Aon Corporation (NYSE: AOC) is exploring alternatives relating to its ownership of Swett & Crawford, the largest U.S.-based wholesale insurance broker with more than 900 employees in 40 offices.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041215/CGW049LOGO )

"Swett & Crawford has a great future," said Patrick G. Ryan, Aon's chairman & CEO. "By exploring alternatives, we expect to determine if Swett & Crawford's potential can be realized more fully under different ownership."

Aon Corporation ( http://www.aon.com/ ) is a leading provider of risk management services, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, human capital and management consulting, and specialty insurance underwriting. The company employs approximately 48,000 professionals in its 500 offices in more than 120 countries. Backed by broad resources, industry knowledge and technical expertise, Aon professionals help a wide range of clients develop effective risk management and workforce productivity solutions.

   Contact:
   Al Orendorff, +1.312.381.3153

This press release contains certain statements relating to future results, which are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from either historical or anticipated results, depending on a variety of factors. Potential factors that could impact results include the general economic conditions in different countries around the world, fluctuations in global equity and fixed income markets, exchange rates, rating agency actions, resolution of pending regulatory investigations and related issues, including those related to compensation arrangements with underwriters, pension funding, ultimate paid claims may be different from actuarial estimates and actuarial estimates may change over time, changes in commercial property and casualty markets and commercial premium rates, the competitive environment, the actual costs of resolution of contingent liabilities and other loss contingencies, and the heightened level of potential errors and omissions liability arising from placements of complex policies and sophisticated reinsurance arrangements in an insurance market in which insurer reserves are under pressure. Further information, concerning the Company and its business, including factors that potentially could materially affect the Company's financial results, is contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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SOURCE: Aon

CONTACT: Al Orendorff of Aon, +1-312-381-3153

Web site: http://www.aon.com/