LONDON, 21 December 2011 – Aon Hewitt, the global human resource consulting and outsourcing business of Aon Corporation (NYSE:AON), has commented on the Treasury's announcement on public service pension schemes.

Clare Hobro, pension consultant at Aon Hewitt, said:
"It appears a 'Fair Deal for Pensions' is not only to be retained but actually strengthened so that employees who transfer from the public sector to the private sector - in the NHS pension scheme at least - may be able to receive benefits from the public sector scheme.

"We currently await more details on what this actually means for individuals and providers in relation to future staff transfers. However, many employees have already been transferred out of public sector schemes and would expect Fair Deal protection when their contract is next negotiated, which means the new contractor would be taking on the defined benefit pension risk.

Clare Hobro continued:
"Overall, these proposals were presented as a hat-trick of protection of transferring members, affordability for tax-payers and less onerous pension obligations for a wider pool of outsourcing service providers. Much needs to be worked through and this goal may not be reached for all contracts and all public sector schemes. In the meantime, private and third sector providers will be waiting for further guidance as they negotiate current deals and consider future business plans."

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Notes to editors

About Aon Hewitt
Aon Hewitt is the global leader in human resource consulting and outsourcing solutions.  The company partners with organisations to solve their most complex benefits, talent and related financial challenges, and improve business performance.  Aon Hewitt designs, implements, communicates and administers a wide range of human capital, retirement, investment management, health care, compensation and talent management strategies.  With more than 29,000 professionals in 90 countries, Aon Hewitt makes the world a better place to work for clients and their employees.  For more information on Aon Hewitt, please visit www.aonhewitt.com

About Aon
Aon Corporation (NYSE:AON) is the leading global provider of risk management, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, and human resources solutions and outsourcing services. Through its more than 61,000 colleagues worldwide, Aon unites to empower results for clients in over 120 countries via innovative and effective risk and people solutions and through industry-leading global resources and technical expertise. Aon has been named repeatedly as the world's best broker, best insurance intermediary, reinsurance intermediary, captives manager and best employee benefits consulting firm by multiple industry sources. Visit http://www.aon.com for more information on Aon and http://www.aon.com/manchesterunited to learn about Aon's global partnership and shirt sponsorship with Manchester United.

Media Contacts: 

Colin Mayes
Aon Hewitt
01372 733689
colin.mayes@aonhewitt.com

Giles Abbott
Capital MSL
020 7307 5340
giles.abbott@capitalmsl.com