rates usually increase when the industry has heavier than expected losses or capital shortages; this situation is referred to as a “hard market.” A hard market tends to increase commission revenues. Conversely, a “soft market,” characterized by flat or reduced premium rates, results from increased competition for market share among insurance carriers or increased underwriting capacity. A soft market tends to reduce commission revenues. Hard and soft markets may be broad-based or more narrowly focused across certain product lines or geographic areas. We experienced a soft market in many business lines/segments and in many geographic areas in 2007. Prices fell throughout the year, with the greatest declines seen in large and middle-market accounts. Prices have continued to decline in the first nine months of 2008, and we expect the soft market to continue through the remainder of 2008.

 

The recent disruption in the global credit markets, the repricing of credit risk and the deterioration of the financial markets have created increasing difficult conditions for financial institutions, including those in the insurance industry. Continued volatility and further deterioration in the credit markets may reduce our customers’ demand for our brokerage and reinsurance services and products and could negatively impact our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, the potential for a significant insurer to fail or withdraw from writing certain insurance coverages that we offer our clients could negatively impact overall capacity in the industry. This could then reduce placement of certain lines and types of insurance and reduce our revenues and profitability.

 

Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services generated approximately 81% of Aon’s total operating segment revenues for third quarter 2008 and 82% for nine months 2008. Revenues are generated primarily through:

 

·                  fees paid by clients,

·                  commissions and fees paid by insurance and reinsurance companies, and

·                  interest income on funds held on behalf of clients.

 

33



 

Our revenues vary from quarter to quarter throughout the year as a result of:

 

·                  the timing of our clients’ policy renewals,

·                  the net effect of new and lost business,

·                  the timing of services provided to our clients, and

·                  the income we earn on investments, which is heavily influenced by short-term interest rates.

 

Our brokerage companies operate in a highly competitive industry and compete with many retail insurance brokerage and agency firms, as well as individual brokers, agents, and direct writers of insurance coverage. Specifically, this segment:

 

·                  addresses the highly specialized product development and risk management needs of commercial enterprises, professional groups, insurance companies, governments, healthcare providers, and non-profit groups, among others;

·                  provides affinity products for professional liability, life, disability income and personal lines for individuals, associations and businesses;

·                  provides reinsurance services to insurance and reinsurance companies and other risk assumption entities by acting as brokers or intermediaries on all classes of reinsurance;

·                  provides investment banking products and services, including mergers and acquisitions and other financial advisory services, capital raising, contingent capital financing, insurance-linked securitizations and derivative applications;

·                  provides managing underwriting and premium finance services to independent agents and brokers as well as corporate clients;

·                  provides actuarial, loss prevention and administrative services to businesses and consumers; and

·                  manages captive insurance companies.

 

We review our revenue results using the following sub-segments:

 

·                  Risk Management and Insurance Brokerage encompasses our retail brokerage services, affinity products, managing general underwriting, placement and captive management services, and premium finance services in the following geographic areas: Americas; United Kingdom; Europe, Middle East & Africa; and Asia Pacific.

·                  Reinsurance Brokerage and Related Services (Reinsurance) offers sophisticated advisory services in program design and claim recoveries that enhance the risk/return characteristics of insurance policy portfolios, improve capital utilization and evaluate and mitigate catastrophic loss exposures worldwide along with investment banking products and services.

 

34



 

Revenue

 

This table shows Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services commissions, fees and other revenue by sub-segment.

 

 

 

Third Quarter Ended September 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less:

 

Acquisitions,

 

Organic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

Currency

 

Divestitures,

 

Revenue

 

(millions)

 

2008

 

2007

 

Change

 

Impact

 

& Other

 

Growth

 

Americas

 

$

557

 

$

546

 

2

%

1

%

%

1

%

United Kingdom

 

182

 

193

 

(6

)

(2

)

(3

)

(1

)

Europe, Middle East & Africa

 

314

 

268

 

17

 

10

 

2

 

5

 

Asia Pacific

 

120

 

116

 

3

 

3

 

(1

)

1

 

Reinsurance

 

252

 

232

 

9

 

4

 

4

 

1

 

Total

 

$

1,425

 

$

1,355

 

5

%

3

%

%

2

%

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less:

 

Acquisitions,

 

Organic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

Currency

 

Divestitures,

 

Revenue

 

(millions)

 

2008

 

2007

 

Change

 

Impact

 

& Other

 

Growth

 

Americas

 

$

1,638

 

$

1,609

 

2

%

2

%

%

%

United Kingdom

 

546

 

545

 

 

1

 

(1

)

 

Europe, Middle East & Africa

 

1,188

 

988

 

20

 

13

 

2

 

5

 

Asia Pacific

 

373

 

343

 

9

 

8

 

(1

)

2

 

Reinsurance

 

756

 

691

 

9

 

5

 

3

 

1

 

Total

 

$

4,501

 

$

4,176

 

8

%

5

%

1

%

2

%

 

·                  Americas revenue grew 2% on a quarterly and year-to-date basis. The quarterly increase is driven by the positive impact of the weak U.S. dollar and strong growth in our Latin American, Canadian and affinity operations, partially offset by soft market conditions in the U.S. and a decline in our Cananwill premium financing business.

 

·                  U.K. revenue declined 6% in the quarter but was essentially unchanged on a year-to-date basis. The quarterly decrease was driven by unfavorable foreign exchange. Organic revenue decreased 1% for the quarter and was unchanged on a year-to-date basis, impacted by soft market conditions in our U.K. retail business, partially offset by growth in our affinity and captive operations.

 

·                  Europe, Middle East & Africa revenue increased 17% and 20% on a quarterly and year-to-date basis, respectively, reflecting favorable foreign currency translation and organic revenue growth. Organic growth of 5% for both the quarter and year-to-date was primarily due to solid growth in Continental Europe and strong growth in the emerging markets in Africa and the Middle East.

 

·                  Asia Pacific’s 3% and 9% revenue growth on a quarterly and year-to-date basis, respectively, was driven by positive foreign currency translation and strong organic growth in New Zealand and most markets in Asia, partially offset by the impact of certain regulatory changes in Japan. Organic growth was 1% and 2% for the

 

35



 

third quarter and nine months, respectively.

 

·                  Reinsurance revenue grew 9% on both a quarterly and year-to-date basis driven by the favorable impact of foreign currency translation, the acquisition of Gallagher Re and organic revenue growth. Growth in global facultative and treaty placements and, on a year-to-date basis, capital markets transactions more than offset overall soft market conditions. Organic growth was 1% for both the third quarter and nine months.

 

This table shows Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services revenue by geographic area.

 

 

 

Third Quarter

 

Nine Months

 

(millions)

 

Sept. 30,
2008

 

Sept. 30,
2007

 

Percent
Change

 

Sept. 30,
2008

 

Sept. 30,
2007

 

Percent
Change

 

United States

 

$

503

 

$

504

 

%

$

1,465

 

$

1,485

 

(1

)%

Americas, other than U.S.

 

184

 

162

 

14

 

548

 

468

 

17

 

United Kingdom

 

251

 

266

 

(6

)

743

 

749

 

(1

)

Europe, Middle East & Africa

 

389

 

341

 

14

 

1,449

 

1,226

 

18

 

Asia Pacific

 

146

 

138

 

6

 

444

 

402

 

10

 

Total revenue

 

$

1,473

 

$

1,411

 

4

%

$

4,649

 

$

4,330

 

7

%

 

·                  U.S. revenues were essentially unchanged for the quarter and declined 1% on a year-to-date basis, due to soft market conditions in our retail and reinsurance businesses. We experienced a decline in our Cananwill business, which impacted our retail business.

·                  Americas other than U.S. revenue rose 14% and 17% for the quarter and nine months, respectively, reflecting strong organic growth in Latin America and the favorable impact of foreign currency translation.

·                  U.K. revenue decreased 6% for the quarter and 1% for nine months, driven by unfavorable foreign currency translation during the quarter and soft market conditions in our retail and reinsurance businesses.

·                  Europe, Middle East & Africa increased 14% and 18% on a quarterly and year-to-date basis, respectively, driven by favorable foreign currency translation as well as solid organic growth in Europe and strong results in our emerging markets.

·                  Asia Pacific revenue rose 6% and 10% for the quarter and nine months, respectively, due to favorable foreign currency translation and organic growth.

 

Income Before Income Tax

 

Third quarter 2008 pretax income declined $40 million to $188 million, and nine months 2008 pretax income fell $77 million to $657 million. Pretax margins in 2008 were 12.8% and 14.1% on a quarterly and year-to-date basis, respectively, compared to 16.2% and 17.0% on a quarterly and year-to-date basis, respectively, in 2007. Higher restructuring charges, litigation expense, costs related to our anti-bribery investigations and related compliance initiatives and gains on the sale of businesses in 2007 more than offset the positive impact of foreign currency translation, savings realized from the 2007 and 2005 restructuring plans, organic revenue growth, a restructuring of ownership interests of one of our subsidiaries, and on a year-to-date basis, the inclusion in 2007 of $21 million of expense related to the settlement of litigation.

 

Consulting
 

Aon Consulting is one of the world’s largest integrated human capital consulting organizations. Our Consulting segment:

 

·                  provides a broad range of consulting services, and

 

36



 

·                  generated 19% and 18% of Aon’s total operating segment revenue for third quarter and nine months 2008, respectively.

 

The recent disruption in the global credit markets and the deterioration of the financial markets has created significant uncertainty in the marketplace.  A severe and/or prolonged economic downturn could adversely affect our clients’ financial condition and the levels of business activities in the industries and geographies where we operate.  This may reduce demand for our services or depress pricing of those services and have an adverse effect on our new business and results of operations.

 

We review our revenue results using the following sub-segments:

 

·                  Consulting Services, which provide consulting services in six major practice areas:

 

1.               Employee Benefits advises clients about how to structure, fund and administer employee benefit programs that attract, retain and motivate employees.  Benefits consulting includes health and welfare, retirement, executive benefits, absence management, compliance, employer commitment, investment advisory and elective benefit services.

2.               Compensation focuses on designing salary, bonus, commission, stock option and other pay structures, with special expertise in the financial services and technology industries.

3.               Management Consulting helps clients in process improvement and design, leadership, organization and human capital development, and change management.

4.               Communications advises clients on how to communicate initiatives that support their corporate vision.

5.               Strategic Human Resource Consulting advises complex global organizations on talent, change and organization effectiveness issues including assessment, selection performance management, succession planning, organization design and related people-management programs.

6.               Financial Advisory and Litigation Consulting provides consulting services, including white-collar and financial statement investigation, securities litigation, financial due diligence, financial valuation services and other related specialties.  During the third quarter 2008, we began to wind down certain parts of this practice, and the remaining operation will be transferred to our U.S. retail brokerage unit.

 

·                  Outsourcing, which offers employment processing, performance improvement, benefits administration and other employment-related services.

 

37



 

Revenue

 

This table shows Consulting commissions, fees and other revenue by sub-segment.

 

 

 

Third Quarter Ended September 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less:

 

Acquisitions,

 

Organic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

Currency

 

Divestitures,

 

Revenue

 

(millions)

 

2008

 

2007

 

Change

 

Impact

 

& Other

 

Growth

 

Consulting Services

 

$

284

 

$

269

 

6

%

1

%

(3

)%

8

%

Outsourcing

 

51

 

55

 

(7

)

(2

)

(1

)

(4

)

Total

 

$

335

 

$

324

 

3

%

1

%

(4

)%

6

%

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less:

 

Acquisitions,

 

Organic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

Currency

 

Divestitures,

 

Revenue

 

(millions)

 

2008

 

2007

 

Change

 

Impact

 

& Other

 

Growth

 

Consulting Services

 

$

850

 

$

794

 

7

%

3

%

(1

)%

5

%

Outsourcing

 

162

 

177

 

(8

)

1

 

(1

)

(8

)

Total

 

$

1,012

 

$

971

 

4

%

3

%

(2

)%

3

%

 

·                  Consulting Services commissions, fees and other revenue increased $15 million or 6% and $56 million or 7% on a quarterly and year-to-date basis, respectively.  Organic revenue growth was 8% and 5% for third quarter and nine months 2008, respectively, reflecting the impact of favorable foreign currency translation and growth in our retirement and health and benefit consulting practices for both periods.

 

·                  Outsourcing revenue decreased $4 million for the quarter and $15 million for nine months.  Organic revenue declined 4% for the quarter and 8% on a year-to-date basis driven by the termination of our contract with AT&T in 2007.

 

This table shows Consulting revenue by geographic area.

 

 

 

Third Quarter

 

Nine Months

 

(millions)

 

Sept. 30,
2008

 

Sept. 30,
2007

 

Percent
Change

 

Sept. 30,
2008

 

Sept. 30,
2007

 

Percent
Change

 

United States

 

$

158

 

$

156

 

1

%

$

459

 

$

484

 

(5

)%

Americas, other than U.S.

 

30

 

27

 

11

 

100

 

88

 

14

 

United Kingdom

 

65

 

69

 

(6

)

199

 

197

 

1

 

Europe, Middle East & Africa

 

63

 

56

 

13

 

201

 

168

 

20

 

Asia Pacific

 

21

 

17

 

24

 

57

 

42

 

36

 

Total revenue

 

$

337

 

$

325

 

4

%

$

1,016

 

$

979

 

4

%

 

·                  U.S. revenue increased 1% for the quarter but declined 5% on a year-to-date basis.  The quarterly growth was driven by our compensation and health and benefits practices, partially offset by lower outsourcing

 

38



 

revenue.  The year-to-date decline was driven primarily by lower investment income and the loss of outsourcing revenue related to the AT&T contract termination.

 

·                  Americas other than the U.S. revenue grew 11% and 14% for the quarter and nine months, respectively, driven by favorable foreign currency translation and organic growth.

 

·                  United Kingdom revenue declined 6% for the quarter as a result of unfavorable foreign exchange translation, which more than offset organic growth.  The nine month improvement was due to organic revenue growth and favorable foreign exchange translation.

 

·                  Europe, Middle East & Africa revenue increased 13% and 20% on a quarterly and year-to-date basis, respectively, driven by favorable foreign currency translation, acquisitions and organic revenue growth.

