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, 2010

 

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 has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  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, 2010:  270,867,656

 

 

 



 

Part I Financial Information

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Aon Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

(millions, except per share data)

 

Sept. 30,
2010

 

Sept. 30,
2009

 

Sept. 30,
2010

 

Sept. 30,
2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commissions, fees and other

 

$

1,786

 

$

1,778

 

$

5,560

 

$

5,462

 

Fiduciary investment income

 

15

 

16

 

43

 

60

 

Total revenue

 

1,801

 

1,794

 

5,603

 

5,522

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compensation and benefits

 

1,050

 

1,119

 

3,382

 

3,267

 

Other general expenses

 

488

 

481

 

1,417

 

1,475

 

Total operating expenses

 

1,538

 

1,600

 

4,799

 

4,742

 

Operating income

 

263

 

194

 

804

 

780

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

4

 

3

 

9

 

10

 

Interest expense

 

(50

)

(32

)

(117

)

(87

)

Other (expense) income

 

(9

)

13

 

3

 

28

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

 

208

 

178

 

699

 

731

 

Income taxes

 

61

 

47

 

182

 

212

 

Income from continuing operations

 

147

 

131

 

517

 

519

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes

 

1

 

 

(38

)

93

 

Income taxes

 

1

 

(3

)

(12

)

38

 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations

 

 

3

 

(26

)

55

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

147

 

134

 

491

 

574

 

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

3

 

14

 

16

 

25

 

Net income attributable to Aon stockholders

 

$

144

 

$

120

 

$

475

 

$

549

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to Aon stockholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

144

 

$

117

 

$

501

 

$

494

 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations

 

 

3

 

(26

)

55

 

Net income

 

$

144

 

$

120

 

$

475

 

$

549

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to Aon stockholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

$

0.52

 

$

0.41

 

$

1.80

 

$

1.74

 

Discontinued operations

 

 

0.01

 

(0.09

)

0.19

 

Net income

 

$

0.52

 

$

0.42

 

$

1.71

 

$

1.93

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to Aon stockholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

$

0.51

 

$

0.40

 

$

1.78

 

$

1.69

 

Discontinued operations

 

 

0.01

 

(0.10

)

0.19

 

Net income

 

$

0.51

 

$

0.41

 

$

1.68

 

$

1.88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash dividends per share paid on common stock

 

$

0.15

 

$

0.15

 

$

0.45

 

$

0.45

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic

 

278.7

 

283.8

 

277.6

 

284.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted

 

282.2

 

292.1

 

281.9

 

292.2

 

 

See the accompanying notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).

 

2



 

Aon Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

 

(millions)

 

Sept. 30, 2010

 

Dec. 31, 2009

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

335

 

$

217

 

Short-term investments

 

2,114

 

422

 

Receivables, net

 

2,086

 

2,052

 

Fiduciary assets

 

9,545

 

10,835

 

Other current assets

 

532

 

463

 

Total Current Assets

 

14,612

 

13,989

 

Goodwill

 

5,976

 

6,078

 

Intangible assets, net

 

754

 

791

 

Fixed assets, net

 

468

 

461

 

Investments

 

301

 

319

 

Other non-current assets

 

1,247

 

1,320

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

23,358

 

$

22,958

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Fiduciary liabilities

 

$

9,545

 

$

10,835

 

Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt

 

610

 

10

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

1,281

 

1,535

 

Other current liabilities

 

383

 

260

 

Total Current Liabilities

 

11,819

 

12,640

 

Long-term debt

 

3,146

 

1,998

 

Pension and other post employment liabilities

 

1,673

 

1,889

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

876

 

1,000

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES

 

17,514

 

17,527

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock-$1 par value

 

 

 

 

 

Authorized: 750 shares (issued: 9/30/10 - 362.7; 12/31/09 - 362.7)

 

363

 

363

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

3,135

 

3,215

 

Retained earnings

 

7,700

 

7,335

 

Treasury stock at cost (shares: 9/30/10 - 91.8; 12/31/09 - 96.4)

 

(3,665

)

(3,859

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(1,741

)

(1,675

)

TOTAL AON STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

5,792

 

5,379

 

Noncontrolling interests

 

52

 

52

 

TOTAL EQUITY

 

5,844

 

5,431

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

$

23,358

 

$

22,958

 

 

See the accompanying notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).

 

3



 

Aon Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity

(Unaudited)

 

(millions)

 

Shares

 

Common
Stock and
Additional
Paid-in
Capital

 

Retained
Earnings

 

Treasury
Stock

 

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss,
Net of Tax

 

Non-
controlling
Interests

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2009

 

362.7

 

$

3,578

 

$

7,335

 

$

(3,859

)

$

(1,675

)

$

52

 

$

5,431

 

Adoption of new accounting guidance

 

 

 

44

 

 

(44

)

 

 

Balance at January 1, 2010

 

362.7

 

3,578

 

7,379

 

(3,859

)

(1,719

)

52

 

5,431

 

Net income

 

 

 

475

 

 

 

16

 

491

 

Shares issued - employee benefit plans

 

 

33

 

 

 

 

 

33

 

Shares purchased

 

 

 

 

(100

)

 

 

(100

)

Shares reissued - employee benefit plans

 

 

(294

)

(31

)

294

 

 

 

(31

)

Tax benefit - employee benefit plans

 

 

18

 

 

 

 

 

18

 

Stock compensation expense

 

 

166

 

 

 

 

 

166

 

Dividends to stockholders

 

 

 

(123

)

 

 

 

(123

)

Change in net derivative gains/losses

 

 

 

 

 

(24

)

 

(24

)

Net foreign currency translation adjustments

 

 

 

 

 

(66

)

 

(66

)

Net post-retirement benefit obligations

 

 

 

 

 

68

 

 

68

 

Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interests

 

 

(3

)

 

 

 

(3

)

(6

)

Capital contribution by noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

2

 

Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests on subsidiary common stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

(15

)

(15

)

Balance at September 30, 2010

 

362.7

 

$

3,498

 

$

7,700

 

$

(3,665

)

$

(1,741

)

$

52

 

$

5,844

 

 

See the accompanying notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).

 

4



 

Aon Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

Sept. 30,

 

Sept. 30,

 

(millions)

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

491

 

$

574

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Losses (gains) from sale of businesses, net

 

40

 

(97

)

Depreciation of fixed assets

 

93

 

105

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

86

 

69

 

Stock compensation expense

 

166

 

152

 

Deferred income taxes

 

13

 

81

 

Change in assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Change in funds held on behalf of clients

 

466

 

46

 

Receivables, net

 

(40

)

218

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

(297

)

(399

)

Restructuring reserves

 

(54

)

16

 

Current income taxes

 

(14

)

(19

)

Pension and other post employment liabilities

 

(95

)

(362

)

Other assets and liabilities

 

(82

)

(203

)

Cash Provided by Operating Activities

 

773

 

181

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Sales of long-term investments

 

82

 

21

 

Purchase of long-term investments

 

(17

)

(17

)

Net (purchases) sales of short-term investments - non-fiduciary

 

(1,692

)

107

 

Net purchases of short-term investments - funds held on behalf of clients

 

(466

)

(46

)

Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired

 

(90

)

(55

)

Proceeds from sale of businesses

 

10

 

139

 

Capital expenditures

 

(115

)

(86

)

Cash (Used for) Provided by Investing Activities

 

(2,288

)

63

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase of treasury stock

 

(100

)

(250

)

Issuance of stock for employee benefit plans

 

98

 

142

 

Issuance of debt

 

1,805

 

1,092

 

Repayment of debt

 

(81

)

(1,118

)

Cash dividends to stockholders

 

(123

)

(124

)

Cash Provided by (Used for) Financing Activities

 

1,599

 

(258

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

34

 

12

 

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

118

 

(2

)

Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period

 

217

 

582

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period

 

$

335

 

$

580

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosures:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest paid

 

$

104

 

$

84

 

Income taxes paid, net of refunds

 

153

 

165

 

 

See the accompanying notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).

 

5



 

NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

 

1.  Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) and include all normal recurring adjustments which Aon Corporation (“Aon” or the “Company”) considers necessary to present fairly the Company’s consolidated financial statements for all periods presented.  The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Aon and its majority-owned subsidiaries and variable interest entities (“VIEs”) for which Aon is considered to be the primary beneficiary.  The consolidated financial statements exclude VIEs for which Aon is not the primary beneficiary. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

 

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted.  These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.  The results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of operating results that may be expected for the full year ending December 31, 2010.  Certain amounts in prior period financial statements and related notes have been reclassified to conform to the 2010 presentation.

 

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of reserves and expenses. These estimates and assumptions are based on management’s best estimates and judgments.  Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current economic environment, which management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances.  Management adjusts such estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate.  As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ significantly from these estimates.  Changes in estimates resulting from continuing changes in the economic environment will be reflected in the financial statements in future periods.

 

2.  Accounting Principles and Practices

 

Changes in Accounting Principles

On January 1, 2010, the Company adopted guidance amending current principles related to the transfers of financial assets and the consolidation of VIEs.  This guidance eliminates the concept of a qualifying special-purpose entity (“QSPE”) and the related exception for applying consolidation guidance, creates more stringent conditions for reporting the transfer of a portion of a financial asset as a sale, clarifies other sale-accounting criteria, and changes the initial measurement of a transferor’s interest in transferred financial assets.  Consequently, former QSPEs are evaluated for consolidation based on the updated VIE guidance.  In addition, the new guidance requires companies to take a qualitative approach in determining a VIE’s primary beneficiary and requires companies to more frequently reassess whether they must consolidate VIEs.  Additional year-end and interim period disclosures are also required outlining a company’s involvement with VIEs and any significant change in risk exposure due to that involvement, as well as how its involvement with VIEs impacts the Company’s financial statements.  See Note 9 regarding the consolidation of Private Equity Partnership Structures I, LLC (“PEPS I”).

 

On January 1, 2010, the Company adopted guidance requiring additional disclosures regarding fair value measurements.  The amended guidance requires entities to disclose additional information regarding assets and

 

6



 

liabilities that are transferred between levels of the fair value hierarchy.  This guidance also clarifies existing guidance pertaining to the level of disaggregation at which fair value disclosures should be made and the requirements to disclose information about the valuation techniques and inputs used in estimating Level 2 and Level 3 fair value measurements.  See Note 15 for these disclosures.  The guidance also requires entities to disclose information in the Level 3 rollforward about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements on a gross basis.  Aon will make the required disclosures beginning in the first quarter of 2011 when this part of the guidance becomes effective.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In September 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance updating current principles related to revenue recognition when there are multiple-element arrangements.  This revised guidance relates to the determination of when the individual deliverables included in a multiple-element arrangement may be treated as separate units of accounting and modifies the manner in which the transaction consideration is allocated across the separately identifiable deliverables.  The guidance also expands the disclosures required for multiple-element revenue arrangements.  The Company expects to early adopt this guidance in the fourth quarter 2010 and will apply its requirements to all revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified after January 1, 2010.  The Company believes that the adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

3.  Restricted Cash

 

At September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company had $1.6 billion and $85 million, respectively, of restricted balances, which were comprised of $1.5 billion and $0 in Short-term investments, and $94 million and $85 million in Cash and cash equivalents.  The restricted balance in Short-term investments includes the net proceeds of the sale of senior notes issued in connection with the acquisition of Hewitt Associates, Inc. (see Note 10 “Debt” and Note 18 “Subsequent Events — Hewitt Acquisition”), which were deposited into an escrow account.  These funds were to be held in the escrow account until the Hewitt transaction was consummated or terminated, in which case the escrowed funds would have been used to fund in part a mandatory redemption of the senior notes issued.  The Hewitt transaction was completed on October 1, 2010 and the escrowed funds were used to fund a portion of the cash purchase price.

 

4.  Other (Expense) Income

 

Other (expense) income consists of the following (in millions):

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Nine months ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

Equity (loss) income of non-consolidated subsidiaries

 

$

(1

)

$

10

 

$

5

 

$

14

 

Realized gain on sale of investments

 

 

1

 

1

 

1

 

(Losses) gains on disposal of businesses, net

 

(8

)

2

 

(2

)

8

 

Other

 

 

 

(1

)

5

 

 

 

$

(9

)

$

13

 

$

3

 

$

28

 

 

7



 

5.  Acquisitions and Dispositions

 

Acquisitions

In the first nine months of 2010, the Company completed the acquisition of the JP Morgan Compensation and Benefit Strategies Division of JP Morgan Retirement Plan Services, LLC, which is included in the Consulting segment, as well as 16 other companies, which are included in the Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services segment.  In the first nine months of 2009, the Company completed the acquisition of 8 companies, all of which were included in the Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services segment.  The following table includes the aggregate amount paid and the intangible assets recorded as a result of the acquisitions made during the first nine months of 2010 and 2009:

 

 

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

(millions)

 

2010

 

2009

 

Cash paid

 

$

87

 

$

44

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill

 

$

29

 

$

18

 

Other intangible assets

 

52

 

11

 

 

 

$

81

 

$

29

 

 

Approximately $23 million of future payments relating primarily to earnouts will be made for acquisitions completed during the first nine months of 2010.  These amounts are recorded in Other current liabilities and Other non-current liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position at Fair Value.  For certain of the acquisitions made in the first nine months of 2010, the Company is in the process of obtaining third-party valuations for the intangible assets other than goodwill, and therefore, at September 30, 2010 the allocation of the purchase prices are still subject to refinement.

 

The Company’s results of operations of these acquisitions are included in the condensed consolidated financial statements from the dates they were acquired.  The results of operations would not have been materially different if these acquisitions had been reported from the beginning of the period.

 

Dispositions - Continuing Operations

Aon’s Cananwill business in the U.S. (“Cananwill”), U.K., Canada, and Australia (together “Cananwill International”) originated short-term loans to corporate clients to finance insurance premium obligations.  These premium finance agreements were then sold to unaffiliated companies, typically bank Special Purpose Entities (“SPEs”), in whole loan securitization transactions that met the criteria for sales accounting.  Cananwill’s results were included in the Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services segment.

 

In December 2008, Aon signed a definitive agreement to sell the U.S. Cananwill operations.  This disposition was completed in February 2009.  A pretax loss of $7 million was recorded, of which $2 million was recorded in first quarter 2009 and $5 million in 2008, and is included in Other (expense) income in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.  Aon may receive up to $10 million from the buyer over the two years following the sale, based on the amount of insurance premiums and related obligations financed by the buyer over this period that are generated from certain of Cananwill’s producers.  As of September 30, 2010, Aon had received $5 million from the buyer, which is recorded in Other (expense) income in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

 

In connection with this sale, Aon has guaranteed the collection of the principal amount of the premium finance notes sold to the buyer, which, at September 30, 2010, was $1 million, if losses exceed the historical credit loss reserve for the business.  Historical losses in this business have been very low since the premium finance notes are generally fully collateralized by the lender’s right, in the event of non-payment, to cancel the underlying

 

8



 

insurance contract and collect the unearned premium from the insurance carrier. 

 

In June and July of 2009, the Company entered into agreements with third parties with respect to Aon’s Cananwill International operations.  As a result of these agreements, these third parties began originating, financing and servicing premium finance loans generated by referrals from Aon’s brokerage operations.  The third parties did not acquire the existing portfolio of Aon’s premium finance loans, and as such, the Company did not extend any guarantees under these agreements.

 

Dispositions - Discontinued Operations

AIS Management Corporation

In 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 $120 million in cash at closing, plus a potential earn-out of up to $35 million payable over the two years following the completion of the agreement.  The disposition was completed in January 2009 and resulted in a pretax gain of $86 million in first quarter 2009.  As of September 30, 2010, Aon had not received any of the potential earn-out.

 

The operating results of all businesses classified as discontinued operations are as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

Three months ended 

 

Nine months ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

Revenues

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operations

 

$

 

$

(1

)

$

 

$

4

 

Gain (loss) on sale:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AIS

 

 

 

 

86

 

Other

 

1

 

1

 

(38

)

3

 

 

 

1

 

 

(38

)

93

 

Income taxes

 

1

 

(3

)

(12

)

38

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

 

$

3

 

$

(26

)

$

55

 

 

Included in Other Gain (loss) on sale for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 is a $38 million expense for the settlement of legacy litigation related to the Buckner vs. Resource Life matter.  See Note 16 “Commitments and Contingencies” for further information.

 

6.  Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

 

The changes in the net carrying amount of goodwill by operating segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 are as follows (in millions):

 

9


 


 

 

 

Risk and
Insurance
Brokerage
Services

 

Consulting

 

Total

 

Balance as of December 31, 2009

 

$

5,693

 

$

385

 

$

6,078

 

Goodwill related to current year acquisitions

 

15

 

14

 

29

 

Goodwill related to disposals

 

(2

)

 

(2

)

Goodwill related to prior year acquisitions

 

(12

)

1

 

(11

)

Foreign currency revaluation

 

(120

)

2

 

(118

)

Balance as of September 30, 2010

 

$

5,574

 

$

402

 

$

5,976

 

 

Other intangible assets by asset class are as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

September 30, 2010

 

December 31, 2009

 

 

 

Gross
Carrying
Amount

 

Accumulated
Amortization

 

Gross
Carrying
Amount

 

Accumulated
Amortization

 

Intangible assets with indefinite lives:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trademarks

 

$

136

 

$

 

$

136

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intangible assets with finite lives:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trademarks

 

3

 

 

 

 

Customer related and contract based

 

792

 

295

 

757

 

234

 

Marketing, technology and other

 

386

 

268

 

376

 

244

 

 

 

$

1,317

 

$

563

 

$

1,269

 

$

478

 

 

Amortization expense on intangible assets was $30 million and $86 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively.  Amortization expense on intangible assets was $24 million and $69 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively.  As of September 30, 2010, the estimated amortization for intangible assets is as follows (in millions):

 

Remainder of 2010

 

$

32

 

2011

 

109

 

2012

 

97

 

2013

 

86

 

2014

 

76

 

Thereafter

 

218

 

 

 

$

618

 

 

7.  Restructuring

 

Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan

The Company announced a global restructuring plan (“Aon Benfield Plan”) in conjunction with its acquisition of Benfield in 2008.  The restructuring plan is intended to integrate and streamline operations across the combined Aon Benfield organization.  The Aon Benfield Plan includes an estimated 700 job eliminations, of which 625 jobs have been eliminated as of September 30, 2010.  Additionally, duplicate space and assets will

 

10



 

be abandoned.  The Company currently estimates the Plan will result in cumulative costs totaling approximately $155 million, of which $55 million was recorded as part of the purchase price allocation, $75 million has been recorded in earnings to date, and an estimated additional $25 million will be recorded in future earnings.  Expenses include workforce reduction, lease consolidation costs, asset impairments, as well as other expenses necessary to implement the restructuring initiative.  The Company recorded $5 million and $20 million of restructuring and related charges in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively.   The Company recorded $15 million and $45 million of restructuring and related charges in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively. Total payments of $95 million have been made under this Plan to date.

 

All costs associated with the Aon Benfield Plan are included in the Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services segment.  Costs related to the restructuring are included in Compensation and benefits and Other general expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.  The Company expects these restructuring activities and related expenses to affect continuing operations into 2011.

