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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

ý QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2003

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
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
  36-3051915
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

200 E. RANDOLPH STREET, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

60601

(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 ý        No o

        Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes ý        No o

        Number of shares of common stock outstanding:

Class
  No. Outstanding as of 3-31-03
$1.00 par value Common   312,176,977




PART 1

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Aon CORPORATION
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

(millions)

  As of
 
   
      Dec. 31, 2002    
 
 
  March 31, 2003
 
 
  (Unaudited)

   
 
ASSETS              
Investments              
  Fixed maturities at fair value   $ 2,073   $ 2,089  
  Equity securities at fair value     64     62  
  Short-term investments     4,412     3,836  
  Other investments     629     600  
   
 
 
    Total investments     7,178     6,587  

Cash

 

 

432

 

 

506

 
Receivables              
  Risk and insurance brokerage services and consulting     8,945     8,430  
  Other receivables     1,309     1,213  
   
 
 
    Total receivables     10,254     9,643  
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs     901     882  
Goodwill (net of accumulated amortization: 2003—$726, 2002—$723)     4,152     4,099  
Other Intangible Assets (net of accumulated amortization: 2003—$253, 2002—$238)     212     225  
Property and Equipment, Net     855     865  
Other Assets     2,563     2,527  
   
 
 
  TOTAL ASSETS   $ 26,547   $ 25,334  
   
 
 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Insurance Premiums Payable   $ 11,003   $ 9,904  
Policy Liabilities              
  Future policy benefits     1,325     1,310  
  Policy and contract claims     1,320     1,251  
  Unearned and advance premiums and contract fees     2,705     2,610  
  Other policyholder funds     103     139  
   
 
 
    Total Policy Liabilities     5,453     5,310  
General Liabilities              
  General expenses     1,929     2,012  
  Short-term borrowings     127     117  
  Notes payable     1,523     1,671  
  Other liabilities     1,690     1,673  
   
 
 
    TOTAL LIABILITIES     21,725     20,687  
Commitments and Contingent Liabilities              
Redeemable Preferred Stock     50     50  
Company-Obligated Manditorily Redeemable Preferred Capital Securities of Subsidiary Trust Holding Solely the Company's Junior Subordinated Debentures     702     702  
Stockholders' Equity              
  Common stock—$1 par value     335     333  
  Paid-in additional capital     2,266     2,228  
  Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (918 )   (954 )
  Retained earnings     3,357     3,251  
  Less—Treasury stock at cost     (799 )   (794 )
    Deferred compensation     (171 )   (169 )
   
 
 
   
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

 

4,070

 

 

3,895

 
   
 
 
   
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

$

26,547

 

$

25,334

 
   
 
 

See the accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

2



Aon Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)

 
  First Quarter Ended
 
(millions except per share data)

  March 31,
2003

  March 31,
2002

 
Revenue              
  Brokerage commissions and fees   $ 1,676   $ 1,444  
  Premiums and other     632     535  
  Investment income     80     109  
   
 
 
    Total revenue     2,388     2,088  
   
 
 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  General expenses     1,709     1,463  
  Benefits to policyholders     345     314  
  Interest expense     28     29  
  Amortization of intangible assets     13     11  
  Unusual charges—World Trade Center     37      
   
 
 
    Total expenses     2,132     1,817  
   
 
 

Income Before Income Tax and Minority Interest

 

 

256

 

 

271

 
  Provision for income tax     95     101  
   
 
 
Income Before Minority Interest     161     170  
  Minority interest—8.205% trust preferred capital securities     (9 )   (10 )
   
 
 
Net Income   $ 152   $ 160  
   
 
 
  Preferred stock dividends     (1 )   (1 )
   
 
 
Net Income Available for Common Stockholders   $ 151   $ 159  
   
 
 

Basic Net Income Per Share

 

$

0.48

 

$

0.58

 
   
 
 

Dilutive Net Income Per Share

 

$

0.48

 

$

0.57

 
   
 
 

Cash dividends per share paid on common stock

 