 

·                  Asia Pacific revenues grew 24% and 36% for the third quarter and nine months, respectively, reflecting the impact of favorable foreign currency translation and organic revenue growth.

 

Income Before Income Tax

 

Third quarter 2008 pretax income increased 37% to $52 million, compared to $38 million in 2007.  On a year-to-date basis, 2008 pretax income increased $29 million or 22% to $158 million.  Pretax margins for the quarter were 15.4% and 11.7% for 2008 and 2007, respectively, and for nine months were 15.6% and 13.2% for 2008 and 2007, respectively. The quarterly and year-to-date pretax income and margin improvement was primarily driven by organic growth, benefits related to the 2007 and 2005 restructuring plans, other operational improvements and favorable foreign currency translation, partially offset by the gain on sale of an investment in 2007.

 

Unallocated Income and Expense
 

Unallocated income consists primarily of investment income (including income or loss on investment disposals and other-than-temporary impairment losses), which is not otherwise reflected in the operating segments.

 

Private equities are principally carried at cost; however, where we have significant influence, they are reported under the equity method of accounting.  These investments usually do not pay dividends.  Limited partnerships (“LP”) are accounted for using the equity method and changes in the value of the underlying LP investments flow through unallocated investment income.

 

Unallocated income also includes the operations of our Property and Casualty runoff business.  We previously included results related to this business in our former Insurance Underwriting segment.

 

Unallocated investment income was $40 million and $19 million for the third quarter 2008 and 2007, respectively, and $62 million and $70 million for nine months 2008 and 2007, respectively.  Higher interest income from increased balances, reflecting the investment of proceeds from the sales of CICA and Sterling, positively impacted the quarter and nine months while higher income from our PEPS I investment positively impacted our quarterly results but is lower on a year-to-date basis.

 

Unallocated expenses include corporate governance costs not allocated to the operating segments.  Third quarter 2008 and 2007 expenses were $34 million and $24 million, respectively, and for both nine months 2008 and 2007 were $91 million.  The quarterly increase reflects $6 million in costs associated with the acquisition of Benfield, as well as higher absorbed costs previously allocated to the underwriting businesses.  Year-to-date expenses were unchanged as the Benfield costs offset the 2007 non-recurring accounting and legal expenses related to the review of historical equity compensation practices.

 

39



 

Property and Casualty revenues were $1 million and $2 million for the third quarter 2008 and 2007, respectively, and were $4 million and $6 million for nine months 2008 and 2007, respectively.  Associated expenses were $3 million and $7 million for third quarter 2008 and 2007, respectively, and were $9 million and $15 million for nine months 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

Interest expense, which represents the cost of our worldwide debt obligations, totaled $32 million and $33 million for third quarter 2008 and 2007, respectively, and were $96 million and $102 million for nine months 2008 and 2007, respectively.  The decreases for both periods primarily reflect the impact of the redemption of our 3.5% Senior Convertible Debentures in 2007.

 

FINANCIAL CONDITION AND LIQUIDITY

 

Cash Flows

 

Cash flows from operations represent the net income we earned in the reported periods adjusted for non-cash charges and changes in operating assets and liabilities.

 

Cash flows provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 are as follows:

 

(millions) Nine months ended September 30,

 

2008

 

2007

 

Insurance Underwriting operating cash flows

 

$

(14

)

$

225

 

All other operating cash flows

 

377

 

551

 

 

 

363

 

776

 

Change in funds held on behalf of brokerage and consulting clients

 

50

 

150

 

Cash provided by operating activities

 

$

413

 

$

926

 

 

Insurance Underwriting operating cash flows

 

Our insurance underwriting operations include accident & health and life and certain property & casualty businesses in run-off.  These insurance products have distinct differences in the timing of premiums earned and payment of future liabilities. As noted earlier, we sold our CICA and Sterling businesses on April 1, 2008.

 

Our operating cash flows from our insurance subsidiaries were $(14) million for 2008, a decrease of $239 million compared to 2007.  Due to the sale of CICA and Sterling, cash flows for 2008 include only activity through the date of sale.  For 2008, operating cash flows, analyzed by major income statement component, indicated that premium and other fees collected, net of reinsurance, were $624 million compared to $1,681 million in 2007.  Investment and other miscellaneous income received were $50 million and $135 million in 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

The insurance underwriting subsidiaries used revenues generated from premiums, investments and other miscellaneous income to pay claims and other cash benefits, commissions, general expenses and taxes.  Claims and other cash benefits paid were $368 million in 2008 versus $979 million in 2007.  Commissions and general expenses paid were $257 million for 2008, compared to $578 million in 2007.  Tax payments for 2008 were $63 million compared to $34 million last year.

 

Funds held on behalf of clients

 

In our Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services and Consulting segments, we typically hold funds on behalf of clients as a result of:

 

·                  premiums received from clients that are in transit to insurers.  These premiums held on behalf of, or due from, clients are reported as assets with a corresponding liability due to the insurer.

 

40



 

·                  claims due to clients that are in transit from insurers.  Claims held by, or due to us and which are due to clients, are also shown as both assets and liabilities.

 

These funds held on behalf of clients are generally invested in interest bearing trust accounts and can fluctuate significantly depending on when we collect cash from our clients and when premiums are remitted to the insurance carriers.

 

All other operating cash flows

 

Our operating cash flows from our Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services and Consulting segments, as well as related corporate items, were $377 million in 2008 compared to $551 million in 2007.  These amounts exclude the change in funds held on behalf of clients as described above.  The operating cash flows depend on the timing of receipts and payments related to revenues, incentive compensation, other operating expenses and income taxes.

 

Aon uses the excess cash generated by our brokerage and consulting businesses as well as dividends received from CICA prior to its sale to meet its liquidity needs, which consist of servicing its debt, paying dividends to its stockholders and repurchasing outstanding shares.

 

Investing and Financing Activities

 

Investing activities generated cash of $1.5 billion.  We received $2.4 billion in cash, net of taxes, from the sale of our CICA and Sterling subsidiaries.  Cash flows used by investing activities included purchases, net of sales of investments, of $772 million, principally reflecting the investment of the proceeds of the CICA and Sterling sale.  In addition, $80 million of cash was used for capital expenditures, net of disposals and we spent $85 million for various acquisitions of subsidiaries, the largest being our acquisition of the U.S. and U.K. reinsurance operations of A.J. Gallagher for $30 million.

 

Our financing needs were $2.0 billion.  Financing uses primarily included share repurchase activity, net of reissuance for our employee benefit plans of $1.7 billion, cash dividends paid to shareholders of $130 million, and debt repayments, net of issuance, of $165 million.

 

Financial Condition

 

In our capacity as an insurance broker or agent, we collect premiums from insureds and, after deducting our commission, remit the premiums to the respective insurance underwriter.  We also collect claims or refunds from underwriters on behalf of insureds.  Unremitted insurance premiums and claims are held by us in a fiduciary capacity as short-term investments.

 

In our condensed consolidated statements of financial position, we report fiduciary assets equal to our fiduciary liabilities.  Our fiduciary assets include short-term investments of $3,092 million and $3,122 million at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.

 

Since year-end 2007, total assets decreased $4.2 billion to $20.7 billion.

 

·                  Working capital, excluding assets and liabilities held-for-sale, increased $968 million to $3.0 billion.  The increase is primarily attributed to an increase in short-term investments from the sales of CICA and Sterling.

 

·                  Short-term debt decreased by $252 million as a result of paying down all of our short-term Euro facility borrowings.

 

41



 

·                  Accounts payable and accrued liabilities decreased $236 million due primarily to the payment of incentive compensation in March.

 

·                  Goodwill decreased $33 million due to the impact of foreign currency translation, partially offset by acquisition activity during the year.

 

·                  Long-term debt increased by $71 million, reflecting higher long-term Euro facility borrowings and the impact of foreign currency translation.

 

Borrowings
 

Total debt at September 30, 2008 was $1,964 million, a decrease of $181 million from December 31, 2007, which is the net result of our Euro facility repayments and borrowings.

 

At September 30, 2008, we had a $600 million U.S. bank credit facility, which expires in February 2010, to support commercial paper and other short-term borrowings.  The facility allows us to issue up to $150 million in letters of credit.  At September 30, 2008, we have issued $20 million in letters of credit.

 

We also have foreign credit facilities available.  At September 30, 2008, we had available to us:

 

·                  a five-year €650 million ($950 million at September 30, 2008 exchange rates) multi-currency facility of which $636 million was outstanding at September 30, 2008.  See Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements in our 2007 Form 10-K for further discussion of both the U.S. and Euro facilities, and

 

·                  a 364-day €25 million ($37 million) facility.

 

We also have a €20 million ($29 million) uncommitted facility.

 

The major rating agencies’ ratings of our debt at November 3, 2008 appear in the table below.

 

 

 

Ratings

 

 

 

 

 

Senior
Long-term Debt

 

Commercial
Paper

 

Outlook

 

Standard & Poor’s

 

BBB+

 

A-2

 

Negative

 

Moody’s Investor Services

 

Baa2

 

P-2

 

Stable

 

Fitch, Inc.

 

BBB+

 

F-2

 

Stable

 

 

During the third quarter 2008, Moody’s Investor Service changed our rating outlook to stable from positive, reflecting the integration risk associated with the pending Benfield acquisition and the expected decline in our cash position.  Also in the third quarter, Standard & Poor’s placed our counterparty credit rating on Credit Watch with negative implications, reflecting the uncertainty regarding Benfield’s impact on our cash flows, capital structure and coverage ratios.

 

A downgrade in the credit ratings of our senior debt and commercial paper would:

 

·                  increase our borrowing costs and reduce our financial flexibility, and

·                  increase our commercial paper interest rates or possibly restrict our access to the commercial paper market altogether.  Although we have committed backup lines, we cannot ensure that our financial position will not be hurt if we can no longer access the commercial paper market.

 

42



 

Stockholders’ Equity

 

Stockholders’ equity decreased $274 million from December 31, 2007 to $5,947 million, driven primarily by an increase in net income of $1,468 million, which was more than offset by share repurchase activity, net of reissuances for our employee benefit plans of $1,731 million.

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss increased $12 million since December 31, 2007.  Compared to year end 2007:

 

·                  net foreign currency translation increased by $25 million because of the weakening of the U.S. dollar against foreign currencies.

·                  net unrealized investment losses rose $4 million, and

·                  net derivative losses increased $31 million.

 

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We record various contractual obligations as liabilities in our consolidated financial statements.  Other items, such as certain purchase commitments and other executory contracts, are not recognized as liabilities in our consolidated financial statements, but we are required to disclose them.

 

Aon and its subsidiaries have issued letters of credit to cover contingent payments for taxes and other business obligations to third parties.  We accrue amounts in our consolidated financial statements for these letters of credit to the extent that a loss is probable and estimable.

 

Following the guidance of Statement No. 140 and other relevant accounting guidance, we use SPEs and QSPEs, also known as special purpose vehicles, in some of our operations.

 

Reinsurance Guarantee

 

In connection with the AWG disposal, we issued an indemnification that protects the purchaser from credit exposure relating to the property and casualty reserves that have been reinsured.  These reinsurance recoverables amount to $663 million at September 30, 2008.  Trust balances and letters of credit offsetting these reinsurance recoverables total approximately $149 million.  At December 31, 2007, we had recorded a $12 million liability, reflecting the fair value of this indemnification.  The value decreased to approximately $9 million as of September 30, 2008.  The indemnification represents the present value of the indemnification based on the credit risk of the reinsurers.

 

Premium Financing Operations

 

Some of our U.S., U.K., Canadian, and Australian subsidiaries originate short-term loans (generally with terms of 12 months or less) to businesses to finance their insurance premium obligations, and then sell these premium finance agreements in securitization transactions that meet the criteria for sale accounting under Statement No. 140.

 

·                  In the U.S. and U.K., premium finance agreements are sold to SPEs, which are considered QSPEs as defined by Statement No. 140. The QSPEs fund their purchases of premium finance agreements by selling undivided beneficial interests in the agreements to Bank SPEs.

·                  In Canada and Australia, undivided interests in the premium finance agreements are sold directly to Bank SPEs.  The Bank SPEs are variable interest entities as defined by FIN 46R.

 

The QSPEs used in the U.S. and U.K. are not consolidated in our financial statements because the criteria for sale accounting have been met under Statement No. 140.

 

43



 

For the Canadian and Australian sales, we have analyzed qualitative and quantitative factors related to our transactions with the Bank SPEs and have determined that non-consolidation of the Bank SPEs is appropriate in accordance with FIN 46R because we are not their primary beneficiary.  Specific factors we considered include:

 

·                  the fact that we are not the sponsor of any of the Bank SPEs,

·                  various other unaffiliated companies sell receivables to the Bank SPEs, and

·                  unaffiliated third parties have either made substantial equity investments in the Bank SPEs, hold voting control of the Bank SPEs, or generally have the risks and rewards of ownership of the assets of the Bank SPEs through liquidity support agreements or other arrangements involving significant variable interests.

 

Our variable interest in the Bank SPEs in these jurisdictions is limited to our retained interests in premium finance agreements sold to the Bank SPEs.  We review all material off-balance sheet transactions annually or whenever a reconsideration event occurs for the continued propriety of our accounting.

 

Pursuant to the sale agreements, the total amount advanced by the Bank SPEs on premium finance agreements sold to them at any one time is limited by the sale agreements to $1.8 billion.  The Bank SPEs had advanced to us $1.2 billion and $1.4 billion at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively, on portfolios sold to the Bank SPEs of $1.3 billion and $1.5 billion at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.

 

We record gains on the sale of premium finance agreements.  When we calculate the gain, we include all costs we expect to incur for the relevant Bank SPEs.  The gains, which are included in commissions, fees and other revenue in the condensed consolidated statements of income, were $9 million and $15 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and $41 million and $46 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

·                  We record our retained interest in the sold premium finance agreements at fair value, and report it in receivables in the condensed consolidated statements of financial position.  We estimate fair value by discounting estimated future cash flows using discount rates that are commensurate with the underlying risk, expected future prepayment rates, and credit loss estimates.

 

·                  We also retain servicing rights for sold agreements, and earn servicing fee income over the servicing period.  Because the servicing fees represent adequate compensation for the servicing of the receivables, we have not recorded any servicing assets or liabilities.