 

The following summarizes the restructuring and related costs by type that have been incurred and are estimated to be incurred through the end of the restructuring initiative related to the Aon Benfield plan (in millions):

 

 

 

Actual

 

 

 

Purchase
Price
Allocation

 

2009

 

Third
Quarter
2010

 

Nine
Months
2010

 

Total to
Date

 

Total Cost for
Restructuring
Period (1)

 

Workforce reduction

 

$

32

 

$

38

 

$

3

 

$

11

 

$

81

 

$

95

 

Lease consolidation

 

22

 

14

 

2

 

7

 

43

 

50

 

Asset impairments

 

 

2

 

 

1

 

3

 

6

 

Other costs associated with restructuring (2)

 

1

 

1

 

 

1

 

3

 

4

 

Total restructuring and related expenses

 

$

55

 

$

55

 

$

5

 

$

20

 

$

130

 

$

155

 

 


(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 implemented 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.

 

(2)   Other costs associated with restructuring initiatives, including moving costs and consulting and legal fees, are recognized when incurred.

 

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 implementation of the 2007 Plan is substantially complete and the Company does not expect to incur additional expenses.  The 2007 Plan includes an estimated 4,700 job eliminations.  As of September 30, 2010, approximately 4,550 positions have been eliminated.  The Company has closed or consolidated several offices resulting in sublease losses or lease buy-outs.  Expenses include workforce reduction, lease consolidation costs, asset impairments, as well as other expenses necessary to implement the restructuring initiative.  The Company recorded $3 million and $95 million of restructuring and related charges in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively. The Company recorded $84 million and $192 million of restructuring and related charges in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively.  Costs related to the restructuring are included in Compensation and benefits and Other general expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

 

No further expenses are expected to be incurred through the end of the restructuring initiative.  The following summarizes the restructuring and related expenses by type that have been incurred in the 2007 Plan (in millions):

 

11



 

 

 

Actual

 

 

 

2007

 

2008

 

2009

 

Third
Quarter
2010

 

Nine
Months
2010

 

Total Cost

 

Workforce reduction

 

$

17

 

$

166

 

$

251

 

$

1

 

$

74

 

$

508

 

Lease consolidation

 

22

 

38

 

78

 

1

 

14

 

152

 

Asset impairments

 

4

 

18

 

15

 

 

2

 

39

 

Other costs associated with restructuring (1)

 

3

 

29

 

13

 

1

 

5

 

50

 

Total restructuring and related expenses

 

$

46

 

$

251

 

$

357

 

$

3

 

$

95

 

$

749

 

 


(1) Other costs associated with restructuring initiatives, including moving costs and consulting and legal fees, are recognized when incurred.

 

The following summarizes the restructuring and related expenses by segment that have been incurred in the 2007 Plan (in millions):

 

 

 

Actual

 

 

 

2007

 

2008

 

2009

 

Third
Quarter
2010

 

Nine
Months
2010

 

Total Cost

 

Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services

 

$

41

 

$

234

 

$

322

 

$

3

 

$

86

 

$

683

 

Consulting

 

5

 

17

 

35

 

 

9

 

66

 

Total restructuring and related expenses

 

$

46

 

$

251

 

$

357

 

$

3

 

$

95

 

$

749

 

 

Restructuring Liabilities

 

As of September 30, 2010, the Company’s liabilities for its restructuring plans are as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

Benfield
Plan

 

2007
Plan

 

2005
Plan

 

Total

 

Balance at January 1, 2009

 

$

104

 

$

101

 

$

28

 

$

233

 

Expensed in 2009

 

53

 

342

 

(1

)

394

 

Cash payments in 2009

 

(67

)

(248

)

(12

)

(327

)

Purchase accounting adjustment

 

(49

)

 

 

(49

)

Foreign exchange translation

 

4

 

7

 

1

 

12

 

Balance at December 31, 2009

 

45

 

202

 

16

 

263

 

Expensed in 2010

 

19

 

93

 

 

112

 

Cash payments in 2010

 

(28

)

(132

)

(6

)

(166

)

Foreign exchange translation & other

 

(6

)

(7

)

2

 

(11

)

Balance at September 30, 2010

 

$

30

 

$

156

 

$

12

 

$

198

 

 

Aon’s unpaid restructuring liabilities are included in Accounts payable and accrued liabilities and Other non-current liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

 

8.  Investments

 

The Company earns income on cash balances and investments, as well as on premium trust balances that Aon maintains for premiums collected from insureds but not yet remitted to insurance companies.  The premium

 

12



 

trust balances are not owned by Aon, and cannot be used for general corporate purposes.  These balances, because of their nature, are required to be invested in very liquid securities with highly-rated, credit-worthy financial institutions.  Premium trust balances are included in Fiduciary assets in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.  Fiduciary assets included cash and investments of approximately $3.8 billion and fiduciary receivables of $5.7 billion at September 30, 2010.  Fiduciary assets included cash and investments of $3.3 billion and fiduciary receivables of $7.5 billion at December 31, 2009.

 

The Company’s interest-bearing and other investment assets are included in the following categories in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (in millions):

 

 

 

September 30,
2010

 

December 31,
2009

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

335

 

$

217

 

Short-term investments

 

2,114

 

422

 

Fiduciary assets

 

3,793

 

3,329

 

Investments

 

301

 

319

 

 

 

$

6,543

 

$

4,287

 

 

The Company’s investments are as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

September 30,
2010

 

December 31,
2009

 

Equity method investments

 

$

176

 

$

113

 

Other investments at cost

 

110

 

103

 

Fixed-maturities at fair value

 

15

 

16

 

PEPS I preferred stock

 

 

87

 

 

 

$

301

 

$

319

 

 

9.              Variable Interest Entities

 

Consolidated Variable Interest Entities

In 2001, Aon sold the vast majority of its limited partnership (“LP”) portfolio, valued at $450 million, to PEPS I, a QSPE.  In accordance with the recently issued VIE guidance, former QSPEs must now be assessed to determine if they are VIEs. Aon concluded that PEPS I is a VIE and that it holds a variable interest in PEPS I.  Aon also concluded that it is the primary beneficiary of PEPS I, as it has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact economic performance and it has the obligation or right to absorb losses or receive benefits that could potentially be significant to PEPS I. As a result of adopting this new guidance, Aon consolidated PEPS I effective January 1, 2010.  The financial statement impact of consolidating PEPS I resulted in:

 

·                  the removal of the $87 million PEPS I preferred stock, previously reported in investments, and

·                  the addition of $77 million of equity method investments in LP’s; cash of $57 million, of which $52 million is restricted; long-term debt of $47 million; a decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income net of tax of $44 million; and an increase in retained earnings of $44 million.

 

As part of the original transaction, Aon is required to purchase from PEPS I additional securities equal to the unfunded LP commitments, as they are requested.  These securities are rated below investment grade. Aon funded $1 million in commitments through the nine months ended September 30, 2010.  As of September 30, 2010, the unfunded commitments were $41 million.  The commitments have specific expiration dates and the general partners may decide not to draw on these commitments.

 

13



 

Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entities

At September 30, 2010, Aon held a 36% interest in Juniperus Insurance Opportunity Fund Limited (Juniperus), which is an investment vehicle that invests in an actively managed and diversified portfolio of insurance risks.  Aon has concluded that Juniperus is a VIE.  However, Aon has concluded that it is not the primary beneficiary as it lacks the power to direct the activities of Juniperus that most significantly impact economic performance.  The investment in Juniperus is accounted for using the equity method of accounting.

 

Aon’s potential loss at September 30, 2010 is limited to its investment in Juniperus of $68 million, which is recorded in Investments in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.  Aon has not provided any financing to Juniperus other than previously contractually required amounts.

 

10.               Debt

 

The following is a summary of outstanding debt (in millions):

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

6.25% EUR 500 debt securities due July 2014, including $15 and $4 fair value hedge

 

$

690

 

$

725

 

8.205% Junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures due January 2027

 

687

 

687

 

5.05% CAD 375 debt securities due April 2011

 

366

 

357

 

7.375% Debt securities due December 2012

 

224

 

224

 

3.50% Senior notes due September 2015

 

597

 

 

5.00% Senior notes due September 2020

 

598

 

 

6.25% Senior notes due September 2040

 

297

 

 

Term Loan Credit Facility

 

 

 

Euro credit facility

 

233

 

 

Notes payable, due in varying installments, with interest at 1% to 11.5%

 

49

 

11

 

Other

 

15

 

4

 

Total debt

 

3,756

 

2,008

 

Less short-term and current portion of long-term debt

 

610

 

10

 

Total long-term debt

 

$

3,146

 

$

1,998

 

 

On August 13, 2010, in connection with the acquisition of Hewitt (see Note 18 “Subsequent Events — Hewitt Acquisition”) Aon entered into an unsecured three-year Term Credit Agreement (the “Term Loan Credit Facility”), which provided unsecured term loan financing of up to $1.0 billion.  This Term Loan Credit Facility

 

14



 

has an interest rate of LIBOR + 2.5%.  At September 30, 2010, there were no borrowings under this facility.  The Company borrowed $1.0 billion under this facility on October 1, 2010 to finance a portion of the Hewitt purchase price.  At September 30, 2010, the Company had $26 million of deferred financing costs associated with the Term Loan Credit Facility that will be amortized over the term of the loan.  Concurrent with entering into the Term Loan Credit Facility, the Company also entered into a Senior Bridge Term Loan Credit Agreement which provided unsecured bridge financing of up to $1.5 billion (the “Bridge Loan Facility”) to finance a portion of the Hewitt purchase price.

 

In lieu of drawing under the Bridge Loan Facility, on September 7, 2010, Aon entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with several underwriters with respect to the offering and sale by the Company of $600 million aggregate principal amount of its 3.50% Senior Notes due 2015 (the “2015 Notes”), $600 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.00% Senior Notes due 2020 (the “2020 Notes”) and $300 million aggregate principal amount of its 6.25% Senior Notes due 2040 (the “2040 Notes” and, together with the 2015 Notes and 2020 Notes, the “Notes”) under the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3. All of these Notes are unsecured and, at September 30, 2010, the Company had $12 million of deferred financing costs associated with the Notes that will be amortized over the respective term of each note. Following the issuance of these Notes, on September 15, 2010, the Bridge Loan Facility was terminated and the Company recorded $14 million of related deferred financing costs in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.

 

The net proceeds from the sale of the Notes were deposited into an escrow account and were to be held until the Hewitt transaction was consummated or terminated, in which case the escrowed funds would have been used to fund in part a mandatory redemption of the Notes.  Consequently, at September 30, 2010, the net proceeds are included as restricted balances in Short-term investments in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.  On October 1, 2010, the net proceeds were used to finance a portion of the Hewitt purchase price.

 

Certain of Aon’s European subsidiaries had a €650 million ($877 million at September 30, 2010 exchange rates) multi-currency revolving loan credit facility which matured in October 2010 (the “2005 Facility”).  Commitment fees of 8.75 basis points were payable on the unused portion of the facility. At September 30, 2010, $233 million was drawn under the 2005 Facility and was classified as Short-term debt. This borrowing was repaid in full by October 7, 2010. Aon guaranteed the obligations of its subsidiaries with respect to this facility.  On October 15, 2010, the Company entered into a new €650 million multi-currency revolving loan credit facility (the “2010 Facility”) which replaced the existing 2005 Facility.  The 2010 Facility expires in October 2015 and has similar terms and conditions as the previous facility.

 

At June 30, 2010, Aon reclassified its 5.05% CAD 375 million ($366 million at September 30, 2010 exchange rates) debt securities to Short-term debt in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as the due date of the securities, April 2011, is less than one year from the balance sheet date.

 

As a result of adopting the new guidance on VIEs and consolidating PEPS I effective January 1, 2010, Aon recorded $47 million of long-term debt in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as of September 30, 2010.

 

There are a number of covenants associated with both the Company’s U.S. and Euro facilities, the most significant of which require Aon to maintain a ratio of consolidated EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) to consolidated interest expense of 4 to 1 and a ratio of consolidated debt to EBITDA of not greater than 3 to 1.  Aon was in compliance with all debt covenants as of September 30, 2010.

 

Repayments of long-term debt are as follows (in millions):

 

2011

 

$

51

 

2012

 

229

 

2013

 

3

 

2014

 

680

 

Thereafter

 

2,183

 

 

 

$

3,146

 

 

15



 

11.  Stockholders’ Equity

 

Common Stock

 

Under the share repurchase program begun in 2005, Aon’s Board of Directors has authorized the Company to repurchase up to $4.6 billion of its outstanding common stock.  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 cash.  Any repurchased shares will be available for employee stock plans and for other corporate purposes.  In third quarter 2010, Aon did not repurchase any shares.  In the first nine months of 2010, Aon repurchased 2.4 million shares at a cost of $100 million.  Since the inception of this share repurchase program, the Company has repurchased a total of 108.3 million shares for an aggregate cost of $4.4 billion.  As of September 30, 2010, the Company was authorized to purchase up to $165 million of additional shares under this stock repurchase program.  The timing and amount of future purchases will be based on market and other conditions.

 

In January 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a new share repurchase program under which up to $2 billion of common stock may be repurchased from time to time depending on market conditions or other factors through open market or privately negotiated transactions.  Repurchases will commence under the new share repurchase program upon conclusion of the existing program.

 

In connection with the acquisition of two entities controlled by Aon’s then-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in 2001, Aon obtained approximately 22.4 million shares of its common stock.  These treasury shares are restricted as to their reissuance.

 

In the first nine months of 2010, Aon reissued 6.8 million shares of treasury stock for employee benefit plans and 273,000 shares of treasury stock in connection with employee stock purchase plans.  No new shares of common stock were issued for employee benefit plans during the first nine months of 2010.  In the first nine months of 2009, Aon issued 966,000 new shares of common stock for employee benefit plans and reissued approximately 7.2 million shares of treasury stock for employee benefit plans and 411,000 shares in connection with employee stock purchase plans.

 

On October 1, 2010 the Company issued approximately 61 million shares of common stock as consideration for part of the purchase price of Hewitt. In addition, as part of the consideration, outstanding Hewitt stock options were converted into options to purchase 4.5 million shares of Aon’s common stock.

 

Participating Securities

 

Unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents, whether paid or unpaid, are participating securities, as defined, and therefore, should be included in computing basic and diluted earnings per share using the two class method.  Certain of Aon’s restricted stock awards allow the holder to receive a non-forfeitable dividend equivalent.  Income from continuing operations, (Loss) income from discontinued operations and Net income, attributable to participating securities, were as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

Three months ended September 30,

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

3

 

$

3

 

$

11

 

$

12

 

(Loss) income from discontinued operations

 

 

 

(1

)

1

 

Net income

 

$

3

 

$

3

 

$

10

 

$

13

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding are as follows (in millions):

 

16



 

 

 

Three months ended September 30,

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

Shares for basic earnings per share (1)

 

278.7

 

283.8

 

277.6

 

284.5

 

Common stock equivalents

 

3.5

 

8.3

 

4.3

 

7.7

 

Shares for diluted earnings per share

 

282.2

 

292.1

 

281.9

 

292.2

 

 


(1) Includes 5.8 million and 6.6 million of participating securities for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and 6.1 million and 7.0 million of participating securities for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

Certain common stock equivalents, primarily related to options, were not included in the computation of diluted net income per share because their inclusion would have been antidilutive.  The number of shares excluded from the calculation was 5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009.

 

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

The components of comprehensive income, net of related tax, are as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Nine months ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

Net income

 

$

147

 

$

134

 

$

491

 

$

574

 

Net derivative gains (losses)

 

2

 

(12

)

(24

)

6

 

Net unrealized investment losses

 

 

(1

)

 

(10

)

Net foreign currency translation adjustments

 

207

 

87

 

(66

)

227

 

Net post-retirement benefit obligations

 

13

 

11

 

68

 

71

 

Comprehensive income

 

369

 

219

 

469

 

868

 

Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

5

 

17

 

16

 

29

 

Comprehensive income attributable to Aon stockholders

 

$

364

 

$

202

 

$

453

 

$

839

 

 

The components of Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of related tax, are as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

September 30,
2010

 

January 1,
2010 (1)

 

December 31,
2009

 

Net derivative losses

 

$

 (24

)

$

 

$

 

Net unrealized investment gains

 

 

 

44

 

Net foreign currency translation adjustments

 

235

 

301

 

301

 

Net post-retirement benefit obligations

 

(1,952

)

(2,020

)

(2,020

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax

 

$

(1,741

)

$

(1,719

)

$

(1,675

)

 


(1) Reflects impact of adopting new accounting guidance which resulted in the consolidation of PEPS I effective January 1, 2010.

 

12.  Employee Benefits

 

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 (in millions):

 

17



 

 

 

Three months ended September 30,

 

 

 

U.S.

 

International

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

Service cost

 

$

 

$

 

$

3

 

$

5

 

Interest cost

 

32

 

31

 

61

 

62

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(30

)

(25

)

(60

)

(61

)

Amortization of prior-service cost

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of net loss

 

7

 

6

 

14

 

10

 

Net periodic benefit cost

 

$

9

 

$

12

 

$

18

 

$

16

 

 

 

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

 

 

U.S.

 

International

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

Service cost

 

$

 

$

 

$

9

 

$

13

 

Interest cost

 

93

 

93

 

183

 

174

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(89

)

(76

)

(177

)

(172

)

Amortization of prior-service cost

 

 

(1

)

 

1

 

Amortization of net loss

 

18

 

23

 

40

 

29

 

Net periodic benefit cost

 

$

22

 

$

39

 

$

55

 

$

45

 

 

In addition to the net periodic benefit cost shown above, during the second quarter of 2010, the Company recorded a non-cash charge to pension expense of $49 million, ($29 million after tax), with a corresponding credit to accumulated other comprehensive income.  This charge is reported in Compensation and benefits in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and represents the correction of an error in the calculation of pension expense for the Company’s U.S. pension plan for the period from 1999 to the end of the first quarter of 2010.

 

In first quarter 2009, a curtailment gain of $83 million was recognized as a result of the Company ceasing crediting future benefits relating to salary and service for the U.S. defined benefit pension plan, which is reported in Compensation and benefits in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

 

Also in first quarter 2009, a curtailment gain of $10 million was recognized in discontinued operations resulting from the sale of the Company’s Combined Insurance Company of America (“CICA”) subsidiary.  The curtailment gain related to the Company’s U.S. Retiree Health and Welfare Plan, in which CICA employees were allowed to participate through the end of 2008, pursuant to the terms of the sale.

 

18



 

During the second quarter 2009, Aon recorded a $5 million curtailment charge attributable to a remeasurement resulting from the decision to cease service accruals in the Canadian plans, which is reported in Compensation and benefits in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

 

Based on current assumptions, in 2010, Aon plans to contribute $27 million and $255 million to its U.S. and material international defined benefit pension plans, respectively.  As of September 30, 2010, contributions of $20 million and $201 million have been made to its U.S. and material international defined benefit pension plans, respectively.

 

13.  Stock Compensation Plans

 

The following table summarizes stock compensation expense 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,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

Restricted stock units (“RSUs”)

 

$

29

 

$

32

 

$

99

 

$

96

 

Performance plans

 

10

 

21

 

51

 

37

 

Stock options

 

3

 

4

 

13

 

17

 

Employee stock purchase plans

 

1

 

1

 

3

 

3

 

Total stock compensation expense

 

$

43

 

$

58

 

$

166

 

$

153

 

 

During the first half of 2009, the Company converted its stock administration system to a new service provider.  In connection with this conversion, a reconciliation of the methodologies utilized was performed, which resulted in a $12 million reduction of expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.

