-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, H6Xtt4/aT12dSqpFvZ7eB3MQ2mI+CcG52xFrz3Davw01A3vrRim8OW3QRoCd+gW6 kyrBrpdTT6R3z0w7RDgJKQ== 0000912057-07-000172.txt : 20070815 0000912057-07-000172.hdr.sgml : 20070815 20070815172146 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000912057-07-000172 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 4 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20070815 ITEM INFORMATION: Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers ITEM INFORMATION: Other Events ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20070815 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20070815 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: AON CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000315293 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ACCIDENT & HEALTH INSURANCE [6321] IRS NUMBER: 363051915 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-07933 FILM NUMBER: 071060553 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 200 EAST RANDOLPH STREET CITY: CHICAGO STATE: IL ZIP: 60601 BUSINESS PHONE: 3123811000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 200 EAST RANDOLPH STREET CITY: CHICAGO STATE: IL ZIP: 60601 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: COMBINED INTERNATIONAL CORP DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19870504 8-K 1 a07-21840_28k.htm 8-K

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): August 15, 2007


Aon Corporation
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Delaware

 

1-7933

 

36-3051915

(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

200 East Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois

 

60601

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (312) 381-1000

Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

 

 

o

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

 

 

o

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

 

 

o

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 




Item 5.02.  Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers; Compensation Arrangements of Certain Officers.

In February 2007, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Aon Corporation (the “Company”) conducted a review of the Company’s option grant date practices and related accounting issues, which was discussed in greater detail in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 (the “Form 10-K”).  As discussed in the Form 10-K, filed March 1, 2007, on February 9, 2007 the Audit Committee engaged a national law firm, which engaged a national public accounting firm (together the “Audit Committee Team”), to perform an analysis of the Company’s stock grant practices and related accounting for 1994 through 2006.  The Audit Committee Team reviewed the available facts and circumstances surrounding stock option grants made during 1994-2006. 

Upon receiving the findings of the review, the Audit Committee and the Company’s management determined that the Company’s procedures relating to option grants caused incorrect measurement dates to be used for financial accounting and tax purposes for several thousand awards during the lengthy review period.  However, based on its review, the Audit Committee found no misconduct by current or former management or directors.  The Audit Committee Team’s review was substantially completed at the time of the filing, and further review was not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s reported stock option expense.  The Audit Committee Team subsequently completed its review and presented its findings in final to the Audit Committee and other non-management members of the Company’s Board of Directors.  As anticipated, they did not differ in any significant manner from the findings reported in the Form 10-K.

Based upon the findings of the review, the Audit Committee recommended, and the Company has agreed to take, certain remedial steps described in this Form 8-K.

As described in the discussion below in Item 8.01, the Company has commenced a voluntary tender offer program and will put in place a tax indemnification program for its eligible U.S. employees who are not Section 16 officers, in order to avoid potentially adverse tax consequences resulting from the incorrect measurement dates.  With respect to two 2002 unexercised awards to Patrick G. Ryan, the Company’s then-Chairman and CEO, for 250,000 stock options, and to Michael D. O’Halleran, the Company’s then-President and Chief Operating Officer, for 120,000 stock options, the Audit Committee recommended that certain steps be taken.  Although the Audit Committee did not find any misconduct or improper behavior with respect to these two awards, the accounting errors with respect to these 2002 options would have conferred unintended benefits on Messrs. Ryan and O’Halleran, and thus the Company, with the consent of Messrs. Ryan and O’Halleran,  corrected the errors without compensation to these officers by modifying the exercise price of the 2002 stock option awards to the fair market value of Aon common stock on the accounting measurement date for such grants.  In addition, although no unintended benefit was conferred with respect to the erroneous measurement date of an award in 2000 to Mr. Ryan of 300,000 stock options, and the Audit Committee found no misconduct or improper behavior with respect to these options, to avoid even a perception of unintended benefit, Mr. Ryan voluntarily offered to modify the price of those options to the fair market value of Aon common stock on the accounting measurement date.  The Audit Committee and the Company welcomed and accepted Mr. Ryan’s offer.  The amendments to Mr. O’Halleran’s and Mr. Ryan’s stock option award agreements were completed on August 15, 2007.  The amendment to Mr. O’Halleran’s award agreement resulted in a $285,000 aggregate increase in exercise price for the stock options.  The amendments to Mr. Ryan’s award agreements resulted in a $940,610 aggregate increase in exercise price for the stock options.

Item 8.01.  Other Events.

The Audit Committee made recommendations in addition to those set forth above in Item 5.02 of this Form 8-K, including the following with respect to tax-related matters:

1




The Company intends to honor all stock option awards made to employees.  However, holders of options with incorrect measurement dates that vested after December 31, 2004 may be subject to additional tax under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“409A”).  In addition, holders of such options could be subject to tax under 409A in future years.