 

The third-party bank sponsors or other participants in the Bank SPEs provide the liquidity support and bear the credit risks on the receivables, subject to limited recourse, in the form of over-collateralization provided by us (and other sellers) as required by the sales agreements.  The over-collateralization of our sold receivables represents our maximum exposure to credit-related losses, and was approximately $115 million at September 30, 2008.  We also remain contingently liable should the funding costs of the U.S. Bank SPEs exceed the interest and late fees accrued or collected on the sold U.S. portfolio.  We continually review our retained interest in the sold portfolio, taking into consideration credit loss trends in the sold portfolio, conditions in the credit markets and other factors, and adjust its carrying value accordingly.

 

With the exception of our Australian sales agreements, all our other sales agreements require us to meet the following covenants:

 

·                  consolidated net worth, as defined, of at least $2.5 billion,

·                  consolidated EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) to consolidated net interest of at least 4 to 1, and

·                  consolidated indebtedness to consolidated EBITDA of no more than 3 to 1.

 

44



 

We intend to renew these conduit facilities as they expire.  We renewed the U.S. sales agreement on October 3, 2008 and intend to renew our European agreement in the fourth quarter of 2008.  The current environment in the credit markets influenced the renewal process and the renewed U.S. terms are more restrictive: the over-collateralization requirements have increased significantly ($40 million on the renewal date), and, based upon our estimated needs for the coming year, we reduced the level of committed availability by $436 million and scheduled additional decreases of $220 million by March 31, 2009.  In addition, the securitization program costs added on the pass-through funding costs from the U.S. Bank SPEs.  We expect similarly restrictive terms in Europe.  Moreover, as our ability to originate and fund new premium finance agreements is dependent on the pass-through funding costs of the Bank SPEs, disruptions in the markets through which the Bank SPEs obtain funds could further impact on our premium finance results of operations and cash flows.  We also face the risk the Bank SPEs will be unable to provide the liquidity or will become an unreliable source of the liquidity necessary to fund new premium finance agreements.  Such an occurrence would require us to consider alternate sources of funding, including other forms of off-balance sheet as well as on-balance sheet financing, or discontinue the origination of premium finance agreements.  Additionally, if there were adverse bank, regulatory, tax, or accounting rule changes, our access to the conduit facilities and special purpose vehicles could be affected.

 

PEPS I

 

In 2001, we sold the vast majority of our LP portfolio, valued at $450 million, to PEPS I, a QSPE.  The common stock interest in PEPS I is held by a limited liability company, owned by us (49%) and by a charitable trust, which we do not control (51%).  We do not include the assets and liabilities and operations of PEPS I in our consolidated financial statements.

 

In 2001, PEPS I sold approximately $171 million of investment grade fixed-maturity securities to unaffiliated third parties.  PEPS I then paid our insurance underwriting subsidiaries the $171 million in cash and issued them an additional $279 million in fixed-maturity and preferred stock securities.

 

As part of this transaction, Aon is required to purchase additional fixed-maturity securities from PEPS I in an amount equal to the unfunded LP commitments as they are requested.  These fixed-maturity securities are rated below investment grade.  Commitments of $1 million were funded by us in 2008.  As of September 30, 2008, unfunded commitments amounted to $43 million.  These commitments have specific expiration dates and the general partners may decide not to draw on these commitments.

 

Our 2008 income distributions from our preferred investment in PEPS I increased $13 million for the quarter but decreased $25 million on a year-to-date basis.  These distributions are included in investment income.  Prior to 2007, income distributions received from PEPS I were limited to interest payments on various PEPS I debt instruments.  Beginning in 2007, PEPS I had redeemed or collateralized all of its debt, and as a result, began to pay preferred income distributions.  Whether we receive additional preferred returns will depend on the performance of the LP interests underlying PEPS I, which we expect to vary from period to period.  We do not control the timing of the distributions.

 

Aon derives the estimated fair value of its preferred investments in PEPS I primarily from valuations received from the general partners of the LP interests held by PEPS I.

 

45



 

INFORMATION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 

This report contains certain statements related to future results, or states our intentions, beliefs and expectations or predictions for the future which are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from either historical or anticipated results depending on a variety of factors. Potential factors that could impact results include: general economic conditions in different countries in which we do business around the world, changes in global equity and fixed income markets that could affect the return on invested assets, fluctuations in exchange and interest rates that could influence revenue and expense, rating agency actions that could affect our ability to borrow funds, funding of our various pension plans, changes in the competitive environment, our ability to implement restructuring initiatives and other initiatives intended to yield cost savings, changes in commercial property and casualty markets and commercial premium rates that could impact revenues, the outcome of inquiries from regulators and investigations related to compliance with U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and non-U.S. anti-corruption laws, the impact of class actions and individual lawsuits including client class actions, securities class actions, derivative actions and ERISA class actions, the cost of resolution of other contingent liabilities and loss contingencies, our ability to complete our pending acquisition of Benfield Group Limited and, if completed, to integrate Benfield successfully and to realize the anticipated benefits of the Benfield acquisition.

 

We undertake no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

46



 

ITEM 3.                     QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

We are exposed to potential fluctuations in earnings, cash flows and the fair value of certain of our assets and liabilities due to changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates and equity prices.  To manage the risk from these exposures, we enter into a variety of derivative instruments.  We do not enter into derivatives or financial instruments for trading purposes.

 

We are subject to foreign exchange rate risk from translating the financial statements of our foreign subsidiaries into U.S. dollars. Our primary exposures are to the British pound, the Euro, the Canadian dollar, and the Australian dollar.  We use over-the-counter (“OTC”) options and forward contracts to reduce the impact of foreign currency fluctuations on the translation of our foreign operations’ financial statements.

 

Additionally, some of our foreign brokerage subsidiaries receive revenues in currencies that differ from their functional currencies.  Our U.K. subsidiary earns a portion of its revenue in U.S. dollars and Euros but most of its expenses are incurred in pounds sterling.  Our policy is to convert into pounds sterling sufficient U.S. dollar and Euro revenue to fund the subsidiary’s pound sterling expenses using OTC options and forward exchange contracts.  At September 30, 2008, we have hedged approximately 24% and 77% of our U.K. subsidiaries’ expected U.S. dollar and Euro transaction exposures for the next twelve months, respectively.  We do not generally hedge these exposures beyond three years.

 

The translated value of revenue and expense from our international brokerage operations are subject to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.  Third quarter 2008 diluted earnings per share were positively impacted by $0.04 related to translation gains.

 

We also use forward contracts to offset foreign exchange risk associated with foreign denominated inter-company notes.

 

Our businesses’ income is affected by changes in international and domestic short-term interest rates.  We monitor our net exposure to short-term interest rates and, as appropriate, hedge our exposure with various derivative financial instruments.  A decrease in global short-term interest rates adversely affects our income.  This activity primarily relates to brokerage funds held on behalf of clients in the U.S. and on the Continent of Europe.

 

47



 

ITEM 4.   CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures.  Based on Aon management’s evaluation (with the participation of the chief executive officer and chief financial officer), as of the end of the period covered by this report, Aon’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15(d) –15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “Exchange Act”)) are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by Aon in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms.

 

Changes in internal control over financial reporting.  There were no changes in Aon’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15(d)–15(f) under the Exchange Act) during third quarter 2008 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, Aon’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

48



 

PART II

 

OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.                                    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

See Note 13 (Contingencies) to the condensed consolidated financial statements contained in Part I, Item 1, which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

ITEM 1A.                          RISK FACTORS

 

The risk factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors to the 2007 Form 10-K of Aon Corporation (“Aon,” “we,” “us” or “our”) have been updated as set forth below to reflect our divestiture earlier this year of our Combined Insurance Company of America and Sterling Life Insurance Company subsidiaries that reduced our risk from underwriting businesses and the new acquisition and integration risks arising from our intention to acquire Benfield Group Limited. These updated risk factors set forth below supersede those contained in our 2007 Form 10-K and readers should consider them in addition to the other information contained in this report as our business, financial condition or results of operations could be adversely affected if any of these risks actually occur.

 

The following are certain risks related to our business specifically and the insurance industry generally that could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. The risk factors are:

 

Our results may fluctuate due to many factors, including cyclical or permanent changes in the insurance and reinsurance industries.

 

Our results historically have been subject to significant fluctuations arising from uncertainties and changes in the insurance industry. Changes in premium rates generally affect the commissions and fees payable to our brokerage businesses.

 

Our results may be adversely affected by changes in the mode of compensation in the insurance industry.

 

Since the Attorney General of New York brought charges against one of our competitors in October 2004, there has been a great deal of uncertainty concerning then longstanding methods of compensating insurance brokers. Soon after the Attorney General brought those charges, Aon and certain other large insurance brokers announced that they would terminate contingent commission arrangements with underwriters. Most insurance brokers, however, currently continue to enter into such arrangements, and regulators have not taken action to end such arrangements throughout the industry.

 

Our results may be adversely affected by the impact disruptions in the credit and financial markets have on our customers and the insurance industry.

 

The recent disruption in the global credit markets, the repricing of credit risk and the deterioration of the financial markets have created increasing difficult conditions for financial institutions, including those in the insurance industry. Continued volatility and further deterioration in the credit markets may reduce our customers’ demand for our brokerage and reinsurance services and products and could negatively impact our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, the potential for a significant insurer to fail or withdraw from writing certain insurance coverages that we offer our clients could negatively impact overall capacity in the industry. This could then reduce placement of certain lines and types of insurance and reduce our revenues and profitability.

 

We face significant competitive pressures in each of our businesses.

 

We believe that competition in our lines of business is based on service, product features, price, commission structure, financial strength and name recognition. In particular, we compete with a large number of national, regional and local insurance companies and other financial services providers and brokers.

 

We encounter strong competition for both clients and professional talent in our insurance brokerage and risk management services operations from other insurance brokerage firms which also operate on a nationwide or worldwide basis, from a large number of regional and local firms throughout the world, from insurance and reinsurance companies that market and service their insurance products without the assistance of brokers or agents and from other businesses, including commercial and investment banks, accounting firms and consultants that provide risk related services and products. Our consulting operations compete with independent

 

49



 

consulting firms and consulting organizations affiliated with accounting, information systems, technology and financial services firms around the world.

 

In addition, the increase in competition due to new legislative or industry developments could adversely affect us. These developments include:

 

·                                          the selling of insurance by insurance companies directly to insureds;

 

·                                          changes in our business compensation model as a result of regulatory investigations;

 

·                                          the establishment of programs in which state sponsored entities provide property insurance in catastrophe prone areas or other alternative types of coverage;

 

·                                          additional regulations promulgated by the Financial Services Authority (“FSA”) in the United Kingdom, or other regulatory bodies in jurisdictions in which we operate.

 

New competition as a result of these developments could cause the supply of, and demand for, our products and services to change, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

 

We may not realize all of the expected benefits from our restructuring plans.

 

In third quarter 2007, we announced a global restructuring plan intended to create a more streamlined organization and to reduce future expense growth to better serve clients (the “2007 Plan”). As a result, we have adopted restructuring initiatives that are expected to result in the elimination of an estimated 2,700 employee positions, the closing or consolidation of several offices, asset impairments and other expenses necessary to implement these initiatives. We currently expect that the 2007 Plan will result in cumulative pretax charges of $450 million.  We anticipate that our annualized savings from the 2007 Plan will be approximately $300 million by 2010.  We cannot assure that we will achieve the targeted savings. In 2005, we began a restructuring initiative to reduce our fixed cost base and increase efficiency (the “2005 Plan”). The 2005 Plan is substantially complete, and resulted in cumulative pretax charges totalling $368 million. Restructuring costs included the elimination of approximately 3,600 employee positions, the closing of various offices, asset impairments and other expenses necessary to implement these initiatives. We anticipate that our annualized savings from the 2005 Plan will be approximately $270 million by 2008. Estimated savings from the 2007 and 2005 Plans do not include any benefits related to businesses placed in discontinued operations. We cannot assure that we will achieve the targeted savings.

 

Changes in interest rates and investment prices could reduce the value of our investment portfolio and adversely affect our financial condition or results.

 

We carry an investment portfolio of fixed-maturity and other long-term investments. As of September 30, 2008, our continuing operations had fixed-maturity investments (100 percent investment grade) that had a carrying value of $132 million and our other long term investments had a carrying value of $276 million. Funds held on behalf of clients, which were $3.1 billion at September 30, 2008, are held in short-term investments. Changes in interest rates and investment prices could reduce the value of our investment portfolio and adversely affect our financial condition or results.

 

For example, changes in domestic and international interest rates directly affect our income from, and the market value of, fixed maturity investments. Similarly, general economic conditions, stock market conditions and other factors beyond our control affect the value of our equity investments. We monitor our portfolio for other than temporary impairments in carrying value. For securities judged to have an other than temporary impairment, we recognize a realized loss through the statement of income to write down the value of those securities.

 

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We are also subject to potential declines in credit quality, either related to issues specific to certain industries or to a weakening in the economy in general. The concentration of our investment portfolio in any particular industry, group of related industries or geographic sector could have an adverse effect on our investment portfolio and, consequently, on our results of operations and financial condition. A decline in the quality of our investment portfolio as a result of adverse economic conditions or otherwise could cause realized losses on securities, including realized losses relating to derivative strategies. The financial and liquidity needs of our business could also cause us to sell assets from our investment portfolio at unfavorable prices.

 

Our net pension liabilities may grow, and the fair value of our pension plan assets may decrease, which could adversely affect our stockholders’ equity, net income, cash flow and liquidity and require us to make additional cash contributions to our pension plans.

 

To the extent that the present value of the benefits incurred to date for pension obligations in the major countries in which we operate continues to exceed the value of the assets supporting these obligations, our financial position and results of operations may be adversely affected. In certain previous years, there have been declines in interest rates. As a result of lower interest rates, the present value of plan liabilities increased faster than the value of plan assets, resulting in significantly higher unfunded positions in several of our major pension plans.

 

We currently plan on contributing approximately $182 million to our major pension plans, although we may elect to contribute more.  Total cash contributions to these pension plans in 2007 were $211 million, which was an increase of $7 million from 2006. In 2006, we also contributed $166 million of non cash financial instruments to certain of our United Kingdom plans. In total, our 2007 contributions to these pension plans were $159 million less than in 2006. Future estimates are based on certain assumptions, including discount rates, interest rates, mortality, fair value of assets and expected return on plan assets.