 

Stock Awards

 

During the first nine months of 2010, the Company issued approximately 1.7 million shares in connection with the completion of the 2007 Leadership Performance Plan (“LPP”) cycle.  During the first nine months of 2009, the Company issued approximately 2 million shares in connection with the completion of the 2006 LPP cycle.  In addition, the Company issued approximately 3.3 and 3.5 million restricted shares in connection with the Company’s incentive compensation plans during the first nine months of 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

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

 

 

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

Shares

 

Fair
Value (1)

 

Shares

 

Fair
Value (1)

 

Non-vested at beginning of period

 

12,850

 

$

36

 

14,060

 

$

35

 

Granted

 

4,984

 

39

 

5,508

 

38

 

Vested

 

(6,288

)

35

 

(6,026

)

35

 

Forfeited

 

(412

)

38

 

(408

)

37

 

Non-vested at end of period

 

11,134

 

38

 

13,134

 

36

 

 


(1)          Represents weighted average fair value per share of award at date of grant.

 

19


 


 

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

 

 

 

As of September 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Potential RSUs to be issued based on current performance levels

 

4,883

 

6,623

 

Unamortized expense, based on current performance levels

 

$

107

 

$

136

 

 

Stock Options

 

The weighted average assumptions used to determine fair values, the weighted average expected life and weighted average estimated fair value per share of employee stock options granted are summarized as follows:

 

 

 

Three months ended September 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

All Other
Options

 

All Other
Options

 

Special
Stock Plan
Options

 

Weighted average volatility

 

27.8

%

29.9

%

29.9

%

Expected dividend yield

 

1.6

%

1.6

%

1.6

%

Risk-free rate

 

2.2

%

3.0

%

2.7

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average expected life, in years

 

6.1

 

6.5

 

5.6

 

Weighted average estimated fair value per share

 

$

9.13

 

$

10.95

 

$

10.24

 

 

 

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

All Other
Options

 

LPP Options

 

Special
Stock Plan
Options

 

All Other
Options

 

Weighted average volatility

 

28.5

%

35.5

%

35.0

%

32.0

%

Expected dividend yield

 

1.6

%

1.3

%

1.5

%

1.5

%

Risk-free rate

 

3.0

%

1.5

%

1.9

%

2.6

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average expected life, in years

 

6.1

 

4.4

 

5.6

 

6.5

 

Weighted average estimated fair value per share

 

$

10.37

 

$

12.19

 

$

12.01

 

$

12.34

 

 

Beginning in the first quarter 2010, the Company eliminated the grant of options under two of its key equity award programs, the LPP and the Special Stock Plan, in order to manage share usage and expense.  During the first nine months of 2009, the Company granted approximately 1 million stock options at $39 per share in connection with the 2009 LPP Plan and approximately 500,000 stock options at $37 per share in connection with the Company’s incentive compensation plans.

 

A summary of the status of Aon’s stock options and related information is as follows (shares in thousands):

 

20



 

 

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

Shares

 

Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price

 

Shares

 

Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price

 

Outstanding at beginning of period

 

15,937

 

$

33

 

19,666

 

$

31

 

Granted

 

142

 

38

 

1,468

 

38

 

Exercised

 

(2,382

)

30

 

(3,855

)

27

 

Forfeited and expired

 

(402

)

34

 

(743

)

38

 

Outstanding at end of period

 

13,295

 

33

 

16,536

 

33

 

Exercisable at end of period

 

10,535

 

32

 

10,365

 

31

 

 

The weighted average remaining contractual life of outstanding options was 3.6 years and 4.3 years at September 30, 2010 and 2009, 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 $39.11 as of September 30, 2010, which would have been received by the option holders had those option holders exercised their options as of that date.  At September 30, 2010, the aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding was $88 million, of which $85 million was exercisable.

 

Other information related to the Company’s stock options is as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Nine months ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

Aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercised

 

$

5

 

$

17

 

$

26

 

$

55

 

Cash received from the exercise of stock options

 

12

 

37

 

71

 

104

 

Tax benefit realized from the exercise of stock options

 

 

2

 

4

 

15

 

 

Unamortized deferred compensation expense, which includes both options and awards, amounted to $285 million as of September 30, 2010, with a remaining weighted average amortization period of approximately 2.0 years.

 

14.  Derivatives and Hedging

 

Aon is exposed to market risk primarily from changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates.  To manage the risk related to these exposures, Aon enters into various derivative transactions that reduce Aon’s market risks by creating offsetting market exposures.  Aon does not enter into derivative transactions for trading purposes.

 

Derivative transactions are governed by a uniform set of policies and procedures covering areas such as authorization, counterparty exposure and hedging practices.  Positions are monitored using techniques such as sensitivity analyses.

 

Certain derivatives also give rise to credit risks from the possible non-performance by counterparties.  The credit risk is generally limited to the fair value of those contracts that are favorable to Aon.  Aon has limited its credit risk by using International Swaps and Derivatives Association (“ISDA”) master agreements and credit support arrangements, entering into non-exchange-traded derivatives with highly-rated major financial

 

21



 

institutions, and by using exchange-traded instruments.  Aon monitors the credit-worthiness of, and exposure to, its counterparties.  As of September 30, 2010, all derivative liability positions were entered into pursuant to terms of ISDA master agreements, and were free of credit risk contingent features.  In addition, Aon has received collateral of $43 million from counterparties and pledged collateral of $17 million to counterparties for derivatives subject to collateral support arrangements as of September 30, 2010, which are recorded in Other long-term liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position.

 

Foreign Exchange Risk Management

 

Aon and its subsidiaries are exposed to foreign exchange risk when they receive revenues, pay expenses, or enter into intercompany loans denominated in a currency that differs from their functional currency.  Aon uses foreign exchange derivatives, typically forward contracts, options and cross currency swaps, to reduce its overall exposure to the effects of currency fluctuations on cash flows.  Aon has hedged these exposures up to six years in the future.  Aon has designated foreign exchange derivatives with a notional amount of $2.0 billion at September 30, 2010 as cash flow hedges of these exposures.  As of September 30, 2010, a $29 million pretax loss has been deferred to Other comprehensive income (“OCI”) related to these hedges, of which $21 million is expected to be reclassified to earnings in the next twelve months.  These hedges had no material ineffectiveness in either the first nine months of 2010 or 2009.  As of September 30, 2010, Aon also has $134 million notional amount of foreign exchange derivatives not designated or qualifying as cash flow hedges offsetting its exposures to foreign exchange risks.

 

Aon also uses foreign exchange derivatives, typically forward contracts and options, to hedge its net investments in foreign operations for up to four years in the future, to reduce the impact of foreign currency fluctuations on the translation of the financial statements of Aon’s foreign operations, and to manage the currency exposure of Aon’s global liquidity profile for one year in the future.  As of September 30, 2010, the notional amount outstanding related to net investments in foreign operations was $1.7 billion and a $74 million gain has been deferred to OCI related to this hedge.  This hedge had no ineffectiveness in either the first nine months of 2010 or 2009. The notional amount related to the translation and currency exposure was $32 million at September 30, 2010, however, these derivatives are not eligible for hedge accounting treatment.

 

Interest Rate Risk Management

 

Aon holds variable rate short-term brokerage and other operating deposits. Aon uses interest rate derivatives, typically swaps, to reduce its exposure to the effects of interest rate fluctuations on the forecasted interest receipts from these deposits for up to three years in the future.  Aon has designated interest rate derivatives with a notional amount of $572 million at September 30, 2010 as cash flow hedges of this exposure.  As of September 30, 2010, a $2 million pretax gain has been deferred to OCI related to this hedge, all of which is expected to be reclassified to earnings during the next twelve months.  This hedge had no material ineffectiveness in either the first nine months of 2010 or 2009.

 

In August 2010, Aon entered into forward starting swaps with a total notional of $500 million to reduce its exposure to the effects of interest rate fluctuations on the forecasted interest expense cash flows related to the anticipated issuance of fixed rate debt in September 2010.  Aon designated the forward starting swaps as a cash flow hedge of this exposure and terminated the positions when the debt was issued.  As of September 30, 2010, a $13 million pretax loss had been deferred to OCI related to these hedges, of which $1 million is expected to be reclassified to earnings during the next twelve months.  These hedges had no material ineffectiveness.

 

In 2009, a subsidiary of Aon issued €500 million ($675 million at September 30, 2010 exchange rates) of fixed rate debt due on July 1, 2014.  Aon is exposed to changes in the fair value of the debt due to interest rate fluctuations.  Aon uses receive-fixed-pay-floating interest rate swaps to reduce its exposure to the effects of interest rate fluctuations on the fair value of the debt.  Aon has designated interest rate swaps with a notional amount of €250 million ($337 million at September 30, 2010 exchange rates) at September 30, 2010 as a fair

 

22



 

value hedge of this exposure.  This hedge did not have any ineffectiveness in either the first nine months of 2010 or 2009.

 

As of September 30, 2010, the fair values of derivative instruments are as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

Derivative Assets

 

Derivative Liabilities

 

 

 

Balance Sheet
Location

 

Fair
Value

 

Balance Sheet
Location

 

Fair
Value

 

Derivatives accounted for as hedges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate contracts

 

Other assets

 

$

20

 

Other liabilities

 

$

 

Foreign exchange contracts

 

Other assets

 

199

 

Other liabilities

 

169

 

Total

 

 

 

219

 

 

 

169

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives not accounted for as hedges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange contracts

 

Other assets

 

1

 

Other liabilities

 

3

 

Total

 

 

 

$

220

 

 

 

$

172

 

 

The amounts of derivative gains (losses) recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 are as follows (in millions):

 

Three months ended
September 30, 2010

 

Amount of Gain
(Loss) Recognized in
OCI on Derivative
(Effective Portion)

 

Location of Gain (Loss)
Reclassified from OCI into
Income (Effective Portion)

 

Amount of Gain (Loss)
Reclassified from OCI
into Income (Effective
Portion)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flow hedges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate contracts

 

$

(12

)

Investment income

 

$

4

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange contracts

 

41

 

Other general expenses and Interest expense

 

22

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

29

 

 

 

$

26

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign net investment hedges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange contracts

 

$

(131

)

N/A

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended
September 30, 2010

 

Amount of Gain
(Loss) Recognized in
Income on
Derivative

 

Hedged item in Fair Value
Hedge Relationships

 

Amount of Gain (Loss)
Recognized in Income
on Related Hedged Item

 

Location of Gain
(Loss) Recognized in
Income on Derivative
and Related Hedged
Item

 

Fair value hedges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange contracts

 

$

(2

)

Fixed rate debt

 

$

2

 

Interest expense

 

 

23


 


 

Nine months ended
September 30, 2010

 

Amount of Gain
(Loss) Recognized in
OCI on Derivative
(Effective Portion)

 

Location of Gain (Loss)
Reclassified from OCI into
Income (Effective Portion)

 

Amount of Gain (Loss)
Reclassified from OCI 
into Income (Effective
Portion)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flow hedges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate contracts

 

$

(10

)

Investment income

 

$

15

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange contracts

 

(99

)

Other general expenses and Interest expense

 

(84

)

 

 

 

Total

 

$

(109

)

 

 

$

(69

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign net investment hedges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange contracts

 

$

74

 

N/A

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

Nine months ended
September 30, 2010

 

Amount of Gain
(Loss) Recognized in
Income on
Derivative

 

Hedged item in Fair Value
Hedge Relationships

 

Amount of Gain (Loss)
Recognized in Income
on Related Hedged Item

 

Location of Gain
(Loss) Recognized in
Income on Derivative
and Related Hedged
Item

 

Fair value hedges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange contracts

 

$

10

 

Fixed rate debt

 

$

(9

)

Interest expense

 

 

The amounts of derivative gains (losses) recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 are as follows (in millions):

 

24



 

Three months ended
September 30, 2009

 

Amount of Gain
(Loss) Recognized in
OCI on Derivative
(Effective Portion)

 

Location of Gain (Loss)
Reclassified from OCI into
Income (Effective Portion)

 

Amount of Gain (Loss)
Reclassified from OCI
into Income (Effective
Portion)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flow hedges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate contracts

 

$

6

 

Investment income

 

$

8

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange contracts

 

(1

)

Other general expenses and Interest expense

 

16

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

5

 

 

 

$

24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign net investment hedges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange contracts

 

$

(52

)

N/A

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended
September 30, 2009

 

Amount of Gain
(Loss) Recognized in
Income on
Derivative

 

Hedged item in Fair Value
Hedge Relationships

 

Amount of Gain (Loss)
Recognized in Income
on Related Hedged Item

 

Location of Gain
(Loss) Recognized in
Income on Derivative
and Related Hedged
Item

 

Fair value hedges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange contracts

 

$

7

 

Fixed rate debt

 

$

(6

)

Interest expense

 

 

Nine months ended
September 30, 2009

 

Amount of Gain
(Loss) Recognized in
OCI on Derivative
(Effective Portion)

 

Location of Gain (Loss)
Reclassified from OCI into
Income (Effective Portion)

 

Amount of Gain (Loss)
Reclassified from OCI
into Income (Effective
Portion)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flow hedges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate contracts

 

$

14

 

Investment income

 

$

27

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange contracts

 

(3

)

Other general expenses and Interest expense

 

(26

)

 

 

 

Total

 

$

11

 

 

 

$

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign net investment hedges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange contracts

 

$

(86

)

N/A

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

Nine months ended
September 30, 2009

 

Amount of Gain
(Loss) Recognized in
Income on
Derivative

 

Hedged item in Fair Value
Hedge Relationships

 

Amount of Gain (Loss)
Recognized in Income
on Related Hedged Item

 

Location of Gain
(Loss) Recognized in
Income on Derivative
and Related Hedged
Item

 

Fair value hedges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange contracts

 

$

7

 

Fixed rate debt

 

$

(6

)

Interest expense

 

 

The amount of gain (loss) recognized in income on the ineffective portion of derivatives for both the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 was negligible.

 

Aon recorded a gain of $3 million and a loss of $7 million in Other general expenses for foreign exchange derivatives not designated or qualifying as hedges for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Aon recorded a gain of $7 million and a loss of $13 million in Other general expenses for foreign exchange derivatives not designated or qualifying as hedges for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

25



 

15.  Fair Value and Financial Instruments

 

Accounting standards establish a three tier fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair values as follows:

 

·                  Level 1 — observable inputs such as quoted prices for identical assets in active markets;

·                  Level 2 — inputs other than quoted prices for identical assets in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and

·                  Level 3 — unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data which requires the use of valuation techniques and the development of assumptions.

 

The following methods and assumptions are used to estimate the fair values of the Company’s financial instruments:

 

Money market funds and highly liquid debt securities are carried at cost and amortized cost, respectively, as an approximation of fair value.  Based on market convention, the Company considers cost a practical and expedient measure of fair value.

 

Fixed-maturity securities are carried at fair value, which is based on quoted market prices or on estimated values if they are not actively traded.  In some cases where a market price is available, the Company will make use of acceptable expedients (such as matrix pricing) to estimate fair value.

 

Derivatives are carried at fair value, based upon industry standard valuation techniques that use, where possible, current market-based or independently sourced pricing inputs, such as interest rates, currency exchange rates, or implied volatilities.

 

Guarantees are carried at fair value, which is based on discounted estimated future cash flows using published historical cumulative default rates and discount rates commensurate with the underlying exposure.

 

Debt is carried at outstanding principal balance. Fair value is based on quoted market prices or estimates using discounted cash flow analyses based on current borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements.

 

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, 2010 (in millions):

 

26



 

 

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements Using

 

 

 

 

 

Quoted Prices in

 

Significant 

 

Significant

 

 

 

 

 

Active Markets

 

Other

 

Unobservable

 

 

 

Balance at 

 

for Identical 

 

Observable

 

Inputs

 

 

 

September 30, 2010

 

Assets (Level 1)

 

Inputs (Level 2)

 

(Level 3)

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Money market funds and highly liquid debt securities (1)

 

$

3,809

 

$

3,782

 

$

27

 

$

 

Fixed maturity securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate bonds

 

12

 

 

 

12

 

Government bonds

 

3

 

 

3

 

 

Derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate contracts

 

20

 

 

20

 

 

Foreign exchange contracts

 

152

 

 

152

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange contracts

 

124

 

 

124

 

 

Guarantees

 

4

 

 

 

4

 

 


(1) Includes $3,782 million of money market funds and $27 million of highly liquid debt securities that are classified as Fiduciary assets, Short-term investments or Cash equivalents in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position, depending on their nature and initial maturity.  See Note 8 for additional information regarding the Company’s investments.

 

The following table presents the changes in the Level 3 fair-value category for the three months ended September 30, 2010 (in millions):

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements Using Level 3 Inputs

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Investments

 

Guarantees

 

Balance at June 30, 2010

 

$

21

 

$

(4

)

Total gains (losses):

 

 

 

 

 

Included in earnings

 

 

 

Included in other comprehensive income

 

1

 

 

Purchases and sales

 

(10

)

 

Transfers

 

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2010

 

$

12

 

$

(4

)

 

The following table presents the changes in the Level 3 fair-value category for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 (in millions):

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements Using Level 3 Inputs

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Investments

 

Guarantees

 

Balance at December 31, 2009

 

$

100

 

$

(4

)

Total gains (losses):

 

 

 

 

 

Included in earnings

 

 

 

Included in other comprehensive income

 

 

 

Purchases and sales

 

(1

)

 

Transfers (1)

 

(87

)

 

Balance at September 30, 2010

 

$

12

 

$

(4

)

 


(1) Transfers represent the removal of the investment in PEPS I preferred stock as a result of consolidating PEPS I on January 1, 2010.  See Note 9 for further information.

 

27


 


 

There are no realized or unrealized gains or losses related to assets and liabilities measured at fair value using level three inputs included in income for either the three or nine months ended September 30, 2010.

 

The following table discloses the Company’s financial instruments where the carrying amounts and fair values differ (in millions):

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

Carrying

 

Fair

 

Carrying

 

Fair

 

 

 

Value

 

Value

 

Value

 

Value

 

Long-term debt

 

$

3,146

 

$

3,314

 

$

1,998

 

$

2,086

 

 

16.  Commitments and  Contingencies

 

Legal

Aon and its subsidiaries are subject to numerous claims, tax assessments, lawsuits and proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business, which frequently include errors and omissions (“E&O”) claims.  The damages claimed in these matters are or may be substantial, including, in many instances, claims for punitive, treble or extraordinary damages.  Aon has historically purchased E&O insurance and other insurance to provide protection against certain losses that arise in such matters.  Aon has exhausted or materially depleted its coverage under some of the policies that protect the Company and, consequently, is self-insured or materially self-insured for some historical claims.  Accruals for these exposures, 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.  In August 2010, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed the dismissals of most, but not all, of the claims.  Aon believes it has meritorious defenses and intends to vigorously defend itself against the remaining 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 originally submitted purported expert reports estimating a range of alleged damages of $353 million to $490 million, and plaintiffs in the ERISA class actions originally submitted revised purported expert reports estimating a range of alleged damages of $74 million to $349 million.  To protect against the uncertain outcome of litigation and to contain exposure to the Company, Aon settled the securities suit for $30 million in 2009 and later the ERISA suit for $1.8 million.  On November 24, 2009, the Court entered a final order approving the

 

28



 

securities settlement and dismissing the securities suit.  On September 15, 2010, the Court entered a final order approving the ERISA settlement and dismissing the lawsuit.  No appeals were taken from that order.