$

0.15

 

$

0.225

 
   
 
 

Dilutive average common and common equivalent shares outstanding

 

 

315.2

 

 

276.6

 
   
 
 

See the accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

3



Aon CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)

 
  First Quarter Ended
 
(millions)

  March 31,
2003

  March 31,
2002

 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:              
  Net income   $ 152   $ 160  
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities              
    Insurance operating assets and liabilities, net of reinsurance     14     (22 )
    Amortization of intangible assets     13     11  
    Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and software     55     47  
    Income taxes     24     38  
    Special and unusual charges and purchase accounting liabilities     16     (47 )
    Valuation changes on investments, income on disposals and impairments     (31 )   10  
    Other receivables and liabilities—net     537     (6 )
   
 
 
      Cash Provided by Operating Activities     780     191  
   
 
 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:              
  Sale of investments              
    Fixed maturities              
      Maturities     21     34  
      Calls and prepayments     19     33  
      Sales     256     265  
    Equity securities     1     65  
    Other investments     10     14  
  Purchase of investments              
    Fixed maturities     (289 )   (650 )
    Equity securities         (3 )
    Other investments     (3 )   (9 )
  Short-term investments—net     (604 )   337  
  Acquisition of subsidiaries     (6 )   (35 )
  Proceeds from sale of operations     30      
  Property and equipment and other—net     (52 )   (56 )
   
 
 
      Cash Used by Investing Activities     (617 )   (5 )
   
 
 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:              
  Treasury and common stock transactions—net     (7 )   13  
  Issuance (payments) of short-term borrowings—net     6     (43 )
  Issuance of long-term debt         96  
  Repayment of long-term debt     (150 )    
  Interest sensitive, annuity and investment-type contracts              
    Withdrawals     (41 )   (59 )
  Cash dividends to stockholders     (47 )   (62 )
   
 
 
      Cash Used in Financing Activities     (239 )   (55 )
   
 
 
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash     2     (1 )
   
 
 
Increase (Decrease) in Cash     (74 )   130  
Cash at Beginning of Period     506     439  
   
 
 
Cash at End of Period   $ 432   $ 569  
   
 
 

See the accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

4



NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

1. Statement of Accounting Principles

        The financial results included in this report are stated in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and are unaudited but include all normal recurring adjustments which the Registrant ("Aon") considers necessary for a fair presentation of the results for such periods. These interim figures are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year as further discussed below.

        Refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 for additional details of Aon's financial position, as well as a description of the accounting policies which have been continued without material change.

        Certain amounts in prior year's condensed consolidated financial statements relating to segments have been reclassified to conform to the 2003 presentation.

        Aon applies Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related Interpretations in accounting for its stock-based compensation plans. Accordingly, no compensation expense has been recognized for its stock option plan as the exercise price of the options equaled the market price of the stock at the date of grant. Compensation expense has been recognized for stock awards based on the market price at the date of the award.

        The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if Aon had applied the fair value recognition provision of Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Statement No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, to stock-based employee compensation.

First quarter ended March 31,

  2003
  2002
(millions except per share data)

   
   
Net income, as reported   $ 152   $ 160
Add: Stock based employee compensation expense included in reported net income, net of related tax effects     5     4
Deduct: Total stock-based compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects     12     10
   
 
Pro forma net income   $ 145   $ 154
   
 
Net income per share:            
  Basic            
    As reported   $ 0.48   $ 0.58
    Pro forma     0.46     0.56
 
Dilutive

 

 

 

 

 

 
    As reported   $ 0.48   $ 0.57
    Pro forma     0.46     0.55

5


        The fair value per share of options and awards granted is estimated as $3.21 and $17.44 in first quarter 2003 and $6.36 and $29.81 in first quarter 2002, respectively, on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions.