 

Periodic revision of pension assumptions can materially change the present value of future benefits, and therefore the funded status of the plans and the resulting periodic pension expense. Changes in our pension benefit obligations and the related net periodic costs or credits may occur in the future due to any variance of actual results from our assumptions and changes in the number of participating employees. As a result, there can be no assurance that we will not experience future decreases in stockholders’ equity, net income, cash flow and liquidity or that we will not be required to make additional cash contributions in the future beyond those which have been estimated.

 

We are subject to a number of contingencies and legal proceedings which, if determined unfavorably to us, would adversely affect our financial results.

 

We are subject to numerous claims, tax assessments, lawsuits and proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business.  The damages claimed in these matters are or may be substantial, including, in many instances, claims for punitive, treble or extraordinary damages.  We have purchased errors and omissions (“E&O”) insurance and other appropriate insurance to provide protection against losses that arise in such matters.  Accruals for these items, and related insurance receivables, when applicable, have been provided to the extent that losses are deemed probable and are reasonably estimable.  These accruals and receivables are adjusted from time to time as developments warrant.  Amounts related to settlement provisions are recorded in other general expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of income.

 

At the time of the 2004-05 investigation of the insurance industry by the Attorney General of New York (“NYAG”) and other regulators, purported classes of clients filed civil litigation against us and other companies under a variety of legal theories, including state tort, contract, fiduciary duty, antitrust and statutory theories and federal antitrust and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”) theories.  The federal actions were consolidated in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, and a state court collective action was filed in California.

 

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In the New Jersey actions, the Court dismissed plaintiffs’ federal antitrust and RICO claims in separate orders in August and October 2007, respectively.  Plaintiffs have appealed these dismissals.  We believe we have meritorious defenses in all of these cases and intend to vigorously defend ourselves against these claims.  The outcome of these lawsuits, and any losses or other payments that may occur as a result, cannot be predicted at this time.

 

Also at the time of the NYAG investigation, putative classes filed actions against us in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois under the federal securities laws and ERISA.  Plaintiffs in the federal securities class action have recently submitted purported expert reports estimating a range of alleged damages of $353 million to $498 million, and plaintiffs in the ERISA class actions have recently submitted purported expert reports estimating a range of alleged damages of $59 million to $349 million. We will soon submit our own expert reports, which will vigorously challenge these damage estimates, as well as plaintiffs’ underlying theories of liability. We believe we have meritorious defenses in all of these cases and intend to vigorously defend ourselves against these claims.  The outcome of these lawsuits, and any losses or other payments that may occur as a result, cannot be predicted at this time.

 

Following inquiries from regulators, we commenced an internal review of our compliance with certain U.S. and non-U.S. anti-bribery laws, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”).  An outside law firm with significant experience in the area is overseeing the review.  Certain governmental agencies, including the U.K. Financial Services Authority, the City of London police, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and the U.S. Department of Justice, are also investigating these matters.  We are fully cooperating with these investigations, and have agreed with the U.S. agencies to toll any applicable statute of limitations pending completion of the investigations.  Based on current information, we are unable to predict at this time when these matters will be concluded, or what regulatory or other outcomes may result.

 

A financial institution in the U.K. called Standard Life Assurance Ltd. brought an action in London Commercial Court against us seeking more than £50 million ($92 million at September 30, 2008 exchange rates) for alleged errors or omissions in the placement of a professional indemnity policy with certain underwriters.  In a preliminary decision issued on February 13, 2008, the court construed the relevant policy language to excuse underwriters from paying Standard Life and concluded that we were negligent in not seeking changes to the language.  We filed an interlocutory appeal of this preliminary decision.  In July 2008, we reached a settlement with underwriters under which underwriters agreed to pay a portion of the ultimate recovery by Standard Life in exchange for us dropping our appeal of the preliminary decision.  In subsequent proceedings in the Commercial Court, we will vigorously contest Standard Life’s claims based on a variety of legal and factual arguments.  We have a potential negligence claim against a different third party which provided advice with respect of the relevant policy language, and we further believe that, as a result of an indemnity given to us by a third party, we are entitled to indemnification in whole or part for our losses in this matter.

 

A putative class action, Buckner v. Resource Life, is pending in state court in Columbus, Georgia against a former subsidiary of Aon, Resource Life Insurance Company.  The complaint alleges that Resource Life, which wrote policies insuring repayment of auto loans, was obligated to identify and return unearned premium to policyholders whose loans terminated before the end of their scheduled terms.  In connection with the sale of Resource Life in 2006, we agreed to indemnify Resource Life’s buyer in certain respects relating to this action.  We believe that Resource Life has meritorious defenses and are vigorously defending this action.  The outcome of the action, and the amount of any losses or other payments that may result, cannot be predicted at this time.

 

Virginia Surety Company, Inc. (“VSC”), a former property and casualty underwriting subsidiary of Aon, is engaged in arbitration and litigation proceedings with Applied Underwriters, Inc. (“Applied”), a managing general agent (“MGA”).  In these proceedings, Applied seeks approximately $190 million for, inter alia, an alleged diminution in Applied’s value following VSC’s termination of an MGA contract between the parties.  In connection with the sale of Aon Warranty Group (“AWG”) (which includes VSC) in 2006, we agreed to retain certain obligations related to VSC’s property and casualty underwriting business, now in runoff, including this matter.  We believe that VSC has meritorious defenses and are vigorously defending the arbitration and litigation.

 

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The outcome of the action, and the amount of any losses or other payments that may result, cannot be predicted at this time.

 

Although the ultimate outcome of all matters referred to above cannot be ascertained, and liabilities in indeterminate amounts may be imposed on us or our subsidiaries, on the basis of present information, amounts already provided, availability of insurance coverages and legal advice received, it is the opinion of our management that the disposition or ultimate determination of such claims will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position.  However, it is possible that our future results of operations or cash flows for any particular quarterly or annual period could be materially affected by an unfavorable resolution of these matters.

 

We are subject to E&O claims against us.

 

In our insurance brokerage and consulting businesses, we often assist our clients with matters which include the placement of insurance coverage or employee benefit plans and the handling of related claims. E&O claims against us may allege our potential liability for all or part of the amounts in question. E&O claims could include, for example, the failure of our employees or sub agents, whether negligently or intentionally, to place coverage correctly or notify carriers of claims on behalf of clients or to provide insurance carriers with complete and accurate information relating to the risks being insured. It is not always possible to prevent and detect errors and omissions, and the precautions we take may not be effective in all cases. In addition, E&O claims may harm our reputation or divert management resources away from operating our business.

 

Our success depends, in part, on our ability to attract and retain experienced and qualified personnel.

 

Our future success depends on our ability to attract and retain experienced personnel, including underwriters, brokers and other professional personnel. Competition for such experienced professional personnel is intense. If we cannot hire and retain talented personnel, our business, operating results and financial condition could be adversely affected.

 

Our businesses are subject to extensive governmental regulation which could reduce our profitability or limit our growth.

 

Our businesses are subject to extensive federal, state and foreign governmental regulation and supervision, which could reduce our profitability or limit our growth by increasing the costs of regulatory compliance, limiting or restricting the products or services we sell or the methods by which we sell our products and services or subjecting our businesses to the possibility of regulatory actions or proceedings. With respect to our insurance brokerage businesses, this supervision generally includes the licensing of insurance brokers and agents and third party administrators and the regulation of the handling and investment of client funds held in a fiduciary capacity. Our continuing ability to provide insurance brokering and third party administration in the jurisdictions in which we currently operate depends on our compliance with the rules and regulations promulgated from time to time by the regulatory authorities in each of these jurisdictions. Also, we can be affected indirectly by the governmental regulation and supervision of other insurance companies.  For instance, if we are providing managing general underwriting services for an insurer, we may have to contend with regulations affecting our client.  Further, regulation affecting the insurance companies with whom our brokers place business can affect how we conduct those operations.

 

Although the federal government does not directly regulate the insurance business, federal legislation and administrative policies in several areas, including employee benefit plan regulation, Medicare, age, race, disability and sex discrimination, investment company regulation, financial services regulation, securities laws and federal taxation, do affect the insurance industry generally. For instance, several laws and regulations adopted by the federal government, including the Gramm Leach Bliley Act and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, have created additional administrative and compliance requirements for us.

 

With respect to our international operations, we are subject to various regulations relating to, among other things, licensing, currency, policy language and terms, reserves and the amount of local investment. These various regulations also add to our cost of doing business through increased compliance expenses, the financial impact of use of capital restrictions and increased training and employee expenses. Furthermore, the loss of a license in a particular jurisdiction could restrict or eliminate our ability to conduct business in that jurisdiction.

 

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In all jurisdictions the applicable laws and regulations are subject to amendment or interpretation by regulatory authorities. Generally, such authorities are vested with relatively broad discretion to grant, renew and revoke licenses and approvals and to implement regulations. Accordingly, we may be precluded or temporarily suspended from carrying on some or all of our activities or otherwise fined or penalized in a given jurisdiction. No assurances can be given that our businesses can continue to be conducted in any given jurisdiction as we it has been conducted in the past.

 

Our significant global operations expose us to various international risks that could adversely affect our business.

 

A significant portion of our operations are conducted outside the U.S. Accordingly, we are subject to legal, economic and market risks associated with operating in foreign countries, including:

 

·                                          the general economic and political conditions existing in those countries;

 

·                                          devaluations and fluctuations in currency exchange rates;

 

·                                          imposition of limitations on conversion of foreign currencies or remittance of dividends and other payments by foreign subsidiaries;

 

·                                          imposition or increase of withholding and other taxes on remittances and other payments by subsidiaries;

 

·                                          difficulties in staffing and managing our foreign offices, and the increased travel, infrastructure and legal and compliance costs associated with multiple international locations;

 

·                                          hyperinflation in certain foreign countries;

 

·                                          imposition or increase of investment and other restrictions by foreign governments;

 

·                                          longer payment cycles;

 

·                                          greater difficulties in accounts receivables collection; and

 

·                                          the requirement of complying with a wide variety of foreign laws.

 

Some of our foreign brokerage subsidiaries receive revenues in currencies that differ from their functional currencies.  We must also translate the financial results of our foreign subsidiaries into U.S. dollars. Although we use various derivative financial instruments to help protect against adverse transaction and translation effects due to exchange rate fluctuations, we cannot eliminate such risks and significant changes in exchange rates may adversely affect our results.

 

Our financial results could be adversely affected if assumptions used in establishing our underwriting reserves differ from actual experience.

 

We maintain claims reserves as an estimate of our liability under insurance policies issued by our insurance underwriting operations, which are in runoff. These reserves could cause variability in our financial results.

 

Claim reserves reflect our estimated liability for unpaid claims and claims adjustment expenses, including legal and other fees and general expenses for administering the claims adjustment process, and for reported and unreported losses incurred as of the end of each accounting period. If the reserves, as currently estimated for future claims, prove inadequate, we would be required to increase our liabilities, which could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

The obligation for future claims does not represent an exact calculation of liability. Rather, reserves represent our management’s best estimate of what we expect the ultimate settlement and administration of claims will cost. These estimates represent informed judgments based on our assessment of currently available data, as well as estimates of future trends in claims severity, frequency, judicial theories of liability and other factors. Many of these factors are not quantifiable in advance and both internal and external events, such as changes in claims handling procedures, inflation,

 

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judicial and legal developments and legislative changes, can cause our estimates to vary. The inherent uncertainty of estimating reserves is greater for certain types of liabilities, where the variables affecting these types of claims are subject to change and long periods of time may elapse before a definitive determination of liability is made. Reserve estimates are periodically refined as experience develops and further losses are reported and settled. Adjustments to reserves are reflected in the results of the periods in which such estimates are changed. Because setting the level of claims reserves is inherently uncertain, we cannot assure investors that our current reserves will prove adequate in light of subsequent events.

 

Each of our business lines may be adversely affected by an overall decline in economic activity.

 

The demand for property and casualty insurance generally rises as the overall level of economic activity increases and generally falls as such activity decreases, affecting both the commissions and fees generated by our brokerage and consulting businesses. In particular, a growing number of insolvencies associated with an economic downturn, especially insolvencies in the insurance industry, could adversely affect our brokerage business through the loss of clients or by hampering our ability to place insurance and reinsurance business. Moreover, the results of our consulting business are generally affected by the level of business activity of our clients, which in turn is affected by the level of economic activity in the industries and markets these clients serve. As our clients become adversely affected by declining business conditions, they may choose to delay or forgo consulting engagements with Aon.

 

We have debt outstanding that could adversely affect our financial flexibility.

 

As of September 30, 2008, we had total consolidated debt outstanding of approximately $2.0 billion. The level of debt outstanding could adversely affect our financial flexibility.

 

A decline in the credit ratings of our senior debt and commercial paper may adversely affect our borrowing costs and financial flexibility.

 

A downgrade in the credit ratings of our senior debt and commercial paper could increase our borrowing costs and reduce our financial flexibility. In addition, certain downgrades may trigger our obligations to fund certain amounts with respect to our premium finance securitizations. Similarly, a downgrade would increase our commercial paper interest rates or may result in our inability to access the commercial paper market altogether. We cannot assume that our financial position would not be adversely affected if we are unable to access the commercial paper market.

 

Changes in our accounting estimates and assumptions could negatively affect our financial position and results.

 

We prepare our financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These accounting principles require us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our financial statements.  We are also required to make certain judgments that affect the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during each reporting period.  We periodically evaluate our estimates and assumptions including those relating to reserves to pay policy liabilities, deferred policy acquisition costs, the valuation of investments, income taxes, stock based compensation and contingencies and litigation.  We base our estimates on historical experience and various assumptions that we believe to be reasonable based on specific circumstances. Actual results could differ from these estimates, and changes in accounting standards could increase costs to our organization and could have an adverse impact on our future financial position and results of operations.

 

We are a holding company and, therefore, may not be able to receive dividends in needed amounts from our subsidiaries.

 

Our principal assets are the shares of capital stock of our subsidiaries. We have to rely on dividends from these subsidiaries to meet our obligations for paying principal and interest on outstanding debt obligations and for paying dividends to stockholders and corporate expenses.