 

Following inquiries from regulators, the Company commenced an internal review of its compliance with certain U.S. and non-U.S. anti-corruption laws, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”).  In January 2009, Aon Limited, Aon’s principal U.K. brokerage subsidiary, entered into a settlement agreement with the Financial Services Authority (“FSA”) to pay a £5.25 million fine arising from its failure to exercise reasonable care to establish and maintain effective systems and controls to counter the risks of bribery arising from the use of overseas firms and individuals who helped it win business.  The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) continue to investigate 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 the SEC and DOJ matters will be concluded, or what regulatory or other outcomes may result.

 

A putative class action, Buckner v Resource Life, was filed in state court in Columbus, Georgia, against a former subsidiary of Aon, Resource Life Insurance Company.  The complaint alleged that Resource Life, which wrote policies insuring repayment of auto loans, was obligated to identify and return unearned premiums 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.  In October 2009, the court certified a nationwide class of policyholders whose loans terminated before the end of their scheduled terms and who Resource Life cannot prove received a refund of unearned premium.  Resource Life took an appeal from that decision.  Also in October 2009, Aon filed a lawsuit in Illinois state court seeking a declaratory judgment with respect to the rights and obligations of Aon and Resource Life under the indemnity agreement.  In July 2010, Aon entered into settlements of both cases, subject to providing notice to the Buckner class and obtaining court approval of the Buckner settlement.  Aon agreed to pay $47,750,000 on Resource Life’s behalf in complete settlement with the plaintiff class in Buckner, of which a pretax expense of $37,750,000 was reflected in Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes in the second quarter 2010 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.  A portion of this payment may be returned to Aon if checks are undeliverable or some class members do not cash their settlement payments.  Subject to certain limitations, the return payment, if any, would be divided 50% to Aon and 50% to a fund to be used for charitable purposes.  Additionally, the settlement agreement with Resource Life provides potential future benefits from Resource Life.  At this time, the amount of future payments, if any, cannot be determined and Aon will record any such amounts when they are determinable.  The Georgia court has set a hearing for final approval of the settlement for November 22, 2010.

 

A retail insurance brokerage subsidiary of Aon provides insurance brokerage services to Northrop Grumman Corporation (“Northrop”).  This Aon subsidiary placed Northrop’s excess property insurance program for the period covering 2005.  Northrop suffered a substantial loss in August 2005 when Hurricane Katrina damaged Northrop’s facilities in the Gulf states.  Northrop’s excess insurance carrier, Factory Mutual Insurance Company (“Factory Mutual”), denied coverage for the claim pursuant to a flood exclusion.  Northrop sued Factory Mutual in the United States District Court for the Central District of California and later sought to add this Aon subsidiary as a defendant, asserting that if Northrop’s policy with Factory Mutual does not cover the losses suffered by Northrop stemming from Hurricane Katrina, then this Aon subsidiary will be responsible for Northrop’s losses.  On August 26, 2010, the court granted in large part Factory Mutual’s motion for partial summary judgment regarding the applicability of the flood exclusion.  Northrop retains the right to appeal from that decision.  The court also denied Northrop’s motion to add this Aon subsidiary as a defendant in the federal lawsuit.  Northrop retains the rights either to appeal that decision or to file suit against this Aon subsidiary in state court.  Aon believes that it has meritorious defenses and will vigorously defend itself if a lawsuit is filed.

 

29



 

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

 

Another retail insurance brokerage subsidiary of Aon has been sued in Tennessee state court by a client, Opry Mills Mall Limited Partnership, that sustained flood damage to its property in May 2010.  The lawsuit seeks $200 million from numerous insurers with whom this Aon subsidiary placed the client’s property insurance coverage.  The insurers contend that only $50 million in coverage is available for the loss because the flood event occurred on property in a high hazard flood zone.  The client seeks full coverage from the insurers for the loss and sues this Aon subsidiary in the alternative for the same $150 million difference on various theories of professional liability if the court determines there is not full coverage.  Aon believes it has meritorious defenses and intends to vigorously defend itself against these claims.  The outcome of the lawsuit, and any losses or other payments that may occur as a result, cannot be predicted at this time.

 

From time to time, Aon’s clients may bring claims and take legal action pertaining to the performance of fiduciary responsibilities.  Whether client claims and legal action related to the Company’s performance of fiduciary responsibilities are founded or unfounded, if such claims and legal actions are resolved in a manner unfavorable to the Company, they may adversely affect Aon’s financial results and materially impair the market perception of the Company and that of its products and services.

 

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.

 

Guarantees and Indemnifications

Aon provides a variety of guarantees and indemnifications to its customers and others.  The maximum potential amount of future payments represents the notional amounts that could become payable under the guarantees and indemnifications if there were a total default by the guaranteed parties, without consideration of possible recoveries under recourse provisions or other methods.  These amounts may bear no relationship to the expected future payments, if any, for these guarantees and indemnifications.  Any anticipated amounts payable which are deemed to be probable and estimable are accrued in Aon’s consolidated financial statements.

 

Commitments associated with Aon’s limited partnership securitization are disclosed in Note 9. Guarantees associated with the collection of the principal amount of the premium finance notes sold to the buyer of the Company’s U.S. premium finance business are disclosed in Note 5.

 

Aon has total letters of credit (“LOCs”) outstanding for $60 million at September 30, 2010.  These LOCs secure deductible retentions for the Company’s workers compensation program, cover the beneficiaries related to its Canadian pension plan scheme, secure one of its U.S. pension plans, and cover contingent payments for taxes and other business obligations to third parties.  Aon has also issued various other guarantees for miscellaneous purposes at its international subsidiaries.  Amounts are accrued in the consolidated financial statements to the extent the guarantees are probable and estimable.

 

Aon has certain contractual contingent guarantees for premium payments owed by clients to certain insurance companies.  Costs associated with these guarantees, to the extent estimable and probable, are provided in Aon’s allowance for doubtful accounts.  The estimated exposure with respect to such contractual contingent guarantees was approximately $6 million at September 30, 2010.

 

30



 

Aon expects that as prudent business interests dictate, additional guarantees and indemnifications may be issued from time to time.

 

17.  Segment Information

 

Aon classifies its businesses into two operating segments:  Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services and Consulting.  Unallocated income and expenses, when combined with the operating segments and after the elimination of intersegment revenues and expenses, total to the amounts in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Operating segments have been determined using a management approach, which is consistent with the basis and manner in which Aon’s chief operating decision maker uses financial information for the purposes of allocating resources and evaluating performance.  Aon evaluates performance based on stand-alone operating segment operating income and generally accounts for intersegment revenue as if the revenue were from third parties and at what management believes are current market prices.

 

The Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services business acts as an advisor and insurance broker, helping clients manage their risks, as well as negotiating and placing insurance risk with insurance carriers through the Company’s global distribution network.

 

The Consulting business provides advice and services to clients related to health and benefits, retirement, compensation, strategic human capital, and human resource outsourcing.

 

Aon’s total revenue is as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

Three months ended September 30,

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services

 

$

1,484

 

$

1,485

 

$

4,658

 

$

4,605

 

Consulting

 

321

 

308

 

960

 

917

 

Intersegment elimination

 

(4

)

(8

)

(15

)

(20

)

Total operating segments

 

1,801

 

1,785

 

5,603

 

5,502

 

Unallocated

 

 

9

 

 

20

 

Total revenue

 

$

1,801

 

$

1,794

 

$

5,603

 

$

5,522

 

 

Commissions, fees and other revenue by product are as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

Three months ended September 30,

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

Retail brokerage

 

$

1,108

 

$

1,090

 

$

3,508

 

$

3,400

 

Reinsurance brokerage

 

361

 

379

 

1,108

 

1,146

 

Total Risk and Insurance Brokerage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Services Segment

 

1,469

 

1,469

 

4,616

 

4,546

 

Consulting services

 

268

 

262

 

808

 

776

 

Outsourcing

 

53

 

46

 

151

 

140

 

Total Consulting Segment

 

321

 

308

 

959

 

916

 

Intersegment elimination

 

(4

)

(8

)

(15

)

(20

)

Unallocated

 

 

9

 

 

20

 

Total commissions, fees and other revenue

 

$

1,786

 

$

1,778

 

$

5,560

 

$

5,462

 

 

31



 

Fiduciary investment income by segment is as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

Three months ended September 30,

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services

 

$

15

 

$

16

 

$

42

 

$

59

 

Consulting

 

 

 

1

 

1

 

Total fiduciary investment income

 

$

15

 

$

16

 

$

43

 

$

60

 

 

A reconciliation of segment operating income to total income from continuing operations before income taxes is as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

Three months ended September 30,

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services

 

$

258

 

$

182

 

$

820

 

$

706

 

Consulting

 

54

 

33

 

148

 

144

 

Unallocated revenue

 

 

9

 

 

20

 

Unallocated expenses

 

(49

)

(30

)

(164

)

(90

)

Total operating income

 

263

 

194

 

804

 

780

 

Interest income

 

4

 

3

 

9

 

10

 

Interest expense

 

(50

)

(32

)

(117

)

(87

)

Other (expense) income

 

(9

)

13

 

3

 

28

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

 

$

208

 

$

178

 

$

699

 

$

731

 

 

Revenues are generally attributed to geographic areas based on the location of the resources producing the revenues. Intercompany revenues are eliminated in computing consolidated revenues.  Consolidated revenue by geographic area is as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

Three months ended September 30,

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

United States

 

$

700

 

$

675

 

$

2,084

 

$

2,030

 

Americas other than U.S.

 

232

 

212

 

679

 

629

 

United Kingdom

 

299

 

337

 

884

 

958

 

Europe, Middle East and Africa

 

393

 

409

 

1,455

 

1,460

 

Asia Pacific

 

177

 

161

 

501

 

445

 

Total

 

$

1,801

 

$

1,794

 

$

5,603

 

$

5,522

 

 

18.  Subsequent Event — Hewitt Acquisition

 

On October 1, 2010 (the “Acquisition Date”), Aon acquired all of the outstanding equity of Hewitt Associates, Inc. (“Hewitt”) pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated July 11, 2010 (the “Merger Agreement”) in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at approximately $4.9 billion (the “Acquisition”).

 

Hewitt provides leading organizations around the world with expert human resources consulting and outsourcing solutions to help them anticipate and solve their most complex benefits, talent, and related financial challenges.  Hewitt works with companies to design, implement, communicate, and administer a wide range of human resources, retirement, investment management, health care, compensation, and talent management strategies.  Hewitt will be merged with Aon’s existing consulting and outsourcing operations (Aon Consulting), and will operate globally under the newly created Aon Hewitt brand.

 

32



 

Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, each share of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Hewitt (“Hewitt Common Stock”) outstanding immediately prior to the Acquisition Date was converted into the right to receive, at the election of each of the holders of Hewitt Common Stock, (i) 0.6362 of a share of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of Aon (“Aon Common Stock”) and $25.61 in cash (the “Mixed Consideration”), (ii) 0.7494 shares of Aon Common Stock and $21.19 in cash (the “Stock Electing Consideration”), or (iii) $50.46 in cash (the “Cash Electing Consideration”). Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Cash Electing Consideration and the Stock Electing Consideration payable in the Merger were calculated based on the closing volume-weighted average price of Aon Common Stock on the NYSE for the period of ten consecutive trading days ended on September 30, 2010, which was $39.0545, and the Stock Electing Consideration was subject to automatic proration and adjustment to ensure that the total amount of cash paid and the total number of shares of Aon Common Stock issued by Aon in the Merger each represented approximately 50% of the aggregate merger consideration, taking into account the rollover of the Company’s stock options as described in the Merger Agreement.

 

In connection with the Acquisition, each outstanding unvested Hewitt stock option became fully vested and was converted into an option to purchase Aon Common Stock, with the same terms and conditions as the Hewitt stock option.  The number of shares of Aon Common Stock subject to each such converted stock option is equal to the number of shares of Hewitt common stock subject to such Hewitt stock option, multiplied by the exchange ratio of 1.2920 rounded down to the nearest whole share of Aon Common Stock.  As of October 1, 2010, there were approximately 4.5 million options to purchase Aon common stock issued to former holders of Hewitt stock options.  The exercise price per share for each such converted stock option will be equal to the per share exercise price specified in such Hewitt stock option divided by the exchange ratio of 1.2920 (rounded up to the nearest cent).

 

The final election results and the calculation of the consideration transferred to acquire Hewitt stock is as follows:

 

33



 

$ and common share data in millions, except per share data

 

 

 

 

 

Cash consideration

 

 

 

 

 

Cash electing consideration

 

 

 

 

 

Number of shares of Hewitt common shares outstanding as of September 30, 2010 electing cash consideration

 

7.8

 

 

 

Cash consideration per common share outstanding

 

$

50.46

 

 

 

Total cash paid to Hewitt shareholders electing cash consideration

 

$

394

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mixed consideration

 

 

 

 

 

Number of shares of Hewitt common shares outstanding as of September 30, 2010 electing mixed consideration or not making an election

 

44.4

 

 

 

Cash consideration per common share outstanding

 

$

25.61

 

 

 

Total cash paid to Hewitt shareholders electing mixed consideration

 

$

1,137

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock electing consideration

 

 

 

 

 

Number of shares of Hewitt common shares outstanding as of September 30, 2010 electing stock consideration

 

43.7

 

 

 

Cash consideration per common share outstanding

 

$

21.19

 

 

 

Total cash paid to Hewitt shareholders electing stock consideration

 

$

926

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total cash consideration

 

 

 

$

2,457

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock consideration

 

 

 

 

 

Stock electing consideration

 

 

 

 

 

Number of shares of Hewitt common shares outstanding as of September 30, 2010 electing stock consideration

 

43.7

 

 

 

Exchange ratio

 

0.7494

 

 

 

Aon shares issued to Hewitt stockholders electing stock consideration

 

32.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mixed consideration

 

 

 

 

 

Number of shares of Hewitt common shares outstanding as of September 30, 2010 electing mixed consideration or not making an election

 

44.4

 

 

 

Exchange ratio

 

0.6362

 

 

 

Aon shares issued to Hewitt shareholders electing mixed consideration or not making an election

 

28.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Aon common shares issued

 

61.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aon’s closing common share price as of October 1, 2010 (1)

 

$

39.28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total fair value of stock consideration

 

 

 

 

2,396

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value of Hewitt stock options converted to options to acquire Aon common stock (2)

 

 

 

 

77

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total fair value of cash and stock consideration

 

 

 

$

4,930

 

 


(1)   The closing market price of Aon’s common stock on the acquisition date represents the fair value of shares issued as part of the consideration transferred.

(2)   Represents the fair value of Hewitt stock options converted into fully vested and exercisable options to purchase Aon common stock as a result of the Acquisition.  The fair value was determined using a lattice-binomial option-pricing model.

 

The Company financed the cash consideration portion of the Hewitt purchase price by drawing $1.0 billion under a three-year Term Loan Credit Facility and by issuing $1.5 billion of the Notes.  These items are detailed further in Note 10 “Debt”.

 

34



 

Due to significant limitations on access to Hewitt information prior to the Acquisition Date, and the limited time since the Acquisition Date, the initial accounting for the business combination is incomplete at this time.  As a result, the Company is unable to provide the amounts recognized as of the Acquisition Date for the major classes of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, pre-acquisition contingencies and goodwill.  Also, the Company is unable to provide the pro forma revenues and earnings of the combined entity.  This information will be included in Aon’s 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

The Company has incurred certain acquisition, integration and financing costs associated with the transaction prior to the acquisition date that are reflected in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income ended September 30, 2010.  The Company has recorded $33 million of these Hewitt related costs in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, of which $19 million has been classified in Other General Expenses and $14 million has been classified in Interest Expense.  The Company’s Consulting Segment has recorded $1 million of these costs with the remaining expense unallocated for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.  However, the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed from Hewitt, the consideration paid to acquire Hewitt, as well as the results of Hewitt’s operations are not reflected in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010.

 

On October 14, 2010, Aon announced a global restructuring plan in connection with the acquisition of Hewitt.  The restructuring plan, which will continue through the end of 2013, is intended to streamline operations across the combined Aon Hewitt organization.  The restructuring plan is expected to result in cumulative costs of approximately $325 million through the end of the plan, consisting of approximately $180 million in employee termination costs and approximately $145 million in real estate lease rationalization costs.

 

35



 

ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THIRD QUARTER AND FIRST NINE MONTHS 2010 FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

The challenging global recession continues to provide significant headwinds for our business.  We continue to operate in a soft insurance pricing market, as property and casualty rates continue to decline.  In addition to pricing declines, volume continues to be negatively impacted by the current economic environment, which places pressure on our business in three primary ways:

 

·                  declining insurable risks due to decreasing asset values, including property values, payroll, number of active employees, and corporate revenues,

·                  client cost-driven behavior, where clients are actively looking to reduce spending in order to meet budget reductions, and increase risk retention, as a result of prioritizing their total spending, and

·                  sector specific weakness, including financial services, construction, private equity, and mergers and acquisitions, all of which have been particularly impacted by the current recession.

 

We have made commitments to shareholders to focus on three key metrics — grow organically, expand operating margins, and increase earnings per share.  Organic revenue, adjusted operating margin and adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations are non-GAAP measures and are defined below under the caption “Review of Consolidated Results — General”.

 

The following is our measure of performance against these three metrics for the third quarter and first nine months of 2010 on an adjusted basis:

 

·                  Organic revenue was unchanged for the quarter and declined 1% for the first nine months, as the current economic conditions continued to provide challenges, despite strong retention rates and new business growth in a number of geographies and product lines throughout the world.

 

·                  For the quarter, we achieved an adjusted operating margin of 16.1% for Aon overall, 17.9% for the Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services segment, and 17.1% for the Consulting segment.  For the first nine months, our adjusted operating margin was 17.6% for Aon overall, 19.9% for the Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services segment, and 16.5% for the Consulting segment.  For the first nine month period, effective expense management offset an organic decline in revenue in our Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services segment and lower fiduciary investment income.

 

·                  Achieved adjusted dilutive earnings per share from continuing operations of $0.61 for the quarter and $2.26 for the first nine months.  Despite a difficult business environment, we achieved solid operational performance and effective capital management.

 

Additionally, the following is a summary of our third quarter and first nine months 2010 financial results, presented in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”). On October 1, 2010, we acquired Hewitt Associates, Inc. (“Hewitt”) so our results of operations for the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2010 do not include the operating results of Hewitt, as discussed below under the caption “Hewitt Acquisition – Subsequent Event.”

 

·                  For the quarter, revenue was $1.8 billion, essentially even with the prior year, as the positive effect of acquisitions, mainly Allied North America, and organic revenue growth in the Consulting segment was partially offset by an unfavorable impact from foreign currency translation and an organic decline in revenue in our Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services segment.  Year-to-date, revenue increased $81 million, or 1%, to $5.6 billion, as the positive effect of foreign currency translation, recent acquisitions and organic revenue growth in the

 

36



 

Consulting segment was partially offset by a decline in organic revenue in our Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services segment and a $17 million decrease in fiduciary investment income due to the decline in global interest rates.