 
  First Quarter
 
 
  2003
  2002
 
Dividend yield   2.25 % 2.25 %
Expected volatility   21 % 21 %
Risk-free interest rate   3 % 4 %
Expected term life beyond vesting date (in years):          
  Stock options   1.00   .96  
  Stock awards      

        The pro forma information reflected above may not be representative of the amounts to be expected in future years as the fair value method of accounting contained in FASB Statement No. 123 has not been applied to options and awards granted prior to January 1995.

        In December 2001, Aon's underwriting subsidiaries invested $227 million in Endurance Specialty Holdings, Ltd., formerly known as Endurance Specialty Insurance Ltd. (Endurance), a Bermuda-based insurance and reinsurance company formed to provide additional underwriting capacity to commercial property and casualty insurance and reinsurance clients. In conjunction with this common stock investment, Aon received approximately 4 million stock purchase warrants which allow Aon to purchase additional Endurance common stock through December 2011. These warrants meet the definition of a derivative as described in FASB Statement No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, which requires them to be recorded in the financial statements at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in earnings on a current basis.

        Through December 31, 2002, these warrants had been carried at fair value, which approximated their original cost. Fair value had been estimated taking into consideration the original cost, subjectivity in determining the value of the underlying shares since Endurance was not yet publicly traded, illiquidity of the underlying shares, recent capital transactions in 2002 between Endurance and its shareholders for the warrants and the general uncertainty regarding the ability of Endurance to access the public markets.

        In first quarter 2003, Endurance completed its initial public offering, which provided a market value for the underlying shares and removed much of the uncertainty regarding the fair value of Endurance and the warrants. Aon obtained a third-party independent valuation of these warrants as of March 31, 2003. The independent valuation experts utilized the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine that the warrants had a fair value of approximately $45 million pretax.

        The valuation assumptions used in the model were as follows:

  Maturity (in years)     8.71  
  Spot Price   $ 21.80  
  Risk Free Interest Rate     4.20 %
  Dividend Yield     0.00 %
  Volatility     23.00 %
  Exercise Price   $ 17.20  

6


        The spot and exercise prices are reduced by expected future dividends.

        The $45 million (pretax) increase in value was recognized as investment income in the Corporate and Other segment in first quarter 2003. The future value of the warrants may vary considerably from the value at March 31, 2003 due to the inherent volatility of the underlying shares, as well as the passage of time and changes in other factors that are employed in the valuation model.

2. Accounting and Disclosure Changes

        In June 2002, the FASB issued Statement No. 146, Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities. Statement No. 146 supercedes Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue No. 94-3, Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring). Statement No. 146 was effective January 1, 2003. This statement did not have a material impact on Aon's consolidated financial statements.

        In November 2002, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 45, Guarantor's Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others (FIN 45). Guarantees meeting the characteristics described in FIN 45 are required to be initially recorded at fair value, which is different from the general current practice of recording a liability only when a loss is probable and reasonably estimable, as those terms are defined in FASB Statement No. 5, Accounting for Contingencies. FIN 45's disclosure requirements are applicable for each guarantee, or each group of similar guarantees, even if the likelihood of the guarantor having to make payments is remote.

        FIN 45's disclosure requirements were effective for financial statements ending after December 15, 2002. FIN 45's initial recognition and initial measurement provisions are applicable on a prospective basis to guarantees issued or modified after December 31, 2002. Implementation of this Interpretation did not have a material impact on Aon's consolidated financial statements.

        In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities (FIN 46). This Interpretation clarifies the application of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, Consolidated Financial Statements, to certain entities in which equity investors do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. FIN 46 identifies circumstances in which the consolidation decision should be based on voting interests and other circumstances in which the consolidation decision should be based on variable interests. FIN 46's disclosure requirements were effective for financial statements issued after January 31, 2003.

        The provisions of FIN 46 are effective for variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003, and are effective for variable interest entities existing prior to that date beginning July 1, 2003. Aon has not yet determined the effect, if any, this statement will have on the consolidated financial statements.