 

We cannot guarantee that our reinsurers of our property and casualty business will pay in a timely fashion, if at all.

 

To better manage our portfolio of underwriting risk, we purchased reinsurance by transferring part of the risk (known as ceding) to a reinsurance company in exchange for part of the premium that we had received in connection with the risk.

 

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Although reinsurance makes the reinsurer liable to us to the extent the risk is transferred (or ceded) to the reinsurer, it does not relieve us of our liability to our policyholders. Accordingly, we bear credit risk with respect to our reinsurers. Recently, due to industry and general economic conditions, there is an increasing risk of insolvency among reinsurance companies, resulting in a greater incidence of litigation and affecting the recoverability of claims. We cannot assure that our reinsurers will pay the reinsurance recoverables owed to us or that they will pay these recoverables on a timely basis.

 

In connection with the sale of AWG on November 30, 2006, we sold the capital stock of VSC. Because VSC issued property and casualty policies, VSC continues to remain liable to property and casualty policyholders. However, pursuant to contractual arrangements entered into as part of the sale of AWG, Aon has agreed to indemnify the buyer of VSC for all obligations arising out of the property and casualty business, including any failure by reinsurers to meet their obligations with respect to the property and casualty business. We have also agreed to guarantee amounts owed by reinsurers in respect of the Construction Program Group (“CPG”) business issued prior to the closing of that transaction. If reinsurers fail to pay the reinsurance recoverables owed to VSC with respect to the property and casualty business (including with respect to CPG business) or do not pay on a timely basis, we will be responsible for these amounts.

 

The occurrence of natural or man made disasters could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

 

We are exposed to various risks arising out of natural disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, fires, floods and tornadoes, and pandemic health events such as avian influenza, as well as man-made disasters, including acts of terrorism and military actions. For example, a natural or man-made disaster could lead to unexpected changes in persistency rates as policyholders and contract holders who are affected by the disaster may be unable to meet their contractual obligations, such as payment of premiums on their insurance policies. The continued threat of terrorism and ongoing military actions may cause significant volatility in global financial markets, and a natural or man-made disaster could trigger an economic downturn in the areas directly or indirectly affected by the disaster. These consequences could, among other things, result in a decline in business and increased claims from those areas. Disasters also could disrupt public and private infrastructure, including communications and financial services, which could disrupt our normal business operations.

 

A natural or man-made disaster also could disrupt the operations of our counterparties or result in increased prices for the products and services they provide to us. In addition, a disaster could adversely affect the value of the assets in our investment portfolio if it affects companies’ ability to pay principal or interest on their securities. Finally, a natural or man-made disaster could increase the incidence or severity of E&O claims against us.

 

In connection with the implementation of our corporate strategy, we face certain risks associated with the acquisition or disposition of businesses.

 

In pursuing our corporate strategy, we may acquire other businesses or dispose of or exit businesses we currently own. The success of this strategy is dependent upon our ability to identify appropriate acquisition and disposition targets, negotiate transactions on favorable terms and ultimately complete such transactions. If acquisitions are made, there can be no assurance that we will realize the anticipated benefits of such acquisitions, including revenue growth, operational efficiencies or expected synergies. In addition, we may not be able to integrate acquisitions successfully into our existing business, and we could incur or assume unknown or unanticipated liabilities or contingencies, which may impact our results of operations. If we dispose of or otherwise exit certain businesses, there can be no assurance that we will not incur certain disposition related charges, or that we will be able to reduce overhead related to the divested assets.

 

Factors Relating to the Acquisition of Benfield

 

On August 22, 2008, we and Benfield Group Limited, a Bermuda company and an independent insurance intermediary (“Benfield”), issued an announcement (the “Announcement”) under Section 2.5 of the U.K. City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the “Code”) disclosing that they have reached an agreement pursuant to which we will acquire all of the share capital of Benfield (the “Acquisition”).  The Acquisition will be effected by a newly-formed, wholly-owned Bermuda subsidiary of ours through an amalgamation under the Bermuda Companies Act for an aggregate cash purchase price of £844 million or £3.50 per Benfield share ($1,557 million at September 30, 2008 exchange rates).  Also on August 22, 2008, we and Benfield contemporaneously entered into an Implementation Agreement (the “Implementation Agreement”) which sets forth certain key terms relative to the Acquisition.

 

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The closing of the Acquisition is subject to a number of conditions; if these conditions are not satisfied or waived, we will not be able to close the Acquisition.

 

The Acquisition contains a number of conditions which must be satisfied or waived prior to the closing of the Acquisition.  These conditions include, among others, the parties obtaining certain antitrust and regulatory approvals including those required in the United States, United Kingdom and Bermuda, the accuracy of certain representations and warranties (subject to agreed-upon materiality standards) and the compliance by us and Benfield with covenants contained in the Implementation Agreement and the Announcement.  We cannot assure you that the Acquisition will be closed on the terms described herein or at all.

 

If the Acquisition is not closed, there may be various adverse consequences including:

 

·                  certain of the transaction costs, including accounting, legal and other financial advisory fees, must still be paid, without any offsetting benefits from the Acquisition;

 

·                  Aon’s businesses may have been adversely impacted by the failure to pursue other beneficial opportunities due to the focus of management on the Acquisition, without realizing any of the anticipated benefits of completing the Acquisition; and

 

·                  the market price of Aon common stock might decline to the extent that the current market price reflects a market assumption that the merger will be completed.

 

The anticipated benefits from the Acquisition may not be realized.

 

The success of the Acquisition will depend, in part, on our ability to realize the anticipated benefits from combining the businesses of Aon and Benfield including, among other things, synergies, cost savings and operating efficiencies.  Although we expect to achieve the anticipated benefits of the Acquisition, no assurance can be given that we will successfully combine the businesses of Aon and Benfield and that these anticipated Acquisition benefits will actually be achieved as achieving such benefits is subject to a number of uncertainties.  Additionally, the elimination of duplicative costs may not be possible or may take longer than anticipated, the benefits from the Acquisition may be offset by costs incurred or delays in integrating Benfield into Aon, and regulatory authorities may impose adverse conditions on our business in connection with granting approval of the Acquisition.  If we are not able to achieve these objectives, the anticipated benefits and cost savings of the Acquisition may not be realized fully or at all or may take longer to realize than expected.  If we fail to realize all or some of the benefits we anticipate from the Acquisition or if we fail to realize those benefits in the anticipated time period, our results of operations may be adversely affected.

 

The integration of Benfield may not be successful.

 

We may be unable to effectively integrate Benfield into our operations, which would result in fewer benefits from the Acquisition than are currently anticipated, as well as increased costs.  The Acquisition involves numerous integration and other risks, including:

 

·                  potential difficulties in the assimilation of operations, services, products and personnel;

 

·                  potential loss of customers, vendors and other business partners;

 

·                  the diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns;

 

·                  the potential loss of key employees;

 

·                  the consolidation of functional areas, such as sales and marketing operations;

 

·                  possible inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies, business cultures and compensation structures between us and Benfield;

 

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·                  the integration of information, purchasing, accounting, finance, sales, billing, payroll and regulatory compliance systems;

 

·                  the coordination of organizations headquartered in different geographic regions; and

 

·                  potentially significant transaction, integration and restructuring costs.

 

If the integration is not successful, we may not be able to achieve expected results and our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.  We cannot give any assurance that Benfield will be successfully or cost-effectively integrated into us.

 

ITEM 2.

 

UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

 

 

 

 

(a)  None.

 

 

(b)  None.

 

 

(c)  Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

 

The following information relates to the repurchase of equity securities by Aon or any affiliated purchaser during each month within the third quarter of 2008:

 

Period

 

Total Number of
Shares Purchased

 

Average Price
Paid per Share 
(1)

 

Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs

 

Maximum Dollar
Value of Shares
that May Yet Be
Purchased Under
the Plans or
Programs 
(1) (2)

 

7/1/08 – 7/31/08

 

6,638,000

 

$

45.64

 

6,638,000

 

$

977,166,188

 

8/1/08 – 8/31/08

 

2,638,000

 

$

46.53

 

2,638,000

 

$

854,412,149

 

9/1/08 – 9/30/08

 

 

$

 

 

$

854,412,169

 

Total

 

9,276,000

 

$

45.90

 

9,276,000

 

 

 

 


(1)          Does not include commissions paid to repurchase shares.

 

(2)          In 2005, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized the repurchase of up to $1 billion of Aon’s common stock.  In 2006, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had increased the authorized share repurchase program to $2 billion.  In fourth quarter 2007, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had increased the authorized share repurchase program to $4.6 billion.  Shares may be repurchased through the open market or in privately negotiated transactions.  Through September 30, 2008, the Company has repurchased  90.8 million shares of common stock at an average price (excluding commissions) of $41.26 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $3,746 million since inception of the stock repurchase program, and the remaining authorized amount for stock repurchases under this program is $854 million, with no termination date.

 

ITEM 6.

EXHIBITS

 

 

 

Exhibits – The exhibits filed with this report are listed on the attached Exhibit Index.

 

58



 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

Aon Corporation

 

(Registrant)

 

 

November 7, 2008

 By: /s/ Christa Davies

 

 CHRISTA DAVIES

 

 EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND

 

 CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

 

 (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer and
  duly authorized officer of Registrant)

 

59



 

Aon CORPORATION

 

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description of Exhibit

2.1

 

Announcement dated August 22, 2008 of Aon Corporation and Benfield Group Limited — incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Aon Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 22, 2008.

 

 

 

2.2

 

Implementation Agreement dated August 22, 2008 between Aon Corporation and Benfield Group Limited — incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to Aon Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 22, 2008.

 

 

 

10.1#

 

Form of Severance Agreement, as amended on September 19, 2008.

 

 

 

10.2

 

Letter Amendment dated January 30, 2008 to $600 million Three-Year Credit Agreement dated as of February 3, 2005 among Aon Corporation, Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the lenders and other parties listed therein, as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated as of September 30, 2005.

 

 

 

10.3

 

Letter Amendment dated February 25, 2008, 2008 to €650 million Facility Agreement dated February 7, 2005 among Aon Corporation, Citibank International plc, as Agent, and the lenders and other parties listed therein, as amended by the Transfer and Amendment Agreement dated October 24, 2005.

 

 

 

12.1

 

Statement regarding Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

 

 

 

12.2

 

Statement regarding Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certification of CEO

 

 

 

31.2

 

Certification of CFO

 

 

 

32.1

 

Certification of CEO Pursuant to section 1350 of Title 18 of the United States Code

 

 

 

32.2

 

Certification of CFO Pursuant to section 1350 of Title 18 of the United States Code

 


  #

 

Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

 

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EX-10.1 2 a08-25372_1ex10d1.htm EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

 

SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

 

This Agreement is entered into as of September 19, 2008, between Aon Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and                                                              (the “Executive”).

 

WHEREAS, the Executive currently serves as a key employee of the Company (as defined in Section 1) and the Executive’s services and knowledge are valuable to the Company in connection with the management of one or more of the Company’s principal operating facilities, divisions, departments or subsidiaries; and

 

WHEREAS, the Board (as defined in Section 1) has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to secure the Executive’s continued services and to ensure the Executive’s continued dedication and objectivity in the event of any threat or occurrence of, or negotiation or other action that could lead to, or create the possibility of, a Change in Control (as defined in Section 1) of the Company, without concern as to whether the Executive might be hindered or distracted by personal uncertainties and risks created by any such possible Change in Control, and to encourage the Executive’s full attention and dedication to the Company, the Board has authorized the Company to enter into this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as follows:

 

1.             Definitions.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below:

 

(a)           “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(b)           “Cause” means:

 

(1)           a material breach by the Executive of those duties and responsibilities of the Executive which do not differ in any material respect from the duties and responsibilities of the Executive during the 90-day period immediately prior to a Change in Control (other than as a result of incapacity due to physical or mental illness) which is demonstrably willful and deliberate on the Executive’s part, which is committed in bad faith or without reasonable belief that such breach is in the best interests of the Company and which is not remedied in a reasonable period of time after receipt of written notice from the Company specifying such breach;

 

(2)           Gross misconduct, theft, fraud, breach of trust or any act of dishonesty by the Executive which results in material harm to the Company; or

 

(3)           the commission by the Executive of a felony involving moral turpitude.

 



 

(c)           “Change in Control” means:

 

(1)           the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (a “Person”), including any “person” within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 30% or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Common Stock”) or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Voting Securities”); excluding, however, the following: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company (excluding any acquisition resulting from the exercise of an exercise, conversion or exchange privilege unless the security being so exercised, converted or exchanged was acquired directly from the Company), (B) any acquisition by the Company, (C) any acquisition by an employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company, or (D) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (3) of this Section 1(c); provided further, that for purposes of clause (B), if any Person (other than the Company or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company) shall become the beneficial owner of 30% or more of the Outstanding Common Stock or 30% or more of the Outstanding Voting Securities by reason of an acquisition by the Company, and such Person shall, after such acquisition by the Company, become the beneficial owner of any additional shares of the Outstanding Common Stock or any additional Outstanding Voting Securities and such beneficial ownership is publicly announced, such additional beneficial ownership shall constitute a Change in Control;

 

(2)           individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of such Board; provided that any individual who becomes a director of the Company subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by the vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be deemed a member of the Incumbent Board; and provided further, that any individual who was initially elected as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened solicitation by a Person other than the Board for the purpose of opposing a solicitation by any other Person with respect to the election or removal of directors, or any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of any Person other than the Board shall not be deemed a member of the Incumbent Board;

 

(3)           the consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “Corporate Transaction”); excluding, however, a Corporate Transaction pursuant to which (i) all or substantially all of the individuals or entities who are the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Common Stock and the Outstanding Voting Securities immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction will beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60% of, respectively, the outstanding shares of common

 

2



 

stock, and the combined voting power of the outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or indirectly) in substantially the same proportions relative to each other as their ownership, immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction, of the Outstanding Common Stock and the Outstanding Voting Securities, as the case may be, (ii) no Person (other than:  the Company; any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company; the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction; and any Person which beneficially owned, immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction, directly or indirectly, 30% or more of the Outstanding Common Stock or the Outstanding Voting Securities, as the case may be) will beneficially own, directly or indirectly, 30% or more of, respectively, the outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction or the combined voting power of the outstanding securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and (iii) individuals who were members of the Incumbent Board will constitute at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction; or

 

(4)           the consummation of a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

(d)           “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

(e)           “Company” means Aon Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

 

(f)            “Good Reason” means, without the Executive’s express written consent, the occurrence of any of the following events after a Change in Control:

 

(1)           a material adverse change in the nature or scope of the Executive’s authority, powers, functions, duties or responsibilities as in effect immediately prior to such Change in Control;

 

(2)           a material reduction by the Company in the Executive’s rate of annual base salary or bonus opportunity as in effect immediately prior to such Change in Control or as the same may be increased from time to time thereafter;

 

(3)           the failure of the Company to continue in effect any material employee benefit plan or compensation plan in which the Executive is participating immediately prior to such Change in Control, unless the Executive is permitted to participate in other plans providing the Executive with substantially comparable benefits, or the taking of any action by the Company which would adversely affect the Executive’s participation in or materially reduce the Executive’s benefits under any such plan;

 

3



 

(4)           a change in the Executive’s primary employment location to a location that is more than 50 miles from the primary location of the Executive’s employment at the time of such Change in Control; or

 

(5)           the failure of the Company to obtain from any successor or transferee of the Company an express written and unconditional assumption of the Company’s obligations under this Agreement, as further described in Section 12(b) of this Agreement.