 

·                  Operating expenses for the quarter were $1.5 billion, $62 million, or 4%, lower than last year, as $91 million in lower restructuring costs, favorable foreign currency translation, benefits related to the 2007 and Aon Benfield restructuring programs and lower incentive compensation more than offset the inclusion of operating expenses related to recent acquisitions and $19 million of Hewitt acquisition and integration costs.  Operating expenses for the first nine months of 2010 were $4.8 billion, a 1% or $57 million increase over 2009.  The increase was driven principally by a pension curtailment gain of $83 million recognized in 2009 associated with the decision to cease crediting future benefits relating to salary and service in our U.S. defined benefit plan, the inclusion of operating expenses related to recent acquisitions, unfavorable foreign currency translation, a $49 million non-cash U.S. defined benefit pension plan expense in 2010 resulting from an adjustment to the market-related value of plan assets, and $19 million of Hewitt related acquisition and integration costs, which more than offset $122 million in lower restructuring charges, $13 million associated with 2009 Benfield integration costs, as well as restructuring and other operational expense savings.

 

·                  Our consolidated operating margin from continuing operations improved from 10.8% in third quarter 2009 to 14.6% in third quarter 2010.  The increase was primarily driven by a decline in restructuring costs and an increase in restructuring savings, partially offset by Hewitt acquisition and integration costs as noted above.  Our nine months 2010 consolidated operating margin was 14.3%, a 20 basis point increase from 14.1% in 2009.  The increase was principally driven by a decline in restructuring costs and increases in restructuring savings, partially offset by the pension curtailment gain recognized in 2009 and the 2010 pension adjustment noted above.

 

·                  Net income from continuing operations attributable to Aon stockholders increased 23%, or $27 million, from third quarter 2009 to $144 million.  For the first nine months of 2010, net income from continuing operations attributable to Aon stockholders was $501 million, an increase of $7 million, or 1%, from the comparable period in 2009.

 

·                  Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to Aon’s stockholders increased 28% to $0.51 per share in third quarter 2010, from $0.40 per share in third quarter 2009.  For the first nine months of 2010, diluted earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to Aon stockholders was $1.78 per share, an increase of $0.09 per share, or 5%, from the comparable period in 2009.

 

Hewitt Acquisition — Subsequent Event

 

On October 1, 2010 (the “Acquisition Date”), we completed the merger with Hewitt, one of the world’s leading human resource consulting and outsourcing companies.  Aon purchased all of the outstanding shares of Hewitt common stock in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at approximately $4.9 billion; of which the amount of cash paid and the total number of shares of stock issued by Aon each represented approximately 50% of the aggregate merger consideration (the “Acquisition”).  Hewitt will be merged with Aon’s existing consulting and outsourcing operations (Aon Consulting), and will operate globally under the newly created Aon Hewitt brand.

 

37



 

Hewitt provides leading organizations around the world with expert human resources consulting and outsourcing solutions to help them anticipate and solve their most complex benefits, talent, and related financial challenges.  Hewitt works with companies to design, implement, communicate, and administer a wide range of human resources, retirement, investment management, health care, compensation, and talent management strategies.

 

We believe Aon Hewitt creates a global leader in human capital solutions and services.  Aon Hewitt is expected to be a leading global brand as the premier Hewitt brand will be leveraged along with Aon’s client recognition as a leading employee benefits consulting firm.  The transaction will also utilize the complementary product and service portfolio across consulting, benefits administration and human resources business process outsourcing (“HR BPO”). The product portfolio will provide for significant cross-sell opportunities across business segments as will leveraging the combined client base of Hewitt’s predominantly large corporate client base with Aon’s predominantly middle market client base opportunities.

 

Prior to the Acquisition Date, we have taken certain actions and incurred certain costs associated with the acquisition that are reflected in our Consolidated Financial Statements as of September 30, 2010, including $1.5 billion in debt financing secured to partially fund the Acquisition.  However, because the Acquisition closed on October 1, 2010, the assets acquired and liabilities assumed from Hewitt, the full consideration paid to Hewitt, as well as the results of Hewitt’s operations, are not reflected in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of, and for, the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.

 

In connection with the Acquisition, we entered into an unsecured three-year Term Credit Agreement of up to $1.0 billion (the “Term Loan Credit Facility”) and issued $1.5 billion in unsecured notes (the “Notes” and, together with the Term Loan Facility, the “Facilities”).  At September 30, 2010, we did not have any borrowings under the Term Loan Credit Facility.  The Notes consist of $600 million aggregate principal amount of 3.50% Notes due in 2015, $600 million aggregate principal amount of 5.00%  Notes due in 2020 and $300 million aggregate principal amount of 6.25% Notes due in 2040.  The Notes were issued prior to the Acquisition Date and the proceeds were deposited into an escrow account until the Acquisition Date. On the Acquisition Date, we also drew down the $1.0 billion available under the Term Loan Credit Facility and the proceeds from the Facilities were used to finance the cash consideration of the Acquisition, and to pay certain related fees and expenses.

 

We also issued approximately 61 million shares of common stock as consideration for part of the purchase price. In addition, as part of the consideration, outstanding Hewitt stock options were converted into options to purchase 4.5 million shares of our common stock. These additional shares and options will be included in the determination of our fully diluted shares in the fourth quarter.

 

On October 14, 2010, we announced a global restructuring plan in connection with our acquisition of Hewitt.  The restructuring plan, which will continue through the end of 2013, is intended to streamline operations across the combined Aon Hewitt organization.  The restructuring plan is expected to result in cumulative costs, to be recorded in the results of future operating periods, of approximately $325 million through the end of the plan, consisting of approximately $180 million in employee termination costs and approximately $145 million in real estate lease rationalization costs.  An estimated 1,500 to 1,800 positions globally, predominately non-client facing, are expected to be eliminated as part of the plan.  The restructuring plan, before any potential reinvestment of savings, is expected to deliver approximately $280 million of annualized savings in 2013.

 

We expect to achieve approximately $355 million in annual cost savings across Aon Hewitt in 2013, including approximately $280 million of annual savings related to the restructuring plan, and additional savings in areas such as information technology, procurement and public company costs. All of the components of the restructuring and integration plan are not finalized and actual total savings, costs and timing may vary from those estimated due to changes in the scope or assumptions underlying the plan.

 

38



 

REVIEW OF CONSOLIDATED RESULTS

 

General

 

In our discussion of operating results, we sometimes refer to supplemental information derived from consolidated financial information specifically related to organic revenue, adjusted operating margin, adjusted diluted earnings per share, and the impact of foreign exchange rate fluctuations on operating results.  Information related to organic revenue, adjusted operating margin and adjusted diluted earnings per share represents measures not in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), and should be viewed in addition to, not instead of, our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

 

Organic Revenue

 

We use supplemental information related to organic revenue to help us and our investors evaluate business growth from existing operations.  Organic revenue excludes from reported revenues the impact of foreign exchange rate changes, acquisitions, divestitures, transfers between business units, reimbursable expenses, and unusual items.  Industry peers provide similar supplemental information about their revenue performance, although they may not make identical adjustments.  The change in organic revenue, a non-GAAP measure, is reconciled to the reported Commissions, fees and other revenue percent changes in the “Review by Segment” caption, below.

 

Adjusted Operating Margins

 

We use adjusted operating margin as a measure of core operating performance of our Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services and Consulting businesses.  Adjusted operating margin excludes the impact of noteworthy items, including restructuring charges, the pension adjustment and Hewitt acquisition and integration costs.  Reconciliations of these non-GAAP items to the reported operating margins for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 are as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2010

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010

 

 

 

Total Aon (1)

 

Risk and
Insurance
Brokerage
Services

 

Consulting

 

Total Aon (1)

 

Risk and
Insurance
Brokerage
Services

 

Consulting

 

Revenue - U.S. GAAP

 

$

1,801

 

$

1,484

 

$

321

 

$

5,603

 

$

4,658

 

$

960

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income - U.S. GAAP

 

263

 

258

 

54

 

804

 

820

 

148

 

Restructuring charges

 

8

 

8

 

 

115

 

106

 

9

 

Pension adjustment

 

 

 

 

49

 

 

 

Hewitt related costs

 

19

 

 

1

 

19

 

 

1

 

Operating income - as adjusted

 

$

290

 

$

266

 

$

55

 

$

987

 

$

926

 

$

158

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating margins - U.S. GAAP

 

14.6

%

17.4

%

16.8

%

14.3

%

17.6

%

15.4

%

Operating margins - as adjusted

 

16.1

%

17.9

%

17.1

%

17.6

%

19.9

%

16.5

%

 


(1) Includes elimination of intersegment revenue and expenses.

 

39



 

Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share

 

We also use adjusted diluted earnings per share as a measure of Aon’s core operating performance.  Adjusted diluted earnings per share excludes the impact of the operating income adjustments noted above and the Hewitt related costs included in Interest expense, along with related income taxes.  Reconciliations of this non-GAAP measure to the reported diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 are as follows (in millions except per share data):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2010

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010

 

 

 

U.S.
GAAP

 

Adjustments

 

As
Adjusted

 

U.S.
GAAP

 

Adjustments

 

As
Adjusted

 

Operating Income

 

$

263

 

$

27

 

$

290

 

$

804

 

$

183

 

$

987

 

Interest income

 

4

 

 

4

 

9

 

 

9

 

Interest expense

 

(50

)

14

 

(36

)

(117

)

14

 

(103

)

Other income (expense)

 

(9

)

 

(9

)

3

 

 

3

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

 

208

 

41

 

249

 

699

 

197

 

896

 

Income taxes

 

61

 

12

 

73

 

182

 

60

 

242

 

Income from continuing operations

 

147

 

29

 

176

 

517

 

137

 

654

 

Less: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests

 

3

 

 

3

 

16

 

 

16

 

Income from continuing operations attributable to Aon stockholders

 

$

144

 

$

29

 

$

173

 

$

501

 

$

137

 

$

638

 

Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations

 

$

0.51

 

$

0.10

 

$

0.61

 

$

1.78

 

$

0.48

 

$

2.26

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted

 

282.2

 

282.2

 

282.2

 

281.9

 

281.9

 

281.9

 

 

Impact of Foreign Exchange Rate Fluctuations

 

Because we conduct business in more than 120 countries, foreign exchange rate fluctuations have a significant 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, to give financial statement users more meaningful information about our operations, we have provided a discussion of the impact of foreign currency exchange rates on our financial results.  The methodology used to calculate this impact isolates the impact of the change in currencies between periods by translating last year’s revenue, expenses and net income at this year’s foreign exchange rates.

 

Summary of Results

 

The condensed consolidated results of operations follow (in millions):

 

40



 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Nine months ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commissions, fees and other

 

$

1,786

 

$

1,778

 

$

5,560

 

$

5,462

 

Fiduciary investment income

 

15

 

16

 

43

 

60

 

Total revenue

 

1,801

 

1,794

 

5,603

 

5,522

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compensation and benefits

 

1,050

 

1,119

 

3,382

 

3,267

 

Other general expenses

 

488

 

481

 

1,417

 

1,475

 

Total operating expenses

 

1,538

 

1,600

 

4,799

 

4,742

 

Operating income

 

263

 

194

 

804

 

780

 

Interest income

 

4

 

3

 

9

 

10

 

Interest expense

 

(50

)

(32

)

(117

)

(87

)

Other (expense) income

 

(9

)

13

 

3

 

28

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

 

208

 

178

 

699

 

731

 

Income taxes

 

61

 

47

 

182

 

212

 

Income from continuing operations

 

147

 

131

 

517

 

519

 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, after-tax

 

 

3

 

(26

)

55

 

Net income

 

147

 

134

 

491

 

574

 

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

3

 

14

 

16

 

25

 

Net income attributable to Aon stockholders

 

$

144

 

$

120

 

$

475

 

$

549

 

 

Revenue

 

Total revenue increased $7 million in third quarter 2010, essentially unchanged from 2009, and increased $81 million, or 1%, on a year-to-date basis.  The quarterly increase reflects a $13 million, or 4%, increase in the Consulting segment, partially offset by a $9 million decline in unallocated revenue and a $1 million decrease in the Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services segment.  The $1 million decrease in the Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services segment was primarily driven by a 1% unfavorable impact from foreign currency translation, and an organic revenue decline of 1%, reflecting the ongoing global economic downturn, offset by a 2% increase from acquisitions, primarily Allied North America.  The 4% increase in the Consulting segment was driven by 4% organic revenue growth, reflecting strong growth in outsourcing and solid growth in compensation consulting and international health and benefits, a 2% increase from acquisitions offset by a 2% unfavorable impact from foreign currency translation.  In 2009, $9 million in unallocated revenue was received relating to our ownership in certain insurance investment funds acquired with Benfield.  In 2010, this investment is no longer consolidated in our financial statements.

 

The nine month increase of $81 million reflects a $53 million, or 1%, increase in the Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services segment and a $43 million, or 5%, increase in the Consulting segment, partially offset by a $20 million decline in unallocated revenue. The 1% increase in the Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services segment was primarily driven by a 2% favorable impact from foreign currency translation and a 2% increase from acquisitions, primarily Allied North America, partially offset by a 2% organic decline in revenue, reflecting the weak economic conditions globally, and a $17 million decline in fiduciary investment income due to the decline in global interest rates.  The 5% increase in the Consulting segment was driven by a 2% positive impact of foreign currency translation, a 2% increase from acquisitions, and 1% from organic revenue growth.  In 2009, $20 million in unallocated revenue was received relating to our ownership in certain insurance

 

41



 

investment funds acquired with Benfield.  In 2010, this investment is no longer consolidated in our financial statements.

 

Compensation and Benefits

 

Compensation and benefits decreased $69 million, or 6%, over third quarter 2009.  This decrease reflects a $63 million, or 7%, decrease in the Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services segment and a $9 million, or 5% decrease in the Consulting segment, partially offset by a $3 million increase in unallocated expenses. In total, the $69 million decrease was primarily driven by lower restructuring costs, favorable foreign currency translation, and lower incentive compensation as well as continued savings from restructuring initiatives, partially offset by the inclusion of operating expenses from recent acquisitions. In both third quarter 2010 and 2009, discretionary incentive expense was reduced to reflect expected payouts.

 

On a year-to-date basis, Compensation and benefits increased $115 million, or 4%, over 2009.  The increase reflects a $28 million, or 1%, increase in the Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services segment, a $35 million, or 6%, increase in the Consulting segment and a $52 million increase in unallocated expenses. In total, the increase for the nine months was driven by the pension curtailment gain recognized in 2009 of $83 million associated with the decision to cease crediting future benefits relating to salary and service in our U.S. defined benefit pension plan, the inclusion of operating expenses from recent acquisitions, the $49 million non-cash U.S. defined benefit pension plan expense resulting from an adjustment to the market-related value of plan assets, and the unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation, which more than offset lower restructuring and incentive compensation costs, restructuring savings and other operational improvements. 

 

Other General Expenses

 

Other general expenses for the third quarter 2010 were $488 million, a $7 million, or 1%, increase from last year.  The overall increase reflects a $20 million increase in unallocated expenses, an increase of $1 million, or 1%, in the Consulting segment, partially offset by a decrease of $14 million, or 4%, in the Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services segment. The overall increase was due to Hewitt acquisition and integration costs, the inclusion of operating expenses from recent acquisitions and expenses related to the Manchester United sponsorship, partially offset by lower restructuring costs and E&O expenses. On a year-to-date basis, other general expenses were $1.4 billion, a $58 million, or 4%, decrease from last year.  The Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services segment decreased $89 million, or 7%, partially offset by a $27 million increase in unallocated expenses and a $4 million, or 2%, increase in the Consulting segment. The overall decrease was due to lower restructuring charges, favorable E&O expenses, restructuring savings, and operational expense management, which more than offset the inclusion of operating expenses from recent acquisitions, and the Hewitt acquisition costs.  Foreign currency translation was favorable in the third quarter 2010 but unfavorable on a year-to-date basis.

 

Interest Income

 

Interest income represents income earned on operating cash balances and other income-producing investments.  It does not include interest earned on funds held on behalf of clients.  For the third quarter 2010, interest income increased $1 million over last year, while on a year-to-date basis interest income decreased $1 million from the comparable period in 2009.

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense, which represents the cost of our worldwide debt obligations, increased $18 million and $30 million from third quarter and first nine months 2009, respectively, due to $14 million in deferred financing costs attributable to the $1.5 billion Bridge Loan Facility for the Hewitt acquisition, which was cancelled, and interest related to the $1.5 billion in Notes, which replaced the Bridge Loan Facility.

 

Other (Expense) Income

 

Other expense was $9 million for the third quarter of 2010, primarily reflecting the loss on sale of a business in the Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services segment. For the first nine months of 2010, Other income of $3 million was primarily due to income from our non-consolidated subsidiaries partially offset by  net losses on sales of businesses in the Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services segment.  For the third quarter and the first nine months of 2009, we recorded Other income of

 

42



 

$13 million and $28 million, respectively.  Other income in both periods was due to income from non-consolidated subsidiaries and the net gains on sales of businesses in the Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services segment of $2 million in the quarter and $8 million for the first nine months.  The 2009 year-to-date period also included a $5 million gain from the extinguishment of $15 million of junior subordinated debentures.

 

Income from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes for the quarter was $208 million, a 17% increase from $178 million in 2009.  The improvement was driven mostly by lower restructuring costs, higher restructuring savings and favorable foreign currency translation, which more than offset the increase in costs related to the Hewitt acquisition. For the first nine months of 2010, income from continuing operations before income taxes was $699 million, a 4% decrease from $731 million in 2009.  The decline was driven by the pension curtailment gain recognized last year as well as the increase in expense in 2010 due to the U.S. defined benefit pension plan adjustment and costs related to the Hewitt acquisition, which more than offset the impact of lower restructuring costs, higher restructuring savings, and favorable foreign currency translation.

 

Income Taxes

 

The effective tax rate on income from continuing operations was 29.4% and 26.7% for the third quarter 2010 and 2009, respectively, and 26.1% and 29.1% for the first nine months of 2010 and 2009, respectively. The change in the rate for the third quarter 2010 compared to the prior year was due primarily to certain deferred tax adjustments in both years.  The tax rate for the first nine months in 2010 was favorably impacted by the U.S. pension expense adjustment, which had a tax rate of 40%, and deferred tax adjustments.  The nine month 2009 tax rate was negatively impacted by a noncash deferred tax expense on the U.S. pension curtailment gain, which had a tax rate of 40%.  The underlying tax rate for continuing operations is estimated to be approximately 30% for the fourth quarter 2010, including estimates for the impact of the Hewitt acquisition.

 

Income from Continuing Operations

 

Income from continuing operations for the third quarter increased to $147 million ($0.51 diluted net income per share) from $131 million ($0.40 diluted net income per share) in 2009.  For the first nine months of 2010, income from continuing operations decreased to $517 million ($1.78 diluted net income per share) from $519 million ($1.69 diluted net income per share) in 2009.  Currency fluctuations positively impacted income from continuing operations in 2010 by $0.03 and $0.10 per diluted share, respectively, when the third quarter and the first nine months 2009 Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income is translated using 2010 foreign exchange rates.

 

Discontinued Operations

 

We did not have any after-tax income from discontinued operations in the third quarter 2010 ($0.00 diluted net income per share) compared to $3 million ($0.01 diluted net income per share) in 2009.  For the first nine months 2010, an after-tax loss of $26 million ($0.10 diluted net loss per share) was recorded versus after-tax income from discontinued operations of $55 million ($0.19 diluted net income per share) in 2009.  The year-to-date loss in 2010 was driven by the settlement of legacy litigation related to the Buckner vs. Resource Life case. The year-to-date 2009 results include a $43 million after-tax gain on the sale of AIS and a curtailment gain on the post-retirement benefit plan related to the CICA disposal.

