Aon announced today that a subsidiary, Affinity Insurance Services, Inc. (Affinity) has acquired a division of JLT Services Corporation (JLT) specializing in program administration for association-sponsored insurance programs. Long-term relationships have been developed with a dozen elite non-profit organizations to manage the insurance brokerage, marketing and administration needs of association members.

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

"This strategic acquisition clearly demonstrates Aon's commitment to the affinity business model," said Kevin Garvin, Affinity's CEO. "Affinity's 1,000 employees operate from 30 offices, serving the insurance needs of 13 million customers. Aon started in the affinity business in 1947 with the endorsement of the American Institute of Certified Public Accounts insurance program. Many of our association member clients are doctors, financial professionals, lawyers, insurance agents, travel agents and nurses whose time is devoted to professional endeavors. They rely on their association to sponsor innovative insurance solutions with impeccable service that fits their busy life style."

Bill Vit, Affinity's president, said, "To support continued growth, we brought together our healthcare and new association-sponsored life and health business into a dedicated unit in our Hatboro, Pennsylvania office. The Affinity team will work closely with JLT colleagues to ensure a smooth transition for association members. Over half of the acquired association programs offer their members a life and health insurance solution."

"An exciting component of the acquisition is associations in two professional segments -- real estate professionals and architects. The JLT relationships will enhance our knowledge in these professions," Vit added.

The JLT division being acquired has 50 employees in offices in Chicago and Latham, New York most of whom will be joining the Aon operation. The combination of resources will enhance technology-enabled service, especially in e-commerce, and provide market leverage and product diversity for the JLT associations. Affinity will benefit from an infusion of talented professionals, along with access to a proprietary administration and claims handling system.

Aon Corporation (NYSE: AOC) ( 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 47,000 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.

   For more information, contact:

   Al Orendorff, Aon Corp., 312.381.3153, al_orendorff@aon.com

This press release contains certain statements related to future results, or states our intentions, beliefs and expectations or predictions for the future, which are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from either historical or anticipated results depending on a variety of factors. Potential factors that could impact results include: general economic conditions in different countries in which we do business around the world, changes in global equity and fixed income markets that could affect the return on invested assets, fluctuations in exchange and interest rates that could influence revenue and expense, rating agency actions that could affect our ability to borrow funds, funding of our various pension plans, changes in the competitive environment, our ability to implement restructuring initiatives and other initiatives intended to yield cost savings, our ability to execute the stock repurchase program, changes in commercial property and casualty markets and commercial premium rates that could impact revenues, changes in revenues and earnings due to the elimination of contingent commissions, other uncertainties surrounding a new compensation model, the impact of investigations brought by state attorneys general, state insurance regulators, federal prosecutors, and federal regulators, 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, and the difference in ultimate paid claims in our underwriting companies from actuarial estimates. 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.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041215/CGW049LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

SOURCE: Aon Corporation

CONTACT: Al Orendorff of Aon Corp., +1-312-381-3153,
al_orendorff@aon.com

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