 

For purposes of this Agreement, any good faith determination of Good Reason made by the Executive shall be conclusive; provided, however, that an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action taken in good faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive shall not constitute Good Reason.

 

The Executive’s employment may be terminated by the Executive for Good Reason if (x) an event or circumstance set forth in this Section 1(f) shall have occurred and the Executive provides the Company with written notice thereof within 90 days after the Executive has knowledge of the occurrence or existence of such event or circumstance, which notice shall specifically identify the event or circumstance that the Executive believes constitutes Good Reason, (y) the Company fails to correct the circumstance or event so identified within 30 days after the receipt of such notice, and (z) the Executive resigns during the Termination Period and after the date of delivery of the notice referred to in clause (x) above.

 

(g)           “Nonqualifying Termination” means a termination of the Executive’s employment (1) by the Company for Cause, (2) by the Executive for any reason other than a Good Reason, (3) as a result of the Executive’s death or (4) by the Company due to the Executive’s absence from the Executive’s duties with the Company on a full-time basis for at least 180 consecutive days as a result of the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness.

 

(h)           “Termination Date” means the date during the Termination Period on which the Executive’s employment is terminated other than by reason of a Nonqualifying Termination.

 

(i)            “Termination Period” means the period of time beginning with a Change in Control and ending on the earlier to occur of (1) the date which is two (2) years following such Change in Control and (2) the Executive’s death; provided, however, that, anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if a Change in Control occurs and if the Executive’s employment with the Company was terminated prior to the date on which the Change in Control occurs, and if it is reasonably demonstrated by the Executive that such termination of employment (a) was at the request of a third party who was taking steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change in Control or (b) otherwise arose in connection with or in anticipation of a Change in Control, then for purposes of this Agreement, “Termination Period” means the period of time commencing upon the date immediately prior to the date of such termination of employment and ending on the earlier to occur of (x) two (2) years following such Change in Control and (y) the Executive’s death.

 

4



 

2.             Obligations of the Executive.  The Executive agrees that in the event any person or group attempts a Change in Control, he shall not voluntarily leave the employ of the Company without Good Reason (a) until such attempted Change in Control terminates or (b) if a Change in Control shall occur, until 90 days following such Change in Control.

 

3.             Payments and Benefits Upon Termination of Employment.  If during the Termination Period the employment of the Executive shall terminate, other than by reason of a Nonqualifying Termination, and the Executive (or the Executive’s executor or other legal representative in the case of the Executive’s death or disability following such termination) executes a noncompetition, nonsolicitation and confidentiality agreement and release of claims substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (the “Noncompetition Agreement and Release”) within 60 days following the Termination Date, the Company shall provide to the Executive, as compensation for services rendered to the Company, and in consideration of the covenants set forth in the Noncompetition Agreement and Release, the payments and benefits described in this Section 3.  For purposes of this Agreement, the Executive shall be considered to have a termination of employment with the Company and its subsidiaries on the date the Executive has a “separation from service” as described under Section 409A of the Code and the guidance and Treasury Regulations issued thereunder with the Company and its subsidiaries.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3, if as a result of the Executive’s termination of employment on the Termination Date the Executive is entitled to severance payments and benefits, which benefits may, without limitation, include enhanced supplemental pension benefits conferred or equity awards granted as a result of termination of employment, from the Company or any of its subsidiaries which are not payable pursuant to this Agreement, but are payable pursuant to an employment agreement or other compensation arrangement entered into between the Executive and the Company or any of its subsidiaries (“Alternative Severance Payments and Benefits”), the Executive shall have no right to any payments or benefits pursuant to this Section 3 unless (i) the Executive (or the Executive’s executor or other legal representative in the case of the Executive’s death or disability following such termination) executes the Noncompetition Agreement and Release and a waiver in the form of Exhibit B hereto (the “Waiver of Severance Payments and Benefits”) within 60 days following the Termination Date waiving all rights to the Alternative Severance Payments and Benefits, other than rights to Alternative Equity Vesting (as defined in Section 4 hereof), and has not revoked the Noncompetition Agreement and Release and (ii) the payments and benefits to be received by the Executive pursuant to this Section 3 are reduced by the amount of the Alternative Severance Payments and Benefits, if any, previously received by the Executive.

 

(a)           Except as otherwise provided in Section 6, the Company shall pay to the Executive (or the Executive’s beneficiary or estate, as the case may be) within 30 days following the date of execution of the Noncompetition Agreement and Release and, if applicable, the Waiver of Severance Payments and Benefits:

 

(1)           a cash amount (subject to any applicable payroll or other taxes required to be withheld pursuant to Section 7 and any deductions authorized by the Executive) equal to the sum of (i) the Executive’s full annual base salary from the Company and its affiliated companies through the Termination Date, to the extent not theretofore paid, (ii) the average of the Executive’s annual cash incentive for each of the three fiscal years immediately preceding the fiscal year in which the Termination Date

 

5



 

occurs, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the fiscal year in which the Termination Date occurs and the denominator of which is 365 or 366, as applicable, and (iii) any accrued vacation pay, in each case to the extent not theretofore paid; plus

 

(2)           a lump sum cash amount (subject to any applicable payroll or other taxes required to be withheld pursuant to Section 7 and any deductions authorized by the Executive) in an amount equal to two (2) times the sum of (a) Executive’s annual base salary from the Company and its affiliated companies in effect on the Termination Date and (b) the average incentive compensation paid to the Executive by the Company over the previous two years; plus

 

(3)           a lump sum cash amount (subject to any applicable payroll or other taxes required to be withheld pursuant to Section 7 and any deductions authorized by the Executive) in an amount equal to the amount forfeited by the Executive under any qualified defined contribution plan maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries as a result of the Executive’s termination of employment.

 

(b)           The Executive shall become fully (100%) vested in the Executive’s accrued benefits under the Aon Corporation Excess Benefit Plan, the Aon Corporation Supplemental Savings Plan and the Aon Corporation Supplemental Employee Stock Ownership Plan, or successor plans in effect on the date of the Executive’s termination of employment (the “Nonqualified Plans”).  The Executive’s accrued benefits under the Aon Corporation Excess Benefit Plan or the Aon Corporation Supplemental Savings Plan, whichever plan is applicable to the Executive on the date of the Executive’s termination of employment, shall be determined by crediting the Executive with two (2) additional years of age and service credits and, in the case of the Aon Corporation Supplemental Savings Plan, two (2) additional years of Retirement Plan Contributions.

 

(c)           For the period commencing on the Termination Date and ending on the earlier of (i) the date which is two(2) years following the Termination Date and (ii) the date on which the Executive becomes eligible to participate in and receive medical, dental and life insurance benefits under a plan or arrangement sponsored by another employer having benefits substantially equivalent to the benefits provided pursuant to this Section 3(c), the Company shall continue the Executive’s medical, dental and life insurance coverage, under the Company-sponsored plans or otherwise, upon the same terms and otherwise to the same extent as such coverage shall have been in effect immediately prior to the Executive’s Termination Date, and the Company and the Executive shall share the costs of the continuation of such medical, dental and life insurance coverage in the same proportion as such costs were shared immediately prior to the Termination Date.  Such continuation of medical and dental coverage shall be in satisfaction of the Company’s obligations under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA).  Payment or reimbursement of expenses incurred by the Executive pursuant to this Section 3(c) shall be made promptly and in no event later than December 31 of the year following the year in which such expenses were incurred, and the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits provided, in any year shall not affect the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided,

 

6



 

in any other year, except for any limit on the amount of expenses that may be reimbursed under an arrangement described in Section 105(b) of the Code.  Additionally, such right to payment or reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.  If the Executive is a “specified employee” under Section 409A of the Code, the full cost of the continuation or provision of employee benefits described under this Section 3(c) (other than any cost of medical or dental benefit plans or programs or the cost of any other plan or program that is exempt from Section 409A of the Code) shall be paid by the Executive until the earlier to occur of the Executive’s death or the date that is six months and one day following the Executive’s termination of employment, and such cost shall be reimbursed by the Company or the applicable subsidiary to, or on behalf of, the Executive in a lump sum cash payment on the earlier to occur of the Executive’s death or the date that is six months and one day following the Executive’s termination of employment.

 

4.             Vesting of Equity Awards Upon Termination Date; Exercise Period.  Immediately upon the Executive’s Termination Date, all stock options and other equity awards, if any, granted by the Company to the Executive (or stock options and other equity awards granted in substitution therefor by an acquiror of, or successor to, the Company) that are not otherwise exercisable or vested shall become exercisable and vested in full.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the time or schedule of any payment or amount scheduled to be paid pursuant to the terms of this Section 4, including but not limited to any restricted stock unit or other equity-based award, payment or amount that provides for the “deferral of compensation” (as such term is defined under Section 409A of the Code), may not be accelerated except as otherwise permitted under Section 409A of the Code and the guidance and Treasury regulations issued thereunder.  With respect to any and all outstanding stock options granted by the Company to the Executive, each such option shall remain exercisable following the Executive’s termination of employment until and including the expiration date of the term of the option (as set forth in the written agreement relating to such option).  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 4, if as a result of the Executive’s termination of employment on the Termination Date the Executive is entitled to the acceleration of exercisability of stock options or the vesting of other equity awards granted by the Company to the Executive (or stock options or other equity awards granted in substitution therefor by an acquiror of, or successor to, the Company), which acceleration or vesting is not pursuant to this Agreement, but is pursuant to an employment agreement or other compensation arrangement entered into between the Executive and the Company or any of its subsidiaries (“Alternative Equity Vesting”), the Executive shall have no rights pursuant to this Section 4 unless the Executive (or the Executive’s executor or other legal representative in the case of the Executive’s death or disability following such termination) executes the Noncompetition Agreement and Release and a waiver in the form of Exhibit C hereto (the “Waiver of Exercisability and Vesting”) within 60 days following the Termination Date waiving all rights to the Alternative Equity Vesting, and has not revoked the Noncompetition Agreement and Release.

 

5.             Certain Additional Payments by the Company.  (a) If the Executive is entitled to receive payments and benefits under Section 3 hereof or vesting of equity awards under Section 4 hereof, anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event it shall be determined that any payment or distribution by the Company or its affiliated companies to or for the benefit of the Executive (whether paid or payable or distributed or

 

7



 

distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, but determined without regard to any additional payments required under this Section 5) (a “Payment”) would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, or any interest or penalties are incurred by the Executive with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest and penalties, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Excise Tax”), then the Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional payment (a “Gross-Up Payment”) in an amount such that after payment by the Executive of all taxes (including any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including, without limitation, any income taxes (and any interest and penalties imposed with respect thereto) and Excise Tax imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, the Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments.

 

(b)           Subject to the provisions of Section 5(c), all determinations required to be made under this Section 5, including whether and when a Gross-Up Payment is required and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment and the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determination, shall be made by the Company’s public accounting firm (the “Accounting Firm”) which shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business days of the receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company.  In the event that the Accounting Firm is serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group effecting the Change in Control, the Executive shall appoint another nationally recognized public accounting firm to make the determinations required hereunder (which accounting firm shall then be referred to as the Accounting Firm hereunder).  All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company.  Any Gross-Up Payment, as determined pursuant to this Section 5, shall be paid by the Company to the Executive within five days of the receipt of the Accounting Firm’s determination.  If the Accounting Firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable by the Executive, it shall furnish the Executive with a written opinion that failure to report the Excise Tax on the Executive’s applicable federal income tax return would not result in the imposition of a negligence or similar penalty.  Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the Executive.  As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the Code at the time of the initial determination by the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments which will not have been made by the Company should have been made (“Underpayment”), consistent with the calculations required to be made hereunder.  In the event that the Company exhausts its remedies pursuant to Section 5(c) and the Executive thereafter is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive.

 

(c)           The Executive shall notify the Company in writing of any claim by the Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require the payment by the Company of the Gross-Up Payment.  Such notification shall be given as soon as practicable but no later than 10 business days after the Executive is informed in writing of such claim and shall apprise the Company of the nature of such claim and the date on which such claim is requested to be paid.  The Executive shall not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the 30-day period following the date on which the Executive gives such notice to the Company (or such shorter period ending on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to such claim is due).  If the Company notifies

 

8



 

the Executive in writing prior to the expiration of such period that it desires to contest such claim, the Executive shall:

 

(1)           give the Company any information reasonably requested by the Company relating to such claim;

 

(2)           take such action in connection with contesting such claim as the Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to time, including, without limitation, accepting legal representation with respect to such claim by an attorney reasonably selected by the Company;

 

(3)           cooperate with the Company in good faith in order effectively to contest such claim; and

 

(4)           permit the Company to participate in any proceedings relating to such claim;

 

provided, however, that the Company shall bear and pay directly all costs and expenses (including additional interest and penalties) incurred in connection with such contest and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or income tax (including interest and penalties with respect thereto) imposed as a result of such representation and payment of costs and expenses.  Without limitation on the foregoing provisions of this Section 5(c), the Company shall control all proceedings taken in connection with such contest and, at its sole option, may pursue or forgo any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with the taxing authority in respect of such claim and may, at its sole option, either direct the Executive to pay the tax claimed and sue for a refund or contest the claim in any permissible manner, and the Executive agrees to prosecute such contest to a determination before any administrative tribunal, in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as the Company shall determine; provided further, that if the Company directs the Executive to pay such claim and sue for a refund, the Company shall advance the amount of such payment to the Executive on an interest-free basis and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or income tax (including interest or penalties with respect thereto) imposed with respect to such advance or with respect to any imputed income with respect to such advance; and provided further, that any extension of the statute of limitations relating to payment of taxes for the taxable year of the Executive with respect to which such contested amount is claimed to be due is limited solely to such contested amount.  Furthermore, the Company’s control of the contest shall be limited to issues with respect to which a Gross-Up Payment would be payable hereunder and the Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the case may be, any other issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority.