 

Restructuring Initiatives

 

Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan

 

We announced a global restructuring plan (“Aon Benfield Plan”) in conjunction with our 2008 acquisition of Benfield.  The restructuring plan is intended to integrate and streamline operations across the combined Aon

 

43



 

Benfield organization.  The Aon Benfield Plan includes an estimated 700 job eliminations. As of September 30, 2010, approximately 625 jobs have been eliminated under this Plan.   Additionally, duplicate space and assets will be abandoned.  We currently estimate the Plan will result in cumulative costs totaling approximately $155 million, of which $55 million was recorded as part of the purchase price allocation, $75 million has been recorded in earnings and we estimate an additional $25 million will be recorded in future earnings.  Expenses include workforce reduction, lease consolidation costs, asset impairments, as well as other expenses necessary to implement the restructuring initiative.  We recorded $5 million and $20 million of restructuring and related charges in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively.  We recorded $15 million and $45 million of restructuring and related charges in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively.  Total payments of $95 million have been made under the Aon Benfield Plan to date.

 

All costs associated with the Aon Benfield Plan are included in the Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services segment.  Costs related to the restructuring are included in Compensation and benefits and Other general expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.  We expect these restructuring activities and related expenses to affect continuing operations into 2011.

 

The restructuring plan, before any potential reinvestment of savings, is expected to deliver cumulative cost savings of approximately $100 million in 2010 and $122 million in 2011.  We estimate that we realized approximately $27 million and $73 million of cost savings in the third quarter and first nine months of 2010, respectively.  The actual savings, total costs and timing of the restructuring plan may vary from those estimated due to changes in the scope, underlying assumptions of the plan, and foreign exchange rates.

 

The following is a summary of the restructuring and related expenses by type that have been incurred and are estimated to be incurred through the end of the restructuring initiative related to the Aon Benfield Plan (in millions):

 

 

 

Actual

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase 
Price 
Allocation

 

2009

 

Third 
Quarter 
2010

 

Nine 
Months 
2010

 

Total to 
Date

 

Estimated 
Total Cost for 
Restructuring 
Period (1)

 

Workforce reduction

 

$

32

 

$

38

 

$

3

 

$

11

 

$

81

 

$

95

 

Lease consolidation

 

22

 

14

 

2

 

7

 

43

 

50

 

Asset impairments

 

 

2

 

 

1

 

3

 

6

 

Other costs associated with restructuring (2)

 

1

 

1

 

 

1

 

3

 

4

 

Total restructuring and related expenses

 

$

55

 

$

55

 

$

5

 

$

20

 

$

130

 

$

155

 

 


(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 implemented 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 us to add or cancel component initiatives.

 

(2)                  Other costs associated with restructuring initiatives, including moving costs and consulting and legal fees, are recognized when incurred.

 

2007 Restructuring Plan

 

In 2007, we announced a global restructuring plan intended to create a more streamlined organization and reduce future expense growth to better serve clients (“2007 Plan”).  The implementation of the 2007 Plan is substantially complete and we do not expect to incur additional expenses.  The 2007 Plan includes an estimated 4,700 job eliminations.  As of September 30, 2010, approximately 4,550 positions have been eliminated.  We have closed or consolidated several offices resulting in sublease losses or lease buy-outs.  Expenses include workforce reduction, 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 and Other general expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.  We estimate that we realized approximately $125 million of cost savings in the third quarter of 2010.  We anticipate that these initiatives will lead to annualized cost savings,

 

44



 

before any potential reinvestment of savings, of approximately $536 million by the end of 2010.  However, there can be no assurances that we will achieve the targeted savings.

 

No further expenses are expected to be incurred through the end of the restructuring initiative related to the 2007 Plan.  The following is a summary of the restructuring and related expenses by type that have been incurred (in millions):

 

 

 

Actual

 

 

 

2007

 

2008

 

2009

 

Third 
Quarter 
2010

 

Nine 
Months 
2010

 

Total Cost

 

Workforce reduction

 

$

17

 

$

166

 

$

251

 

$

1

 

$

74

 

$

508

 

Lease consolidation

 

22

 

38

 

78

 

1

 

14

 

152

 

Asset impairments

 

4

 

18

 

15

 

 

2

 

39

 

Other costs associated with restructuring (1)

 

3

 

29

 

13

 

1

 

5

 

50

 

Total restructuring and related expenses

 

$

46

 

$

251

 

$

357

 

$

3

 

$

95

 

$

749

 

 


(1)  Other costs associated with restructuring initiatives, including moving costs and consulting and legal fees, are recognized when incurred.

 

Workforce reductions are a cash expense, and we may recognize the expense before making payments to the individuals.  Asset impairments are non-cash expenses.  Lease consolidation accruals reflect the present value of our future cash outflows.  Other costs associated with restructuring are cash expenses, which are expensed in the period in which they are incurred.  Unpaid liabilities relating to workforce reductions and other costs associated with restructuring are included in Accounts payable and accrued liabilities in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.  Liabilities relating to lease consolidations are included in Other non-current liabilities.

 

No further expenses are expected to be incurred through the end of the restructuring initiative related to the 2007 Plan.  The following table summarizes actual restructuring and related expenses by segment that have been incurred (in millions):

 

 

 

Actual

 

 

 

2007

 

2008

 

2009

 

Third 
Quarter 
2010

 

Nine 
Months 
2010

 

Total Cost

 

Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services

 

$

41

 

$

234

 

$

322

 

$

3

 

$

86

 

$

683

 

Consulting

 

5

 

17

 

35

 

 

9

 

66

 

Total restructuring and related expenses

 

$

46

 

$

251

 

$

357

 

$

3

 

$

95

 

$

749

 

 

LIQUIDITY AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

 

Liquidity

 

Executive Summary

 

Our balance sheet and strong cash flow provide us with financial flexibility to create long-term value for our shareholders.  Aon’s liquidity needs are primarily for operating expenses, acquisitions, share repurchases, restructuring, funding pension obligations and paying dividends to shareholders.

 

Liquidity is derived from the cash flows from our businesses and from financing activities.  Cash on our balance sheets includes funds available for general corporate purposes.  Funds held on behalf of clients in a fiduciary capacity are segregated and shown together with uncollected insurance premiums in Fiduciary assets in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, with a corresponding offset in Fiduciary liabilities. The Company is permitted to earn income on these funds and therefore for cash flow presentation, the activity in the funds is shown as a component of our investing cash flows, with a corresponding offset to operating cash flows.  Fiduciary funds cannot be used for general corporate purposes, and should not be considered as a source

 

45



 

of liquidity for Aon.  Additionally, at September 30, 2010, we had $1.6 billion in restricted funds of which $1.5 billion was from the sale of the Notes to be used to partially fund the Hewitt acquisition.

 

We use various financial measures to assist in capital deployment decision-making, including net cash provided by operations, net debt-to-capital and return on capital. We believe these measures are useful to investors in assessing our financial performance.

 

Prior to the Acquisition Date, we have taken certain actions and incurred certain costs associated with the Hewitt acquisition that are reflected in our Consolidated Financial Statements as of September 30, 2010, including $1.5 billion in debt financing secured to partially fund the acquisition.  However, because the acquisition closed on October 1, 2010, the assets acquired and liabilities assumed from Hewitt, the full consideration paid to Hewitt, as well as the results of Hewitt’s operations, are not reflected in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of September 30, 2010.

 

In connection with the Acquisition, we entered into an unsecured three-year Term Credit Agreement of up to $1.0 billion (the “Term Loan Credit Facility”) and issued $1.5 billion in unsecured notes (the “Notes” and, together with the Term Loan Facility, the “Facilities”).  At September 30, 2010, we did not have any borrowings under the Term Loan Credit Facility.  The Notes consist of $600 million aggregate principal amount 3.50% Notes due in 2015, $600 million aggregate principal amount of 5.00%  Notes due in 2020 and $300 million aggregate principal amount of 6.25% Notes due in 2040.  The Notes were issued prior to the Acquisition Date and the proceeds were deposited into an escrow account until the Acquisition Date, On the Acquisition Date we also drew down $1.0 billion available under the Term Loan Facility and the proceeds from the Facilities were used to finance the cash consideration of the Merger, and to pay certain related fees and expenses.

 

Cash Flow

 

Summary Cash Flow table

 

 

 

 

Nine months ended September 30

 

(millions)

 

2010

 

2009

 

Cash provided by operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

Net income, adjusted for non-cash items

 

$

889

 

$

884

 

Change in assets and liabilities, excluding funds held on behalf of clients

 

(582

)

(749

)

Cash provided by operating activities before changes in funds held on behalf of clients

 

307

 

135

 

Funds held on behalf of clients

 

466

 

46

 

 

 

773

 

181

 

Cash (used for) provided by investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

Excluding funds held on behalf of clients

 

(1,822

)

109

 

Funds held on behalf of clients

 

(466

)

(46

)

 

 

(2,288

)

63

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash provided by (used for) financing activities

 

1,599

 

(258

)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

 

34

 

12

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

$

118

 

$

(2

)

 

Operating Activities

 

Net cash provided by operating activities through third quarter 2010 increased $592 million compared with 2009, due primarily to the change in funds held on behalf of clients.  Excluding the change in these funds, cash provided from operating activities increased $172 million compared to 2009. The primary contributors to cash flow from operations, excluding the change in funds held on behalf of clients in 2010, were net income (adjusted

46


 


 

for non-cash items) of $889 million, partially offset by a $297 million decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities, which declined due mainly to incentive compensation payments.  Pension contributions for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 were $221 million compared to $368 million for the same period in 2009.

 

We expect cash generated by operations for 2010, including Hewitt operations from October 1, 2010, onwards, to be sufficient to service debt and contractual obligations, fund cash requirements of our restructuring programs, finance capital expenditures, continue acquisition of shares under our share repurchase program, and continue paying dividends to our shareholders. Although 2010 cash from operations is expected to be sufficient to service these obligations, we have the ability to borrow under our credit facilities to accommodate timing differences in cash flows. We have committed credit facilities of approximately $1.3 billion, of which $1.0 billion is available as of September 30, 2010.  We can access these facilities on a same-day basis. Additionally, we believe we could access capital markets for debt financing for longer-term funding, under current market conditions, if needed.

 

Investing Activities

 

Cash used for investing activities was $2.3 billion in 2010, primarily comprised of $2.1 billion in purchases, net of sales of Short-term investments, including $1.5 billion in restricted funds associated with the Hewitt acquisition, and of $466 million for funds held on behalf of clients.  Business acquisitions were $90 million, representing numerous acquisitions, the largest being JP Morgan Compensation and Benefit Strategies.  Capital expenditures used $115 million.

 

Cash provided by investing activities was $63 million in 2009. During 2009, we received $139 million in proceeds from the sale of operations, which was primarily our AIS subsidiary.  Sales of investments, net of purchases, provided $65 million (including a $46 million increase in funds held on behalf of clients).  Capital expenditures used $86 million and acquisitions used $55 million.

 

Financing Activities

 

Cash provided by financing activities in 2010 was $1.6 billion. This was primarily driven by the issuance of $1.7 billion of debt, net of repayments, of which $1.5 billion relates to the Notes that were issued in connection with the Hewitt acquisition.  Cash dividends to shareholders were $123 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.  The purchase of $100 million of treasury shares was largely offset by $98 million of proceeds primarily from the exercise of stock options.

 

Cash used by financing activities in 2009 was $258 million.  This was primarily comprised of the purchase of $250 million of treasury shares, and cash dividends of $124 million, partially offset by $142 million of proceeds primarily from the exercise of stock options.

 

Cash and Investments

 

At September 30, 2010, our Cash and cash equivalents and Short-term investments were $2.4 billion, an increase of $1.8 billion from December 31, 2009.  Of the total balance recorded at September 30, 2010, $1.6 billion was restricted as to its use and was primarily comprised of $1.5 billion from the net proceeds of the sale of Notes related to the Hewitt acquisition and $94 million of other restricted cash, of which $52 million is related to our PEPS I investment.  At December 31, 2009, cash and cash equivalents of $85 million was restricted as to its use.  At September 30, 2010, $1.7 billion of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments were held in the U.S. and $747 million was held by our subsidiaries in other countries.  Due to differences in tax rates, the repatriation of funds from certain countries into the U.S. could have an unfavorable tax impact.

 

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

 

47



 

fiduciary capacity.  The levels of fiduciary assets and liabilities can fluctuate significantly, depending on when we collect the premiums, claims and refunds, make payments to underwriters and insureds, and foreign currency movements.  Fiduciary assets, because of their nature, are required to be invested in very liquid securities with highly-rated, credit-worthy financial institutions.  In our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position, the amount we report for Fiduciary assets and Fiduciary liabilities are equal.  Our fiduciary assets included cash and investments of $3.8 billion and fiduciary receivables of $5.7 billion at September 30, 2010.  Our fiduciary assets included cash and investments of $3.3 billion and fiduciary receivables of $7.5 billion at December 31, 2009.  While we earn investment income on the fiduciary assets held in cash and investments, the cash and investments are not owned by us, and cannot be used for general corporate purposes.

 

As disclosed in Note 15, “Fair Value and Financial Instruments,” of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, the majority of our investments carried at fair value are money market funds.  Money market funds are carried at cost as an approximation of fair value.  Based on market convention, we consider cost a practical and expedient measure of fair value.  These money market funds are held throughout the world with various financial institutions.  We do not believe that there are any market liquidity issues affecting the fair value of these investments.

 

As of September 30, 2010, our investments in money market funds and highly liquid debt instruments had a fair value of $3.8 billion and are reported as Cash and cash equivalents, Short-term investments or Fiduciary assets in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position depending on their nature and initial maturity.

 

The following table summarizes our fiduciary assets and non-fiduciary cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments as of September 30, 2010 (in millions):

 

 

 

Balance Sheet Classification

 

 

 

Asset Type

 

Cash and Cash 
Equivalents

 

Short-term 
Investments

 

Fiduciary Assets

 

Total

 

Certificates of deposit, bank deposits or time deposits

 

$

310

 

$

 

$

2,121

 

$

2,431

 

Money market funds

 

 

2,112

 

1,670

 

3,782

 

Highly liquid debt instruments

 

25

 

 

2

 

27

 

Other investments due within one year

 

 

2

 

 

2

 

 

 

335

 

2,114

 

3,793

 

6,242

 

Fiduciary receivables

 

 

 

5,752

 

5,752

 

Total

 

$

335

 

2,114

 

$

9,545

 

$

11,994

 

 

Share Repurchase Program

 

Under our current share repurchase program which began in 2005, our Board of Directors has authorized us to repurchase up to $4.6 billion of our outstanding common stock.  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 cash.  Any repurchased shares will be available for employee stock plans and for other corporate purposes.  In third quarter 2010, we did not repurchase any shares.  For the first nine months of 2010, we repurchased 2.4 million shares at a cost of $100 million.  Since the inception of our current share repurchase program, we have repurchased a total of 108.3 million shares for an aggregate cost of $4.4 billion.  As of September 30, 2010, we were authorized to purchase up to $165 million of additional shares under the current share repurchase program.  The timing and amount of future purchases will be based on market and other conditions.

 

In January 2010, our Board of Directors authorized a new share repurchase program under which up to $2 billion of common stock may be repurchased from time to time depending on market conditions or other factors

 

48



 

through open market or privately negotiated transactions.  Repurchases will commence under the new share repurchase program upon conclusion of the existing program.

 

Shelf Registration Statement

 

On June 8, 2009, we filed a registration statement with the SEC, registering the offer and sale from time to time of an indeterminate amount of, among other securities, debt, preferred stock, common stock and convertible securities.  Our Notes, sold pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement dated September 7, 2010, were issued under this registration statement.  The availability of any further potential liquidity under this shelf registration statement is dependent on investor demand, market conditions and other factors.  There can be no assurance regarding when, or if, we will issue any additional securities under the registration statement.

 

Credit Facilities

 

At September 30, 2010, we have a three-year unsecured revolving credit facility in the U.S. for $400 million.  Sixteen banks are participating in the facility, which is for general corporate purposes, including commercial paper support.  Additionally, at September 30, 2010, we have a five-year €650 million ($877 million at September 30, 2010 exchange rates) multi-currency foreign credit facility (“2005 Facility”) available, which was entered into in 2005 and expires in October 2010.  At September 30, 2010, $233 million was drawn under the 2005 Facility and was classified as Short-term debt.  This borrowing was repaid in full by October 7, 2010.  On October 15, 2010, we entered into a new €650 million multi-currency revolving loan credit facility (“2010 Facility”) which replaces the 2005 Facility.  The 2010 Facility expires in October 2015.

 

For both our U.S. and Euro facilities, we are required to maintain a ratio of consolidated EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) to consolidated interest expense of 4 to 1 and a ratio of consolidated debt to EBITDA of not greater than 3 to 1.  We were in compliance with all covenants as of September 30, 2010.

 

As noted above, in connection with the Hewitt acquisition we obtained a Term Loan Credit Facility which provided up to $1 billion of unsecured borrowings. Concurrent with this, we also obtained a Bridge Loan Facility which provided unsecured bridge financing of up to $1.5 billion.  In lieu of drawing under the Bridge Loan Facility, on September 7, 2010 we issued $1.5 billion in Notes and terminated the Bridge Loan Facility.

 

Excluding the facilities associated with the Hewitt acquisition, we have committed credit facilities of approximately $1.3 billion, of which $1.0 billion is available as of September 30, 2010.  We can access these facilities on a same-day basis.

 

Rating Agency Ratings

 

The major rating agencies’ ratings of our debt at November 1, 2010 appear in the table below.

 

 

 

Ratings

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Long-

 

Commercial

 

 

 

 

 

term Debt

 

Paper

 

Outlook

 

Standard & Poor’s

 

BBB+

 

A-2

 

Stable

 

Moody’s Investor Services

 

Baa2

 

P-2

 

Negative

 

Fitch, Inc.

 

BBB+

 

F-2

 

Stable

 

 

A downgrade in the credit ratings of our senior debt and commercial paper would increase our borrowing costs, reduce or eliminate our access to capital, 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 adversely impacted if we were unable to access the commercial paper market.

 

49



 

Letters of Credit

 

We have outstanding letters of credit (“LOCs”) totaling $60 million at September 30, 2010. These LOCs secure deductible retentions for our workers compensation program, cover the beneficiaries related to our Canadian pension plan scheme, secure one of our U.S. pension plans, and cover contingent payments for taxes and other business obligations to third parties.

 

Adequacy of Liquidity Sources

 

We believe that cash flows from operations, including those from Hewitt, the additional debt we will undertake related to the Hewitt acquisition, and available credit facilities will be sufficient to meet our liquidity needs, capital expenditures and anticipated working capital requirements, for the foreseeable future. Our cash flows from operations, borrowing availability and overall liquidity are subject to risks and uncertainties. See “Information Concerning Forward-Looking Statements” below.

 

Financial Condition

 

At September 30, 2010, net assets of $5.8 billion, representing total assets minus total liabilities, were $413 million higher than the balance at December 31, 2009.  Working capital increased $1.4 billion to $2.8 billion, reflecting the $1.5 billion in restricted funds held at September 30, 2010 to be used as part of the cash consideration for the Hewitt acquisition.