7



3. Income Per Share

        Income per share is calculated as follows:

 
  First Quarter Ended March 31,
 
(millions except per share data)

 
  2003
  2002
 
Net income   $ 152   $ 160  
Redeemable preferred stock dividends     (1 )   (1 )
   
 
 
Net income for dilutive and basic   $ 151   $ 159  
   
 
 
Basic shares outstanding     315     274  
Common stock equivalents         3  
   
 
 
Dilutive potential common shares     315     277  
   
 
 
Basic net income per share   $ 0.48   $ 0.58  
Dilutive net income per share   $ 0.48   $ 0.57  
   
 
 

4. Comprehensive Income

        The components of comprehensive income, net of related tax, for the first quarter ended March 31, 2003 and 2002 are as follows:

(millions)

  2003
  2002
 
Net income   $ 152   $ 160  
Net derivative losses     (6 )   (7 )
Net unrealized investment gains (losses)     3     (13 )
Net foreign exchange gains (losses)     39     (22 )
   
 
 
Comprehensive income   $ 188   $ 118  
   
 
 

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

(millions)

  March 31,
2003

  December 31,
2002

 
Net derivative gains   $ 16   $ 22  
Net unrealized investment gains     3      
Net foreign exchange losses     (217 )   (256 )
Net additional minimum pension liability     (720 )   (720 )
   
 
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   $ (918 ) $ (954 )
   
 
 

5. Business Segments

        Aon classifies its businesses into three operating segments based on the types of services and/or products delivered. There is also a fourth segment, Corporate and Other. The Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services segment (formerly called Insurance Brokerage and Other Services) consists primarily of Aon's retail, reinsurance and wholesale brokerage operations, as well as related insurance services, including claims services, underwriting management, captive insurance company management services and premium financing. The Consulting segment is Aon's human capital consulting organization which utilizes five major practices: employee benefits, compensation, management consulting, communications and outsourcing. The Insurance Underwriting segment provides specialty insurance products including supplemental accident, health and life insurance coverages, extended

8



warranty and select property and casualty insurance products. Corporate and Other segment revenue consists primarily of investment income from equity, fixed maturity and short-term investments that are assets primarily of the insurance underwriting subsidiaries that exceed policyholders liabilities and which may include non-income producing equities, valuation changes in limited partnership investments, and income and losses on disposals of all securities, including those pertaining to assets maintained by the operating segments. Corporate and Other expenses include general expenses, including administrative and certain information technology costs, and interest expense. Corporate and Other segment revenue and expenses also include the results of Aon's auto finance operations, as discussed below.

        The business units below have been reclassified among segments as follows:

        No changes or restatements have been made to prior period earnings per share or financial statements (income statement, balance sheet, or cash flow statement) as reported under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States as a result of the segment modifications. For the segment disclosures only, three of the segments will have reclassified revenue and pretax income beginning in first quarter 2003.

        The accounting policies of the operating segments are the same as those described in Aon's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, except that the disaggregated financial results have been prepared using a management approach, which is consistent with the basis and manner in which Aon senior management internally disaggregates financial information for the purposes of assisting in making internal operating decisions. Aon evaluates performance based on stand-alone operating segment income before income taxes and generally accounts for inter-segment revenue as if the revenue were to third parties, that is, at current market prices.

        Revenues are attributed to geographic areas based on the location of the resources producing the revenues.

        Revenue for Aon's segments follows:

 
  First quarter ended March 31
(millions)

  2003
  2002
Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services   $ 1,374   $ 1,157
Consulting     282     233
Insurance Underwriting     709     649
Corporate and Other     35     49
Intersegment revenues     (12 )  
   
 
    $ 2,388   $ 2,088
   
 

9


        Aon's operating segments' geographic revenue and total income before tax follows:

 
  Risk and Insurance
Brokerage Services

   
   
  Insurance
Underwriting

 
  Consulting
First Quarter ended March 31:
(millions)


  2003
  2002
  2003
  2002
  2003
  2002(1)
Revenue                                    
  United States   $ 566   $ 530   $ 179   $ 149   $ 488   $ 470
  United Kingdom     268     223     43     37     114     85
  Continent of Europe     348     259     37     27     48     35
  Rest of World     192     145