 

(d)           If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by the Company pursuant to Section 5(c), the Executive becomes entitled to receive, and receives, any refund with respect to such claim, the Executive shall (subject to the Company’s complying with

 

9



 

the requirements of Section 5(c)) promptly pay to the Company the amount of such refund (together with any interest paid or credited thereon after taxes applicable thereto).  If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by the Company pursuant to Section 5(c), a determination is made that the Executive shall not be entitled to any refund with respect to such claim and the Company does not notify the Executive in writing of its intent to contest such denial of refund prior to the expiration of 30 days after such determination, then such advance shall be forgiven and shall not be required to be repaid and the amount of such advance shall offset, to the extent thereof, the amount of Gross-Up Payment required to be paid.

 

(e)           The Gross-Up Payment and any other payment or reimbursement of expenses described in this Section 5 shall be made promptly and in no event later than December 31 of the year following the year in which such expenses were incurred, and the amount of such expenses eligible for payment or reimbursement in any year shall not affect the amount of such expenses eligible for payment or reimbursement in any other year nor shall such right to payment or reimbursement be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

 

6.             Delay of Payments.  In the event that any payment or distribution or portion of any payment or distribution to be made to the Executive hereunder cannot be characterized as a “short term deferral” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code or is not otherwise exempt from the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, and the Executive is determined to be a “specified employee” under Section 409A of the Code, such portion of the payment shall be delayed until the earlier to occur of the Executive’s death or the date that is six months and one day following the Executive’s termination of employment with the Company and its subsidiaries (the “Delay Period”).  Upon the expiration of the Delay Period, the payments delayed pursuant to this Section 6 shall be paid to the Executive or his beneficiary in a lump sum, and any remaining payments due under this Agreement shall be payable in accordance with their original payment schedule.

 

7.             Withholding Taxes.  The Company may withhold from all payments due to the Executive (or the Executive’s beneficiary or estate) hereunder all taxes which, by applicable federal, state, local or other law, the Company is required to withhold therefrom.

 

8.             Reimbursement of Expenses.  If any contest or dispute shall arise under this Agreement involving termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company or involving the failure or refusal of the Company to perform fully in accordance with the terms hereof, the Company shall reimburse the Executive, on a current basis, for all legal fees and expenses, if any, incurred by the Executive in connection with such contest or dispute; provided, however, that in the event the resolution of any such contest or dispute includes a finding denying, in total, the Executive’s claims in such contest or dispute, the Executive shall be required to reimburse the Company, over a period of 12 months from the date of such resolution, for all sums advanced to the Executive pursuant to this Section 8.  Payment or reimbursement of expenses described in this Section 8 shall be made promptly and in no event later than December 31 of the year following the year in which such expenses were incurred, and the amount of such expenses eligible for payment or reimbursement in any year shall not affect the amount of such expenses eligible for payment or reimbursement in any other year nor shall the right to payment or reimbursement be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

 

10



 

9.             Operative Event.  No amounts shall be payable hereunder unless and until there is a Change in Control.

 

10.           Termination of Agreement.  (a)  This Agreement shall be effective on the date hereof and shall continue until terminated by the Company as provided in Section 10(b); provided, however, that this Agreement shall terminate in any event upon the earlier to occur of (1) termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company prior to a Change in Control and (2) the Executive’s death.

 

(b)  The Company shall have the right prior to a Change in Control, in its sole discretion, pursuant to action by the Board, to approve the termination of this Agreement, which termination shall not become effective until the date fixed by the Board for such termination, which date shall be at least 120 days after notice thereof is given by the Company to the Executive in accordance with Section 13; provided, however, that no such action shall be taken by the Board during any period of time when the Board has knowledge that any person has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change in Control until, in the opinion of the Board, such person has abandoned or terminated its efforts to effect a Change in Control; and provided further, that in no event shall this Agreement be terminated in the event of a Change in Control.

 

11.           Scope of Agreement.  This Agreement supersedes any and all change-in-control agreements entered into between the Executive and the Company, its subsidiaries or affiliates (including, if applicable, the Severance Agreement substantially in the form set forth as Exhibit 10(z) to the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year 2004).  Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to entitle the Executive to continued employment with the Company or its subsidiaries and, subject to Section 2 hereof, if the Executive’s employment with the Company shall terminate prior to a Change in Control, then the Executive shall have no further rights under this Agreement; provided, however, that any termination of the Executive’s employment following a Change in Control shall be subject to all of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

12.           Successors; Binding Agreement.

 

(a)  This Agreement shall not be terminated by any merger or consolidation of the Company whereby the Company is or is not the surviving or resulting corporation or as a result of any transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.  In the event of any such merger, consolidation or transfer of assets, the provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon the surviving or resulting corporation or the person or entity to which such assets are transferred.

 

(b)  The Company agrees that concurrently with any merger, consolidation or transfer of assets referred to in Section 12(a), it will cause any successor or transferee unconditionally to assume, by written instrument delivered to the Executive (or the Executive’s beneficiary or estate), all of the obligations of the Company hereunder.  Failure of the Company to obtain such assumption prior to the effectiveness of any such merger, consolidation or transfer of assets shall be a breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the Executive to compensation and other benefits from the Company in the same amount and on the same terms as the Executive

 

11



 

would be entitled hereunder if the Executive’s employment were terminated following a Change in Control other than by reason of a Nonqualifying Termination during the Termination Period.  For purposes of implementing the foregoing, the date on which any such merger, consolidation or transfer becomes effective shall be deemed the Date of Termination.

 

(c)  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.  If the Executive shall die while any amounts would be payable to the Executive hereunder had the Executive continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to such person or persons appointed in writing by the Executive to receive such amounts or, if no person is so appointed, to the Executive’s estate.

 

13.           Notices.  (a)  For purposes of this Agreement, all notices and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or five days after deposit in the United States mail, certified and return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed (1) if to the Executive, to the last known residential address on file for the Executive with the Company, and if to the Company, to Aon Corporation, 200 East Randolph Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60602, 3d Floor, attention General Counsel, with a copy to the Secretary, or (2) to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

 

(b)           A written notice of the Executive’s Termination Date by the Company or the Executive, as the case may be, to the other, shall (1) indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (2) to the extent applicable, set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated and (3) specify the termination date (which date shall be not less than 15 days after the giving of such notice).  The failure by the Executive or the Company to set forth in such notice any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of the Executive or the Company hereunder or preclude the Executive or the Company from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executive’s or the Company’s rights hereunder.

 

14.           Full Settlement; Resolution of Disputes.  (a) The Company’s obligation to make any payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which the Company may have against the Executive or others.  In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement and, subject to Section 3(c) hereof, such amounts shall not be reduced whether or not the Executive obtains other employment.

 

(b)           If there shall be any dispute between the Company and the Executive in the event of any termination of the Executive’s employment, then, unless and until there is a final, nonappealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction declaring that such termination was for Cause, that the determination by the Executive of the existence of Good

 

12



 

Reason was not made in good faith, or that the Company is not otherwise obligated to pay any amount or provide any benefit to the Executive and the Executive’s dependents or other beneficiaries, as the case may be, under Sections 3 and 4 hereof, the Company shall pay all amounts, and provide all benefits, to the Executive and the Executive’s dependents or other beneficiaries, as the case may be, that the Company would be required to pay or provide pursuant to Sections 3 and 4 hereof as though such termination were by the Company without Cause or by the Executive with Good Reason; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any disputed amounts pursuant to this Section 14(b) except upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Executive to repay all such amounts to which the Executive is ultimately adjudged by such court not to be entitled.

 

15.           Employment with, and Action by, Subsidiaries.  For purposes of this Agreement, employment with the Company or actions taken by the Company with respect to the Executive shall include employment with or actions taken by any corporation or other entity in which the Company has a direct or indirect ownership interest of 50% or more of the total combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of such corporation or other entity entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

 

16.           Governing Law; Validity.  The interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Illinois without regard to the principle of conflicts of laws.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provisions of this Agreement, which other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

 

17.           Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and both of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

18.           Miscellaneous.  No provision of this Agreement may be modified or waived unless such modification or waiver is agreed to in writing and signed by the Executive and by a duly authorized officer of the Company.  No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.  Failure by the Executive or the Company to insist upon strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement or to assert any right the Executive or the Company may have hereunder, including, without limitation, the right of the Executive to terminate employment for Good Reason, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right of this Agreement.

 

19.           Prohibition on Acceleration of Payments.  The time or schedule of any payment or amount scheduled to be paid pursuant to the terms of this Agreement may not be accelerated except as otherwise permitted under Section 409A of the Code and the guidance and Treasury Regulations issued thereunder.

 

13



 

20.           Code Section 409A.  The parties intend that this Agreement and the benefits provided hereunder be interpreted and construed to comply with Section 409A of the Code to the extent applicable thereto.  Notwithstanding any provision of the Agreement to the contrary, the Agreement shall be interpreted and construed consistent with this intent, provided that the Company shall not be required to assume any increased economic burden in connection therewith.  Although the Company intends to administer the Agreement so that it will comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, the Company does not represent or warrant that the Agreement will comply with Section 409A of the Code or any other provision of federal, state, local or non-United States law.  Neither the Company, its subsidiaries, nor their respective directors, officers, employees or advisers shall be liable to the Executive (or any other individual claiming a benefit through the Executive) for any tax, interest, or penalties the Executive may owe as a result of compensation paid under the Agreement, and the Company and its subsidiaries shall have no obligation to indemnify or otherwise protect the Executive from the obligation to pay any taxes pursuant to Section 409A of the Code.

 

21.           Entire Agreement.  This Agreement supersedes the Severance Agreement between the parties entered into, or approved by the Board for execution by the parties, on or after January 21, 2005.  This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties with respect to the Executive’s severance pay in the event of a termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company in connection with a Change in Control; provided, however, that except as otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement, the rights of, and benefits payable to, the Executive, the Executive’s estate or the Executive’s beneficiaries pursuant to this Agreement are in addition to any rights of, or benefits payable to, the Executive, the Executive’s estate or the Executive’s beneficiaries under any other employee benefit plan or broad-based compensation program of the Company.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by a duly authorized officer of the Company and the Executive has executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

AON CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Executive’s Name]

 

14


EX-10.2 3 a08-25372_1ex10d2.htm EX-10.2

Exhibit 10.2

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

LETTER AMENDMENT

 

Dated as of January 30, 2008

 

To the banks, financial institutions

and other institutional lenders
(collectively, the “Lenders”) parties
to the Credit Agreement referred to below
and to Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent
(the
Administrative Agent”) for the Lenders

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We refer to the Three Year Credit Agreement dated as of February 3, 2005, as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated as of September 30, 2005 (as so amended, the Credit Agreement”) among the undersigned and you. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Letter Amendment (this “Letter Amendment”) have the same meanings as specified in the Credit Agreement.

 

Section 1. Amendment to Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement is, effective as of the date of this Letter Amendment, hereby amended as follows:

 

(a)           Section 6.17.1 is deleted in full and replaced with “[Intentionally omitted]”.

 

(b)           Exhibit C is amended in full to read as set forth as Annex I to this Amendment.

 

Section 2. Representation. The Company represents and warrants that the representations and warranties contained in Article V of the Credit Agreement are correct on and as of the date hereof and no event has occurred and is continuing that constitutes a Default or a Unmatured Default.

 

Section 3. Effectiveness. Etc. This Letter Amendment shall become effective as of the date first above written when, and only when, (a) the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts of this Letter Amendment executed by us and the Required Lenders and (b) we shall completed the sale of Combined Global Insurance Holdings, Inc. This Letter Amendment is subject to the provisions of Section 8.2 of the Credit Agreement.

 

On and after the effectiveness of this Letter Amendment, each reference in the Credit Agreement to “this Agreement”, “hereunder”, “hereof”, or words of like import referring to the Credit Agreement, and each reference in the Notes to “the Credit Agreement”, “thereunder”, “thereof’ or words of like import referring to the Credit Agreement, shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement, as amended by this Letter Amendment.

 

The Credit Agreement and the Notes, as specifically amended by this Letter Amendment, are and shall continue to be in full force and effect and are hereby in all respects ratified and confirmed. The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Letter Amendment shall not, except as expressly provided herein, operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of any Lender or the Administrative Agent under the Credit Agreement, nor constitute a waiver of any provision of the Credit Agreement.

 



 

If you agree to the terms and provisions hereof, please evidence such agreement by executing and returning at least two counterparts of this Letter Amendment to Susan L. Hobart, Shearman & Sterling LLP, 599 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10022.

This Letter Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Letter Amendment by telecopier shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Letter Amendment.

 

This Letter Amendment shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

AON CORPORATION

 

 

 

By

/s/ Diane Aigotti

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer

 

Agreed as of the date first above written:

 

CITIBANK, N.A.,

 

 

as Administrative Agent and as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]

 

 

 

Title: 

[ILLEGIBLE]

 

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

 

 

ABN AMRO BANK N.V.

 

 

as Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Michael DeMarco

 

 

 

Title:  Michael DeMarco, Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Andrew C. Salerno

 

 

 

Title: Andrew C. Salerno, Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

J.P. MORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

 

 

as Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]

 

 

 

Title: Executive Director

 

 

 

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK

 

 

as Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]

 

 

 

Title:  Vice President

 

 

 

2



 

THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY

 

 

as Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]

 

 

 

Title: Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH

 

 

as Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA

 

 

as Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]

 

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

MORGAN STANLEY BANK

 

 

as Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA

 

 

as Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]

 

 

 

Title: Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.