 

Borrowings

 

Total debt at September 30, 2010 was $3.8 billion, an increase of $1.7 billion from December 31, 2009, due principally to the issuance of $1.5 billion in Notes related to the Hewitt acquisition (see Note 10 “Debt” and Note 18 “Subsequent Events — Hewitt Acquisition”).

 

At June 30, 2010, we reclassified our 5.05% CAD 375 million ($366 million at September 30, 2010 exchange rates) debt securities to Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as the due date of the securities, April 2011, is less than one year from the current balance sheet date.  The decision to roll or repay the debt will be based on our liquidity profile and debt market conditions as the maturity date approaches.

 

At September 30, 2010, we have our 2005 Facility, which is a five-year €650 million ($877 million at September 30, 2010 exchange rates) multi-currency foreign credit facility.  At September 30, 2010, $233 million was drawn under the 2005 Facility and was classified as Short-term debt.  This borrowing was repaid in full by October 7, 2010, in advance of us replacing our 2005 Facility with a new five-year €650 million multi-currency foreign credit facility.

 

Our total debt as a percentage of total capital attributable to Aon shareholders was 39.3% and 27.2% at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.  The increase in the debt to capital ratio at September 30, 2010 is attributable to the Senior Notes issued to fund the Hewitt acquisition.

 

Equity

 

Equity at September 30, 2010 was $5.8 billion, an increase of $413 million from December 31, 2009.  Net income of $491 million and stock-based compensation of $166 million was offset by $123 million of dividends to shareholders and share repurchases of $100 million.

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss increased $66 million since December 31, 2009, primarily reflecting the following:

 

·                  a decline in net foreign currency translation adjustments of $66 million, which was attributable to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against foreign currencies,

·                  reclassification of $44 million to Retained earnings due to the adoption, effective January 1, 2010, of new accounting guidance which resulted in the consolidation of PEPS I, and

 

50



 

·                  net derivative losses of $24 million.

 

These declines were partially offset by a decrease in net post-retirement benefit obligations of $68 million. The change in the net post-retirement benefit obligations includes the $29 million after-tax impact of the pension adjustment discussed below.

 

REVIEW BY SEGMENT

 

General

 

We serve clients through the following segments:

 

·                  Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services - we act as an advisor and insurance broker, helping clients manage their risks, as well as negotiating and placing insurance risk with insurance carriers through our global distribution network.

·                  Consulting - we provide advice and services to clients related to health and benefits, retirement, compensation, strategic human capital, and human resource outsourcing.

 

Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

(in millions)

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

Revenue

 

$

1,484

 

$

1,485

 

$

4,658

 

$

4,605

 

Operating income

 

258

 

182

 

820

 

706

 

Operating margin

 

17.4

%

12.3

%

17.6

%

15.3

%

 

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 business. The economic activity that impacts property and casualty insurance is described as exposure units, and is most closely correlated with employment levels, corporate revenue and asset values.  During the third quarter 2010 we continued to see a soft market, which began in 2007, in our retail brokerage product line.  In a “soft market,” premium rates flatten or decrease, along with commission revenues, due to increased competition for market share among insurance carriers or increased underwriting capacity.  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. Compared to 2009, prices decreased in both our retail and reinsurance brokerage product lines.

 

Additionally, beginning in late 2008 and continuing into the third quarter of 2010, we faced difficult conditions as a result of unprecedented disruptions in the global economy.  The continuing global recession has reduced our customers’ demand for our retail brokerage and reinsurance brokerage products, which has hurt our operational results.  In addition, overall capacity in the industry could decrease if a significant insurer either fails or withdraws from writing insurance coverages that we offer our clients.  This failure could reduce our revenues and profitability, since we would no longer have access to certain lines and types of insurance.

 

Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services generated approximately 82% of our consolidated total revenues in the third quarter and 83% in the first nine months of 2010. Revenues are generated primarily through fees paid by clients, commissions and fees paid by insurance and reinsurance companies, and investment income on funds held on behalf of clients.  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

 

51



 

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

 

We operate in a highly competitive industry and compete with many retail insurance brokerage and agency firms, as well as with individual brokers, agents, and direct writers of insurance coverage.  Specifically, we address 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; provide affinity products for professional liability, life, disability income, and personal lines for individuals, associations, and businesses; provide products and services using our global risk insight platform (“GRIP”); provide reinsurance services to insurance and reinsurance companies and other risk assumption entities by acting as brokers or intermediaries on all classes of reinsurance; provide 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; provide managing underwriting to independent agents and brokers as well as corporate clients; provide actuarial, loss prevention, and administrative services to businesses and consumers; and manage captive insurance companies.

 

Revenue

 

Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services commissions, fees and other revenue for third quarter and first nine months 2010 and 2009, and the reconciliation of organic revenue to reported commissions, fees and other revenue growth were as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less:

 

Acquisitions,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

Currency

 

Divestitures,

 

Organic

 

Three months ended September 30,

 

2010

 

2009

 

Change

 

Impact

 

& Other

 

Revenue

 

Retail brokerage:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Americas

 

$

574

 

$

541

 

6

%

1

%

4

%

1

%

United Kingdom

 

148

 

167

 

(11

)

(3

)

 

(8

)

Europe, Middle East & Africa

 

265

 

271

 

(2

)

(8

)

2

 

4

 

Asia Pacific

 

121

 

111

 

9

 

7

 

 

2

 

Total retail brokerage

 

1,108

 

1,090

 

2

 

(1

)

3

 

 

Reinsurance brokerage

 

361

 

379

 

(5

)

(2

)

1

 

(4

)

Total

 

$

1,469

 

$

1,469

 

%

(1

)%

2

%

(1

)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less:

 

Acquisitions,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

Currency

 

Divestitures,

 

Organic

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

2010

 

2009

 

Change

 

Impact

 

& Other

 

Revenue

 

Retail brokerage:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Americas

 

$

1,677

 

$

1,592

 

5

%

2

%

4

%

(1

)%

United Kingdom

 

436

 

464

 

(6

)

 

 

(6

)

Europe, Middle East & Africa

 

1,033

 

1,026

 

1

 

 

2

 

(1

)

Asia Pacific

 

362

 

318

 

14

 

12

 

 

2

 

Total retail brokerage

 

3,508

 

3,400

 

3

 

2

 

2

 

(1

)

Reinsurance brokerage

 

1,108

 

1,146

 

(3

)

1

 

 

(4

)

Total

 

$

4,616

 

$

4,546

 

2

%

2

%

2

%

(2

)%

 

In the third quarter 2010, commissions, fees and other revenue was unchanged from 2009. For the first nine months 2010, commissions, fees and other revenue increased $70 million, or 2%, from 2009.  For the quarter, unfavorable foreign currency translation and organic revenue declines was offset by increases from acquisitions,

 

52



 

primarily Allied North America (“Allied”).  For nine months, the increase in revenue was driven by the impact of favorable foreign currency translation and an increase from acquisitions, primarily Allied, partially offset by a decline in organic revenue.

 

Americas commissions, fees and other revenue increased 6% for the third quarter driven by the impact of the Allied acquisition, favorable foreign currency translation, and 1% organic revenue growth due to strong growth in Latin America and benefits related to the global risk insight platform (GRIP), partially offset by continued weakness in the construction industry and the impact of soft pricing on the renewal book portfolio in U.S. Retail. The 5% year-to-date revenue increase was driven by the impact of the Allied acquisition, favorable foreign currency translation, partially offset by 1% organic decline in revenue driven by lower revenue in US Retail and Canada, partially offset by growth in Latin America.

 

United Kingdom commissions, fees and other revenue decreased 11% for the third quarter and 6% year-to-date, driven mostly by declines in organic revenue due to continued weak market conditions and lower exposure units.  The impact of foreign currency translation was unfavorable for the quarter and not significant for the year-to-date.

 

Europe, Middle East & Africa commissions, fees and other revenue decreased 2% for the third quarter, driven primarily by unfavorable foreign currency translation rates offset by 4% organic growth and the favorable impact of net acquisitions. The 4% organic revenue growth was driven by modest growth in Continental Europe, and strong growth in emerging markets. For the nine month period, commission, fees and other increased 1%, reflecting the net favorable impact of acquisitions, partially offset by an organic decline in revenue of 1%, principally due to weak economic conditions and lower exposure units in Continental Europe and Ireland, partially offset by strong growth in emerging markets. Foreign currency impact was not significant for the year-to-date.

 

Asia Pacific commissions, fees and other revenue increased 9% for the quarter and 14% year-to-date, due principally to the positive impact of foreign currency translation and organic revenue growth. Organic revenue growth was 2% for both the quarter and year-to-date, reflecting strong growth in New Zealand and China, partially offset by weak economic conditions in Thailand.

 

Reinsurance commissions, fees and other revenue decreased 5% and 3% for both the quarter and first nine months of 2010, respectively, impacted by organic declines in revenue due primarily to soft pricing globally in treaty placements and higher retentions by insurers.  For the quarter, results were unfavorably impacted by foreign currency and favorably impacted by net acquisitions.  Currency impact was favorable on a year-to-date basis with no material impact from net acquisitions.

 

Operating Income

 

Operating income for third quarter 2010 increased $76 million, or 42%, from 2009 to $258 million.  Operating margin for the third quarter was 17.4%, up 510 basis points from 12.3% in 2009. For the nine month period, operating income increased $114 million, or 16%, from 2009 to $820 million in 2010.  Year-to-date 2010 operating margin was 17.6%, up 230 basis points from 15.3% in 2009. Contributing to the third quarter increase in operating income and margins were declines in restructuring charges of $76 million and benefits related to restructuring savings, somewhat offset by an organic decline in revenue.  For the nine month period, increases in operating income and margins were driven by lower restructuring costs of $110 million, benefits related to restructuring savings, and $13 million of Benfield integration costs incurred last year partially offset by an organic decline in revenue, a net pension curtailment gain of $54 million in 2009, and lower fiduciary investment income of $17 million.

 

53



 

Consulting

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

(in millions)

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

Revenue

 

$

321

 

$

308

 

$

960

 

$

917

 

Operating income

 

54

 

33

 

148

 

144

 

Operating margin

 

16.8

%

10.7

%

15.4

%

15.7

%

 

Our Consulting segment generated 18% of our consolidated total revenues in the third quarter and 17% in the first nine months of 2010.  This segment provides a broad range of human capital consulting services, as follows:

 

Consulting Services:

 

1.               Health and 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, executive benefits, workforce strategies and productivity, absence management, benefits administration, data-driven health, compliance, employee commitment, investment advisory and elective benefits services.

2.               Retirement specializes in global actuarial services, defined contribution consulting, investment consulting, tax and ERISA consulting, and pension administration.

3.               Compensation focuses on compensatory advisory/counsel including: compensation planning design, executive reward strategies, salary survey and benchmarking, market share studies and sales force effectiveness, with special expertise in the financial services and technology industries.

4.               Strategic Human Capital delivers advice to complex global organizations on talent, change and organizational effectiveness issues, including talent strategy and acquisition, executive on-boarding, performance management, leadership assessment and development, communication strategy, workforce training and change management.

 

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

 

Beginning in late 2008 and continuing into the third quarter 2010, the prolonged economic downturn is adversely impacting our clients’ financial condition and the levels of business activities in the industries and geographies where we operate.  While we believe that the majority of our practices are well positioned to manage through this time, these challenges are reducing demand for some of our services and depressing the price of those services, which is having an adverse effect on our new business and results of operations.

 

Revenue

 

Consulting commissions, fees and other revenue increased $13 million, or 4%, for the quarter and $43 million, or 5%, on a year-to-date basis, driven by organic revenue growth and the impact of net acquisitions. Foreign currency translation adversely impacted third quarter but was favorable year-to-date.  Organic revenue growth was 4% in the third quarter and 1% year-to-date.  A reconciliation of organic revenue to reported commissions, fees and other revenue growth for third quarter and the nine months 2010 was as follows (in millions):

 

54



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less:

 

Acquisitions,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

Currency

 

Divestitures,

 

Organic

 

Three months ended September 30,

 

2010

 

2009

 

Change

 

Impact

 

& Other

 

Revenue

 

Consulting services

 

$

268

 

$

262

 

2

%

(2

)%

3

%

1

%

Outsourcing

 

53

 

46

 

15

 

(1

)

(3

)

19

 

Total

 

$

321

 

$

308

 

4

%

(2

)%

2

%

4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less:

 

Acquisitions,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

Currency

 

Divestitures,

 

Organic

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

2010

 

2009

 

Change

 

Impact

 

& Other

 

Revenue

 

Consulting services

 

$

808

 

$

776

 

4

%

2

%

1

%

1

%

Outsourcing

 

151

 

140

 

8

 

2

 

2

 

4

 

Total

 

$

959

 

$

916

 

5

%

2

%

2

%

1

%

 

Consulting services increased $6 million, or 2%, and $32 million, or 4%, on a quarterly and year-to date basis, respectively, reflecting a favorable impact related to acquisitions, and organic growth.  The impact of foreign currency was unfavorable in the quarter and favorable year-to-date.  Organic revenue growth was 1% for the third quarter and the first nine months of 2010. The quarterly and year-to-date organic growth was driven by solid growth in global compensation consulting and international health and benefits brokerage, partially offset by the impact of weak economic conditions on retirement consulting.

 

Outsourcing revenue increased $7 million, or 15%, and $11 million, or 8%, on a quarterly and year-to-date basis, respectively.  Third quarter results reflect strong organic revenue growth driven by new business in benefits outsourcing partially offset by net dispositions and unfavorable foreign currency translation. Year-to-date results were driven by organic growth, the impact of acquisitions, and favorable foreign currency translation.

 

Operating Income

 

Operating income was $54 million, an increase of $21 million, or 64%, from third quarter 2009.  Nine months operating income was $148 million, a $4 million, or 3%, increase from last year.  The third quarter and year-to-date improvement was driven by the increase in revenue, lower restructuring costs, and benefits related to the 2007 restructuring plan and other cost saving initiatives.  In addition, the year-to-date period reflects a decrease resulting from the net pension curtailment gain last year of $20 million.  Operating margin for the quarter for this segment was 16.8%, an increase of 610 basis points from last year.  Year-to-date 2010 operating margin was 15.4%, a decrease of 30 basis points from 2009.

 

Unallocated Income and Expenses

 

A reconciliation of our operating income to income from continuing operations before income taxes is as follows (in millions):

 

55



 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Nine months ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

Operating income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services

 

$

258

 

$

182

 

$

820

 

$

706

 

Consulting

 

54

 

33

 

148

 

144

 

Unallocated

 

(49

)

(21

)

(164

)

(70

)

Operating income

 

263

 

194

 

804

 

780

 

Interest income

 

4

 

3

 

9

 

10

 

Interest expense

 

(50

)

(32

)

(117

)

(87

)

Other income

 

(9

)

13

 

3

 

28

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

 

$

208

 

$

178

 

$

699

 

$

731

 

 

Unallocated operating loss includes corporate governance costs not allocated to the operating segments.  In 2009, it also included revenue and expenses from our equity ownership in insurance investments obtained in the Benfield acquisition.  Net unallocated expenses increased $28 million to $49 million in the third quarter 2010 and $94 million to $164 million for the first nine months 2010.  The quarterly increase was driven largely by the Hewitt acquisition costs and the income from the insurance investments included in 2009. The year-to-date increase was driven by the $49 million non-cash U.S. defined benefit pension plan expense, resulting from an adjustment to the market-related value of plan assets, impact of the Hewitt acquisition costs of $18 million, and the net impact of the insurance investments in 2009.

 

Interest Income

 

For the third quarter 2010, interest income increased $1 million over last year, while on a year-to-date basis interest income decreased $1 million from the comparable period in 2009. 

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense, which represents the cost of our worldwide debt obligations, increased $18 million and $30 million from third quarter and first nine months 2009, respectively, due to financing costs associated with the Hewitt acquisition, including $14 million in deferred financing costs related to the $1.5 billion Bridge Loan Facility, which was terminated, and interest related to the $1.5 billion in Notes which replaced the Bridge Loan Facility.

 

Other (Expense) Income

 

Other expense was $9 million for the third quarter of 2010, primarily reflecting the loss on sale of a business in the Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services segment. For the first nine months of 2010, Other income of $3 million was primarily due to income from our non-consolidated subsidiaries, partially offset by net losses on sales of businesses in the Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services segment.  For the third quarter and the first nine months of 2009, we recorded Other income of $13 million and $28 million, respectively.  Other income in both periods was due to income from non-consolidated subsidiaries and the net gains on sales of businesses in the Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services segment of $2 million in the quarter and $8 million for the first nine months.  The year-to-date period also included a $5 million gain from the extinguishment of $15 million of junior subordinated debentures.

 

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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

There have been no changes in our critical accounting policies, which include restructuring, pensions, goodwill and other intangible assets, contingencies, share-based payments, and income taxes, as discussed in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

Note 2 “Accounting Principles and Practices” of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contains a discussion of recently issued accounting pronouncements and their impact or future potential impact on our financial results, if determinable.

 

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.  Forward-looking statements relate to expectations or forecasts of future events.  They use words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “potential,” and other similar terms, and future or conditional tense verbs like “could,” “may,” “might,” “should,” “will” and “would.”  You can also identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts.  For example, we may use forward-looking statements when addressing topics such as:  market and industry conditions, including competitive and pricing trends; changes in our business strategies and methods of generating revenue; the development and performance of our services and products; changes in the composition or level of our revenues; our cost structure and the outcome of cost-saving or restructuring initiatives; the outcome of contingencies; dividend policy; the expected impact of acquisitions and dispositions; pension obligations; cash flow and liquidity; future actions by regulators; and the impact of changes in accounting rules.  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:

 

·                  the possibility that the expected efficiencies and cost savings from the merger with Hewitt will not be realized, or will not be realized within the expected time period;

·                  the risk that the Aon and Hewitt businesses will not be integrated successfully;

·                  disruption from the merger with Hewitt making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships;

·                  general economic conditions in different countries in which Aon and Hewitt do business around the world;

·                  changes in global equity and fixed income markets that could influence the return on invested assets;

·                  fluctuations in exchange and interest rates that could impact revenue and expense;

·                  rating agency actions that could affect Aon’s ability to borrow funds;

·                  changes in the funding status of our various defined benefit pension plans and the impact of any increased pension funding resulting from those changes;

·                  changes in the competitive environment;

·                  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 the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and non-U.S. anti-corruption laws;

·                  the impact of investigations brought by U.S. state attorneys general, U.S. state insurance regulators, U.S. federal prosecutors, U.S. federal regulators, and regulatory authorities in the U.K. and other countries;

·                  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, including potential liabilities arising from errors and omission claims against Aon or Hewitt;

 

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·                  The extent to which Aon and Hewitt retain existing clients and attract new businesses;

·                  The extent to which Aon and Hewitt manage certain risks created in connection with the various services, including fiduciary and advisory services, among others, that Aon and Hewitt currently provide, or will provide in the future, to clients;

·                  The impact of, and potential challenges in complying with, legislation and regulation in the jurisdictions in which Aon and Hewitt operate, particularly given the global scope of Aon’s and Hewitt’s businesses and the possibility of conflicting regulatory requirements across jurisdictions in which Aon and Hewitt do business;

·                  the ability to realize the anticipated benefits to Aon of the Benfield merger.

·                  the loss of key Aon or Hewitt employees following the merger; and

·                  the ability to implement restructuring initiatives and other initiatives intended to yield cost savings, and the ability to achieve those cost savings.