 

 

as Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]

 

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

PNC BANK, N.A.

 

 

as Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

3



 

THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND plc

as Lender

 

By

/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]

 

 

[ILLEGIBLE]

 

 

Title:  VP

 

 

FIFTH THIRD BANK

as Lender

 

By

/s/ Kim Puszczewicz

 

 

 

Kim Puszczewicz

 

 

Title: 

Vice President

 

 

STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
as Lender

 

By

/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]

 

 

Title: Vice President

 

 

MERRILL LYNCH BANK USA
as Lender

 

By

/s/ Louis Alder

 

 

Name:

Louis Alder

 

 

Title:

First Vice President

 

 

4



 

ANNEX I TO AMENDMENT

 

EXHIBIT C

 

COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

To:

The Lenders parties to the

 

Credit Agreement Described Below

 

This Compliance Certificate is furnished pursuant to that certain Three-Year Credit Agreement dated as of February 3, 2005 (as amended, modified, renewed or extended from time to time, the “Agreement”) among the Borrower, the lenders party thereto and Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent for the Lenders. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used in this Compliance Certificate have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Agreement.

 

THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY CERTIFIES THAT:

 

1.              I am the duly elected [President/Chief Financial Officer] of the Borrower;

 

2.              I have reviewed the terms of the Agreement and I have made, or have caused to be made under my supervision, a detailed review of the transactions and conditions of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during the accounting period covered by the attached financial statements (the “Relevant Period”);

 

3.              The examinations described in paragraph 2 did not disclose, and I have no knowledge of, the existence of any condition or event which constitutes a Default or Unmatured Default during or at the end of the Relevant Period or as of the date of this Certificate, except as set forth below;

 

4.              Schedule I attached hereto sets forth financial data and computations evidencing the Borrower’s compliance with certain covenants of the Agreement for the quarter ended                        ,           , all of which data and computations are true, complete and correct; and

 

5.              Described below are the exceptions, if any, to paragraph 3 by listing, in detail, the nature of the condition or event, the period during which it has existed and the action which the Borrower has taken, is taking, or proposes to take with respect to each such condition or event:

 

The foregoing certifications, together with the computations set forth in Schedule I hereto and the financial statements delivered with this Certificate in support hereof, are made and delivered this      day of                 , 200  .

 



 

SCHEDULE I TO COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

Schedule of Compliance as of                 , 200    with

Provisions of Section 6.17 of

the Agreement

 

I.              Section 6.17.1 – [Intentionally omitted]

 

2.             Section 6.17.2 – Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA to Consolidated Interest Expense

 

 

A.

Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

 

 

 

(for four Fiscal Quarters ended                  , 200  )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(i)

Consolidated Net Income

 

$                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(ii)

Consolidated Interest Expense

 

$                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(iii)

taxes

 

$                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(iv)

depreciation

 

$                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(v)

amortization

 

$                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(vi)

extraordinary losses

 

$                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(vii)

extraordinary gains

 

$                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(viii)

Sum of (i) through (vi) minus (vii)

 

$                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note:

no amounts shall be added pursuant to clauses (ii) through (vi) for any losses, costs, expenses or other charges resulting from the settlement of any Disclosed Claims or any payments in respect of any judgments or other orders thereon or any restructuring or other charges in connection therewith or relating thereto

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B.

Consolidated Interest Expense

 

 

 

 

 

(for four Fiscal Quarters ended              , 200 )

 

$                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

C.

Ratio of A to B

 

            to 1.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

D.

Permitted Ratio

Greater than or equal to 4.0 to 1.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Complies              Does Not Comply

 

 

 

 



 

3.             Section 6.17.3 – Consolidated Leverage Ratio

 

 

A.

Consolidated Funded Debt

 

$             

 

 

 

(as of the last day of the Measurement Period)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B.

Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

 

 

 

(for the four Fiscal Quarters ended             , 200   

 

 

 

 

 

[; from line 2.A.(viii) above])

 

$             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

C.

Ratio of A to B

 

        to 1.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

D.

Permitted Ratio

Less than or equal to 3.0 to 1.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Complies                 Does Not Comply

 

 

 

 

2


EX-10.3 4 a08-25372_1ex10d3.htm EX-10.3

Exhibit 10.3

 

To:

 

Aon Corporation

 

 

Aon Finance Limited

 

 

Aon France S.A.

 

 

Aon Holdings B.V.

 

 

Aon Jauch & Hübener Holdings GmbH

 

 

 

Aon Holdings International B.V.

 

 

 

Aon Group International B.V.

 

 

Aon Holdings France SNC

 

 

Aon Southern Europe B.V.

 

 

Aon Limited

 

 

c/o Aon Corporation

 

 

Aon Center

 

 

200 East Randolph Street

 

 

4th Floor Chicago

 

 

Illinois 60601

 

 

USA

 

 

 

Attention:

 

Ron Buetow / Diane Aigotti

 

25 February 2008

 

Dear Sirs,

 

€650,000,000 Facility Agreement dated 7 February 2005, as amended by a Transfer and
Amendment Agreement dated 24 October 2005 (the “Facility Agreement”)

 

We refer to the Facility Agreement. Unless a contrary indication appears, a term defined in the Facility Agreement has the same meaning when used in this letter.

 

We write in our capacity as Agent on behalf of the other Finance Parties. The Majority Lenders have instructed us in our capacity as Agent to effect the amendments to the Facility Agreement as set out below on their behalf.

 

1

 

Amendments

 

 

 

 

 

Pursuant to Clause 35 (Amendments and waivers) of the Facility Agreement, the Obligors and the Majority Lenders have agreed to amend the Facility Agreement as follows:

 

 

 

1.1

 

Paragraph (a) of Clause 21.1 (Financial condition) shall be deleted in its entirety and paragraphs (b) and (c) of that Clause shall be renumbered accordingly.

 

 

 

1.2

 

In Clause 21.2 (Financial covenant calculations), the words “EBlTDA, Consolidated Interest Expense and Net Worth” shall be deleted and replaced with the words “EBITDA and Consolidated Interest Expense”.

 

1



 

1.3                     In Schedule 8 (Form of Compliance Certificate), paragraph 2(a) shall be deleted in its entirety and paragraphs 2(b) and 2(c) shall be renumbered accordingly.

 

2                               Effectiveness of amendments

 

The amendments set out in paragraph 1 above shall become effective on the later of (i) the date of countersignature of the final Obligor on this letter, and (ii) the date on which you notify us that the sale of Combined Global Insurance Holdings, Inc. has been completed.

 

3                               Representations

 

On the date of countersignature of the final Obligor on this letter and on the date on which the amendments set out in paragraph 1 become effective pursuant to paragraph 2 the Company shall make the Repeating Representations in relation to itself and each obligor by reference to the facts and circumstances then existing.

 

4                               Miscellaneous

 

4.1                     The Agent and the Company hereby designate this letter as a Finance Document.

 

4.2                     The provisions of the Facility Agreement and the other Finance Documents shall save as amended by this letter, continue in full force and effect.

 

4.3                     The provisions of Clause 31 (Notices) and 39 (Enforcement) of the Facility Agreement shall apply to this letter as if set out in this letter, but as if references in such clauses to “the Agreement” or “the Finance Documents” are references to this letter.

 

4.4                     This letter may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

4.5                     This letter is governed by English law.

 

Please confirm your agreement to the terms of this letter by counter-signing the attached copy of this letter and returning it to us.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

For and on behalf of Citibank International plc (as Agent on behalf of the other Finance Parties)

 

By:

 

/s/ ALASDAIR WATSON

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accepted and agreed:

 

Aon Corporation

 

By:

/s/ Diane Aigotti

 

 

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

2



 

Aon Finance Limited

 

 

By:

/s/ Edward Robert Charles Cruttwell

 

 

 

Date:

18th  March 2008

Aon France S.A.

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Date:

 

 

3



 

Aon Holdings B.V.

 

 

By:

/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]

 

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

Aon Jauch & Hüboner Holdings GmbH

 

By:

/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]

 

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

Aon Holdings International B.V.

 

By:

/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]

 

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

Aon Group International B.V.

 

By:

/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]

 

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

Aon Holdings France SNC

 

By:

/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]

 

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

Aon Southern Europe B.V.

 

By:

/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]

 

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

Aon Limited

 

By:

/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]

 

 

 

Date:

 

 

4


EX-12.1 5 a08-25372_1ex12d1.htm EX-12.1

Exhibit 12.1

 

Aon Corporation and Consolidated Subsidiaries

Combined With Unconsolidated Subsidiaries

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

Sept. 30,

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

(millions except ratios)

 

2008

 

2007

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and minority interest

 

$

686

 

$

732

 

$

1,001

 

$

642

 

$

557

 

$

513

 

$

760

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less: Earnings from unconsolidated entities under the equity method of accounting

 

2

 

3

 

6

 

5

 

7

 

3

 

8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add back fixed charges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest on indebtedness (1)

 

96

 

102

 

138

 

129

 

125

 

136

 

101

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest on FIN 48 liabilities

 

(1

)

(1

)

(2

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Portion of rents representative of interest factor

 

39

 

54

 

75

 

79

 

71

 

73

 

67

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income as adjusted

 

$

818

 

$

884

 

$

1,206

 

$

845

 

$

746

 

$

719

 

$

920

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed charges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest on indebtedness (1)

 

$

96

 

$

102

 

$

138

 

$

129

 

$

125

 

$

136

 

$

101

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Portion of rents representative of interest factor

 

39

 

54

 

75

 

79

 

71

 

73

 

67

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total fixed charges

 

$

135

 

$

156

 

$

213

 

$

208

 

$

196

 

$

209

 

$

168

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

 

6.1

 

5.7

 

5.7

 

4.1

 

3.8

 

3.4

 

5.5

 

 


(1)                                  As a result of the adoption of FIN 46 on December 31, 2003, Aon was required to deconsolidate its 8.205% mandatorily redeemable preferred capital securities. This decrease was offset by an increase in notes payable. Beginning in 2004, interest expense ($43 million for both the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 and $58 million for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2004) on these notes payable is reported as part of interest expense in the condensed consolidated statements of income.

 

1


EX-12.2 6 a08-25372_1ex12d2.htm EX-12.2

Exhibit 12.2

 

Aon Corporation and Consolidated Subsidiaries

Combined With Unconsolidated Subsidiaries

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges

and Preferred Stock Dividends

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

Sept. 30,

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

(millions except ratios)

 

2008

 

2007

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and minority interest

 

$

686

 

$

732

 

$

1,001

 

$

642

 

$

557

 

$

513

 

$

760

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less: Earnings from unconsolidated entities under the equity method of accounting

 

2

 

3

 

6

 

5

 

7

 

3

 

8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add back fixed charges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest on indebtedness (1)

 

96

 

102

 

138

 

129

 

125

 

136

 

101

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest on FIN 48 liabilities

 

(1

)

(1

)

(2

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Portion of rents representative of interest factor

 

39

 

54

 

75

 

79

 

71

 

73

 

67

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income as adjusted

 

$

818

 

$

884

 

$

1,206

 

$

845

 

$

746

 

$

719

 

$

920

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed charges and preferred stock dividends:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

`

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest on indebtedness (1)

 

$

96

 

$

102

 

$

138

 

$

129

 

$

125

 

$

136

 

$

101

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock dividends (2)

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

3

 

61

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest and dividends

 

96

 

102

 

138

 

129

 

128

 

139

 

162

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Portion of rents representative of interest factor

 

39

 

54

 

75

 

79

 

71

 

73

 

67

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total fixed charges and preferred stock dividends

 

$

135

 

$

156

 

$

213

 

$

208

 

$

199

 

$

212

 

$

229

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends

 

6.1

 

5.7

 

5.7

 

4.1

 

3.7

 

3.4

 

4.0

 

 


(1)             As a result of the adoption of FIN 46 on December 31, 2003, Aon was required to deconsolidate its 8.205% mandatorily redeemable preferred capital securities. This decrease was offset by an increase in notes payable. Beginning in 2004, interest expense ($43 million for both the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 and $58 million for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2004) on these notes payable is reported as part of interest expense in the condensed consolidated statements of income.

 

(2)             Included in preferred stock dividends is $57 million of pretax distributions on capital securities for the year ended December 31, 2003.

 

1


EX-31.1 7 a08-25372_1ex31d1.htm EX-31.1

Exhibit 31.1

 

CERTIFICATIONS

 

I, Gregory C. Case, the Chief Executive Officer of Aon Corporation, certify that:

 

1.               I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Aon Corporation;

 

2.               Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.               Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.               The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a)          Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b)         Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c)          Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)         Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.               The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a)          All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)         Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

Date: November 7, 2008

 

/s/ Gregory C. Case

 

 

Gregory C. Case

 

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

1


EX-31.2 8 a08-25372_1ex31d2.htm EX-31.2

Exhibit 31.2

 

CERTIFICATIONS

 

I, Christa Davies, the Chief Financial Officer of Aon Corporation, certify that:

 

1.               I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Aon Corporation;

 

2.               Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.               Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.               The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a)          Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b)         Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c)          Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)         Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

1.               The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a)          All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)         Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

Date: November 7, 2008

/s/ Christa Davies

 

Christa Davies

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

1


EX-32.1 9 a08-25372_1ex32d1.htm EX-32.1

Exhibit 32.1

 

Certification Pursuant to Section 1350 of Chapter 63

of Title 18 of the United States Code

 

I, Gregory C. Case, the Chief Executive Officer of Aon Corporation (the “Company”), certify that (i) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and (ii) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

 

 

/s/ Gregory C. Case

 

Gregory C. Case

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

November 7, 2008

 

1


EX-32.2 10 a08-25372_1ex32d2.htm EX-32.2

Exhibit 32.2

 

Certification Pursuant to Section 1350 of Chapter 63

of Title 18 of the United States Code

 

I, Christa Davies, the Chief Financial Officer of Aon Corporation (the “Company”), certify that (i) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and (ii) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

 

 

/s/ Christa Davies

 

Christa Davies

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

November 7, 2008

 

1


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