 

 

 

Any or all of our forward-looking statements may turn out to be inaccurate, and there are no guarantees about our performance.  The factors identified above are not exhaustive.  Aon and its subsidiaries operate in a dynamic business environment in which new risks may emerge frequently.  Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the dates on which they are made.  We are under no obligation (and expressly disclaim any obligation) to update or alter any forward-looking statement that we may make from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

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 and foreign exchange rates.  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, 2010, we have hedged approximately 53% and 55% 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 and first nine months 2010 diluted earnings per share were positively impacted by approximately $0.03 and $0.10, respectively

 

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

 

Our 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.  This activity primarily relates to brokerage funds held on behalf of clients in the U.S. and on the continent of Europe.  A decrease in global short-term interest rates adversely affects our income.

 

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ITEM 4.   CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures.  We have conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report as of September 30, 2010.  Based on this evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded as of September 30, 2010 that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective such that the information relating to Aon, including our consolidated subsidiaries, required to be disclosed in our Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to Aon’s management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Changes in internal control over financial reporting.  During the first quarter 2010, the Company commenced a review and subsequent project to replace and upgrade certain core financial systems.  These financial system enhancements and related processes are expected to result in modifications to our internal controls principally in Europe, Middle East and Africa and Latin America, supporting financial transaction processing and reporting.  The implementation of these changes to software and systems is expected to be executed in phases throughout 2010 and 2011.  Other than the changes above, no changes in Aon’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a — 15(F) of the Exchange Act) occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2010 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, Aon’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

59



 

PART II

 

OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

See Note 16 (“Commitments and Contingencies”) to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Part I, Item I, which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

ITEM 1ARISK FACTORS

 

The risk factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A Risk Factors to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2010, and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2010, have been supplemented as set forth below to reflect certain risks associated with the business acquired through our merger transaction with Hewitt Associates, Inc.  These updated risk factors set forth below are in addition to, and not in lieu of, those contained in our earlier 2010 10-Q Quarterly Reports, and readers should consider them in addition to the other information contained in those reports and in this report as our business, financial condition or results of operations could be adversely affected if any of these risks actually occur.  These risks are not presented in order of importance or probability of occurrence.

 

We face significant competitive pressures in each of our businesses.

 

We believe that competition in our brokerage 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 solutions operations from other insurance brokerage firms that 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 outsourcing and consulting operations compete with a large number of independent firms and consulting organizations affiliated with accounting, information systems, technology and financial services firms around the world.  Many of our competitors in this area are expanding the services they offer in an attempt to gain additional business. Additionally, some competitors have established and are likely to continue to establish, cooperative relationships among themselves or with third parties to increase their ability to address client needs.

 

Competitors in each of our lines of business may have greater financial, technical and marketing resources, larger customer bases, greater name recognition, stronger international presence and more established relationships with their customers and suppliers than we have. Additional competitors have entered some of the marketplaces in which we compete. In addition, new competitors, alliances among competitors or mergers of competitors could emerge and gain significant market share, and some of our competitors may have or may develop a lower cost structure, adopt more aggressive pricing policies or provide services that gain greater market acceptance than the services that we offer or develop. Large and well-capitalized competitors may be able to respond to the need for technological changes faster, price their services more aggressively, compete for skilled professionals, finance acquisitions, fund internal growth and compete for market share more effectively than we do. In order to respond to increased competition and pricing pressure, we may have to lower our prices, which would have an adverse effect on our revenues and profit margin.

 

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

 

We announced a global restructuring plan, the Aon Benfield Plan, in connection with our merger with Benfield in 2008.  The restructuring plan is intended to integrate and streamline operations across the combined Aon Benfield organization.  The Aon Benfield Plan includes an estimated 700 job eliminations, the closing or consolidation of several offices, asset impairments and other expenses necessary to implement these initiatives. We estimate that the Aon Benfield Plan will result in cumulative costs totaling approximately $155 million, of which $55 million of these costs were recorded as part of the purchase price allocation and $100 million of which have been or will be charged to earnings.  We anticipate that our annualized savings from the Aon Benfield Plan will be approximately $122 million in 2011.  We cannot assure that we will achieve the targeted savings.

 

In 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 4,700 employee positions, the closing or consolidation of various offices, asset impairments and other expenses necessary to implement these initiatives. The 2007 Plan incurred cumulative pretax charges of $749 million.  We anticipate that our annualized savings from the 2007 Plan will be approximately $536 million by the end of 2010.  We cannot assure that we will achieve the targeted savings.

 

In 2010, after completion of the Hewitt merger, we announced a global restructuring plan (the “Aon Hewitt Plan”).  The Aon Hewitt Plan, which will continue through the end of 2013, is intended to streamline operations across the combined organization. The Aon Hewitt Plan is expected to result in cumulative costs of approximately $325 million through the end of the plan, primarily encompassing workforce reduction and real estate rationalization costs.  The total estimated cost of $325 million consists of approximately $180 million in employee termination costs (all of which is expected to be incurred in cash) and approximately $145 million in real estate rationalization costs (of which approximately $95 million is expected to be incurred in cash).  An estimated 1,500 to 1,800 positions globally, predominantly non-client facing, are expected to be eliminated as part of the Aon Hewitt Plan.

 

We expect to achieve total annual savings of around $355 million in 2013, including approximately $280 million of annual savings related to the restructuring plan, and additional savings in areas such as information technology, procurement and public company costs. None of the components of the restructuring plan are finalized and actual total savings, costs and timing may vary from those estimated due to changes in the scope or assumptions underlying the restructuring plan.  We therefore cannot assure that we will achieve the targeted savings.

 

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. The economic activity that impacts property and casualty insurance is described as exposure units, and is most closely correlated with employment levels, corporate revenue and asset values.  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.

 

The results of our outsourcing and consulting businesses 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

 

61



 

clients serve. Economic slowdowns in some markets may cause reductions in technology and discretionary spending by our clients, which may result in reductions in the growth of new business as well as reductions in existing business. If our clients enter bankruptcy or liquidate their operations, our revenues could be adversely affected.  In addition, our revenues under many of our outsourcing contracts depend upon the number of our clients’ employees or the number of participants in our clients’ employee benefit plans and could be adversely affected by layoffs. We may also experience decreased demand for our services as a result of postponed or terminated outsourcing of human resources functions or reductions in the size of our clients’ workforce. Reduced demand for our services could increase price competition. Some portion of our services may be considered by our clients to be more discretionary in nature and thus, demand for these services may be impacted by economic slowdowns.

 

The profitability of our outsourcing and consulting engagements with clients may not meet our expectations due to unexpected costs, cost overruns, early contract terminations, unrealized assumptions used in our contract bidding process or the inability to maintain our prices.

 

In our outsourcing and consulting businesses our profitability is a function of our ability to control our costs and improve our efficiency. As we adapt to change in our business, enter into new engagements, acquire additional businesses and take on new employees in new locations, we may not be able to manage our large, diverse and changing workforce, control our costs or improve our efficiency.

 

Most new outsourcing arrangements undergo an implementation process whereby our systems and processes are customized to match a client’s plans and programs. The cost of this process is estimated by us and often partially funded by our clients. If our actual implementation expense exceeds our estimate or if the ongoing service cost is greater than anticipated, the client contract may be less profitable than expected.

 

Even though outsourcing clients typically sign long-term contracts, these contracts may be terminated at any time, with or without cause, by our client upon 90 to 180 days written notice. Our outsourcing clients are generally required to pay a termination fee; however, this amount may not be sufficient to fully compensate us for the profit we would have received if the contract had not been cancelled. Consulting contracts are typically on an engagement-by-engagement basis versus a long-term contract. A client may choose to delay or terminate a current or anticipated project as a result of factors unrelated to our work product or progress, such as the business or financial condition of the client or general economic conditions. When any of our engagements are terminated, we may not be able to eliminate associated costs or redeploy the affected employees in a timely manner to minimize the impact on profitability. Any increased or unexpected costs or unanticipated delays in connection with the performance of these engagements, including delays caused by factors outside our control, could have an adverse effect on our profit margin.

 

Our profit margin, and therefore our profitability, is largely a function of the rates we are able to charge for our services and the staffing costs for our personnel. Accordingly, if we are not able to maintain the rates we charge for our services or appropriate staffing costs of our personnel, we will not be able to sustain our profit margin and our profitability will suffer. The prices we are able to charge for our services are affected by a number of factors, including competitive factors, cost of living adjustment provisions, the extent of ongoing clients’ perception of our ability to add value through our services and general economic conditions. Our profitability in providing HR BPO services is largely based on our ability to drive cost efficiencies during the term of our contracts for such services. If we cannot drive suitable cost efficiencies, our profit margins will suffer.

 

We might not be able to achieve the cost savings required to sustain and increase our profit margins.

 

Our outsourcing business model inherently places ongoing pressure on our profit margins. We provide our outsourcing services over long terms for variable or fixed fees that generally are less than our clients’ historical costs to provide for themselves the services we contract to deliver. Also, clients’ demand for cost reductions may increase over the term of the agreement. As a result, we bear the risk of increases in the cost of delivering HR BPO services to our clients, and our margins associated with particular contracts will depend on our ability

 

62



 

to control our costs of performance under those contracts and meet our service commitments cost-effectively. Over time, some of our operating expenses will increase as we invest in additional infrastructure and implement new technologies to maintain our competitive position and meet our client service commitments. We must anticipate and respond to the dynamics of our industry and business by using quality systems, process management, improved asset utilization and effective supplier management tools. We must do this while continuing to grow our business so that our fixed costs are spread over an increasing revenue base. If we are not effective at this, our ability to sustain and increase profitability will be jeopardized.

 

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

 

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 Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services business, 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 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 industry, 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, and the FCPA, 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.

 

The areas in which we provide outsourcing and consulting services are also the subject of government regulation which is constantly evolving. Changes in government regulations in the United States affecting the value, use or delivery of benefits and human resources programs, including changes in regulations relating to health and welfare (such as medical) plans, defined contribution (such as 401(k)) plans, defined benefit (such as pension) plans or payroll delivery, may adversely affect the demand for, or profitability of, our services. Recently, we have seen regulatory initiatives result in companies either discontinuing their defined benefit programs or de-emphasizing the importance such programs play in the overall mix of their benefit programs with a trend toward increased use of defined contribution plans. If organizations discontinue or de-emphasize defined benefit plans more rapidly than we anticipate, the results of our business could be adversely affected.

 

In March 2010, the U.S. government enacted health reform legislation that will impact how our clients offer health care to their employees.  While we are currently addressing the impact of the legislation to the services we offer, if we are unable to adapt our services to changes resulting from these laws and any subsequent regulations, our ability to grow our business or to provide effective services, particularly in the outsourcing and consulting business, will be negatively impacted.  Furthermore, if our clients reduce the role or extent of employer-sponsored health care in response to the newly enacted legislation, our results of operations could be adversely impacted.

 

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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 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.

 

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 business can continue to be conducted in any given jurisdiction as it has been conducted in the past.

 

In addition, new legislative or industry developments could create an increase in competition that 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 actions or changes;

 

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

 

·                  changes in regulations relating to health and welfare plans, defined contribution plans or defined benefit plans; or

 

·                  additional regulations promulgated by the FSA in the U.K., or other regulatory bodies in jurisdictions in which we operate.

 

Competition resulting from 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.

 

Our accounting for our long-term outsourcing contracts requires using estimates and projections that may change over time. These changes may have a significant or adverse effect on our reported results of operations or consolidated balance sheet.

 

Projecting contract profitability on our long-term outsourcing contracts requires us to make assumptions and estimates of future contract results. All estimates are inherently uncertain and subject to change. In an effort to maintain appropriate estimates, we review each of our long-term outsourcing contracts, the related contract reserves and intangible assets on a regular basis. If we determine that we need to change our estimates for a contract, we will change the estimates in the period in which the determination is made. These assumptions and estimates involve the exercise of judgment and discretion, which may also evolve over time in light of operational experience, regulatory direction, developments in accounting principles and other factors. In particular, HR BPO is a relatively immature industry and we have limited experience in estimating implementation and ongoing costs compared to our more mature benefits outsourcing business. Further, changes in assumptions, estimates or developments in the business or the application of accounting principles related to long-term outsourcing contracts may change our initial estimates of future contract results. Application of, and changes in, assumptions, estimates and policies may adversely affect our financial results.

 

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Our business performance and growth plans will be negatively affected if we are not able to effectively apply technology in driving value for our clients through technology-based solutions or gain internal efficiencies through the effective application of technology and related tools.

 

Our future success depends, in part, on our ability to develop and implement technology solutions that anticipate and keep pace with rapid and continuing changes in technology, industry standards and client preferences. We may not be successful in anticipating or responding to these developments on a timely and cost-effective basis, and our ideas may not be accepted in the marketplace. Additionally, the effort to gain technological expertise and develop new technologies in our business requires us to incur significant expenses. If we cannot offer new technologies as quickly as our competitors or if our competitors develop more cost-effective technologies, it could have a material adverse effect on our ability to obtain and complete client engagements.

 

If our clients or third parties are not satisfied with our services, we may face additional cost, loss of profit opportunities and damage to our professional reputation or legal liability.

 

We depend, to a large extent, on our relationships with our clients and our reputation for high-quality brokering, and risk management solutions, outsourcing and consulting services so that we can understand our clients’ needs and deliver solutions and services that are tailored to these needs. If a client is not satisfied with our services, it may be more damaging to our business than to other businesses and could cause us to incur additional costs and impair profitability. Moreover, if we fail to meet our contractual obligations, we could be subject to legal liability or loss of client relationships. The nature of our work, especially our actuarial services in our outsourcing and consulting business, involves assumptions and estimates concerning future events, the actual outcome of which we cannot know with certainty in advance. In addition, we could make computational, software programming or data management errors. Further, a client may claim it suffered losses due to reliance on our consulting advice.  In addition to the risks of liability exposure and increased costs of defense and insurance premiums, claims arising from our professional services may produce publicity that could hurt our reputation and business and adversely affect our ability to secure new business.

 

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, including the sourcing of operations from global locations that have lower cost structures than in the U.S. Accordingly, we are subject to legal, economic and market risks associated with operating in, and sourcing from, foreign countries, including:

 

·                  the general economic and political conditions existing in those countries, including risks associated with a concentration of operations in certain geographic regions;

 

·                  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;

 

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

 

·                  longer payment cycles;

 

·                  greater difficulties in accounts receivable collection;

 

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

 

·                  insufficient demand for our services in foreign jurisdictions;

 

·                  ability to execute effective and efficient cross-border sourcing of services on behalf of our clients;

 

·                  restrictions on the import and export of technologies; and

 

·                  trade barriers

 

Our outsourcing business is exposed to risks associated with the handling of client funds as part of its payroll processing services.

 

As part of our outsourcing business, we handle payroll processing for several of our clients.  Consequently, at any given time, we may be holding and managing funds of our clients and their employees while payroll is being processed.  This function creates a risk of loss arising from, among other things, fraud by employees or third parties, execution of unauthorized transactions or errors relating to transaction processing.  We are also potentially at risk in the event the financial institution in which we hold these funds suffers any kind of insolvency or liquidity event.  The occurrence of any of these types of events in connection with this function could cause us financial loss and reputational harm.

 

We rely on third parties to provide services and their failure to perform the service could do harm to our business.

 

As part of providing services to clients in our outsourcing and consulting businesses, we rely on a number of third-party service providers. These providers include, but are not limited to, plan trustees and payroll service providers responsible for transferring funds to employees or on behalf of employees, and providers of data and information, such as software vendors, health plan providers, investment managers and investment advisers, that we work with to provide information to clients’ employees. Those providers also include providers of human resource functions such as recruiters and trainers employed by us in connection with our human resources business processing services delivered to our clients. Failure of third-party service providers to perform in a timely manner, particularly during periods of peak demand, could result in contractual or regulatory penalties, liability claims from clients and/or employees, damage to our reputation and harm to our business.

 

We rely heavily on our computing and communications infrastructure and the integrity of these systems in the delivery of human resources services for our Aon Hewitt clients, and our operational performance and revenue growth depends, in part, on the reliability and functionality of this infrastructure as a means of delivering human resources services.

 

The internet is a key mechanism for delivering our human resources services to our Aon Hewitt clients efficiently and cost effectively. Our clients may not be receptive to human resource services delivered over the internet due to concerns regarding transaction security, user privacy, the reliability and quality of internet service and other reasons. Our clients’ concerns may be heightened by the fact we use the internet to transmit

 

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extremely confidential information about our clients and their employees, such as compensation, medical information and other personally identifiable information. In addition, the internet has experienced, and is expected to continue to experience, significant growth in the number of users and volume of traffic. As a result, its performance and reliability may decline. In order to maintain the level of security, service and reliability that our clients require, we may be required to make significant investments in our online methods of delivering human resources services. In addition, websites and proprietary online services have experienced service interruptions and other delays occurring throughout their infrastructure. The adoption of additional laws or regulations with respect to the internet may impede the efficiency of the internet as a medium of exchange of information and decrease the demand for our services. If we cannot use the internet effectively to deliver our services, our revenue growth and results of operation may be impaired.

 

We may lose client data as a result of major catastrophes and other similar problems that may materially adversely impact our operations. We have multiple processing centers around the world that use various commercial methods for disaster recovery capabilities. Our main data processing center is located near the Aon Hewitt headquarters in Lincolnshire, Illinois.  In the event of a disaster, our business continuity may not be sufficient, and the data recovered may not be sufficient for the administration of our clients’ human resources programs and processes.

 

Implementation of changes to the methods in which we internally process and monitor transactions and activities may encounter delays or other problems, which could adversely impact our accounting and financial reporting processes.

 

Our businesses require that we process and monitor, on a regular basis, a very large number of transactions and other activities, many of which are highly complex, across numerous markets in several different currencies.  Initiatives underway designed to improve these functions will alter how we gather, organize and internally report these transactions and activities.  To the extent these initiatives are not implemented properly or encounter problems or delays in their implementation, they may adversely impact our accounting and financial reporting processes.

 

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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 2010:

 

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)

 

7/1/10 – 7/31/10

 

 

 

 

$

2,164,804,315

 

8/1/10 – 8/31/10

 

 

 

 

2,164,804,315

 

9/1/10 – 9/30/10

 

 

 

 

2,164,804,315

 

Total

 

 

 

 

$

2,164,804,315

 

 


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

(2)         In the fourth quarter of 2007, our Board of Directors 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, 2010, we repurchased 108.3 million shares of common stock at an average price (excluding commissions) of $40.96 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $4.4 billion since inception of this stock repurchase program, and the remaining authorized amount for stock repurchase under this program is $165 million, with no termination date.  In January 2010, our Board of Directors authorized a new share repurchase program under which up to $2 billion of common stock may be repurchased from time to time depending on market conditions or other factors through open market or privately negotiated transactions.  Repurchases will commence under the new share repurchase program upon conclusion of the existing program.

 

ITEM 6 — EXHIBITS

 

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

 

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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 4, 2010

By:

/s/ Laurel Meissner

 

LAUREL MEISSNER

 

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND

 

GLOBAL CONTROLLER

 

(Principal Accounting Officer and duly authorized officer of Registrant)

 

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AON CORPORATION

 

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit
Number 

 

Description of Exhibit

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

 

 

 

101

 

Interactive Data Files. The following materials are filed electronically with this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q:

 

 

101.INS XBRL Report Instance Document

 

 

101.SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

 

 

101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document

 

 

101.DEF XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document

 

 

101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document

 

 

101.LAB XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document

 


#

 

Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

 

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