To alleviate these adverse tax consequences, the Company commenced today a voluntary tender offer program for its U.S. employees who are not Section 16 officers.  Through this program, all outstanding options with incorrect measurement dates that vest after December 31, 2004 will be amended to increase the exercise price to the fair market value of Aon common stock on the accounting measurement date for such award.  Under the tender offer program, the Company is offering to compensate the holders for the difference in exercise price with a cash payment.  The tender offer program and the resulting amendments to outstanding awards are intended to permit the holders to qualify under certain transitional tax rules so that the unfavorable tax consequences under 409A will not be applicable to such awards.  The total aggregate amount to be paid by the Company under the program in the form of cash payments is estimated to be $3.9 million assuming participation by all of the eligible holders.  The cash payments will be made in early 2008 to comply with applicable tax rules.

All holders of options with incorrect measurement dates (exclusive of current and former Section 16 officers) will be indemnified for any 409A tax, and related penalty and interest, for options exercised in 2006 or in 2007 prior to the commencement of the tender offer program.  The Company will either pay such amounts directly to the Internal Revenue Service or provide the affected individuals with a payment equal to the Section 409A tax, any related interest or penalties, plus an amount to offset the associated income tax consequences of the reimbursement payments.  The estimated cost of the payments, including the gross up payments, is $3.5 million.

Current and former Section 16 officers holding options with incorrect measurement dates are not eligible to participate in the voluntary tender offer program and, therefore, will not be able to cure the discount and avoid adverse tax treatment under 409A.  The Company will, however, indemnify Section 16 officers (other than the Company’s four most senior executive officers(1) at the time of the incorrect measurement dates) from excise tax under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, if and when such tax becomes due.  The Company will provide those officers with a payment equal to the Section 409A tax, any related interest or penalties, plus an amount to offset the associated income tax consequences of the reimbursement payments.  The amount of such tax payable will be dependent upon the future fair market value of Aon common stock; however, the Company estimates that cost of the payments, exclusive of penalty, interest and gross up, will not exceed $1.0 million.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(a)—(c)

Not applicable.

 

 

 

 

(d)

Exhibits:

 

Exhibit Number

 

Description of Exhibit

99.1

 

Form of Amendment to Stock Option Award Agreement between Aon Corporation and Patrick G. Ryan (2000 Award)

 

 

 

99.2

 

Form of Amendment to Stock Option Award Agreement between Aon Corporation and Patrick G. Ryan (2002 Award)

 

 

 

99.3

 

Form of Amendment to Stock Option Award Agreement between Aon Corporation and Michael D. O’Halleran


(1)             The four most senior officers and the offices they then held were:  Patrick G. Ryan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; Michael D. O’Halleran, President and Chief Operating Officer; Harvey N. Medvin, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; and Raymond I. Skilling, Executive Vice President and Chief Counsel.

2




SIGNATURES

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 hereunto duly authorized.

Aon CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ D. Cameron Findlay

 

 

 

 

D. Cameron Findlay
Executive Vice President and General Counsel

Date: August 15, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

3





EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number

 

Description of Exhibit

99.1

 

Form of Amendment to Stock Option Award Agreement between Aon Corporation and Patrick G. Ryan (2000 Award)

 

 

 

99.2

 

Form of Amendment to Stock Option Award Agreement between Aon Corporation and Patrick G. Ryan (2002 Award)

 

 

 

99.3

 

Form of Amendment to Stock Option Award Agreement between Aon Corporation and Michael D. O’Halleran

 

 

4



EX-99.1 2 a07-21840_2ex99d1.htm EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

AMENDMENT TO STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT

This Amendment to Stock Option Award Agreement is entered into by Aon Corporation (the “Company”) and Patrick G. Ryan (the “Executive”) effective August ___, 2007 (the “Amendment”).

WHEREAS, as of November 16, 2000 the Executive was awarded an option to purchase 300,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Options”) pursuant to the Aon Stock Option Plan, as amended from time to time, as set forth in a Notice of Grant of Stock Options and Option Agreement and other communications regarding option award number 012151 (collectively, the “Award Agreement”).

WHEREAS, each of the Options remains unexercised;

WHEREAS, for good and valuable consideration the parties desire to amend the Award Agreement to increase the exercise price of the Options from $30.7813 per share to $31.9375 per share.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises the parties hereby agree as follows:

1.                                       Exercise Price.  The Award Agreement is hereby amended effective as of the date indicated below to increase the exercise price for each of the Options from $30.7813 per share to $31.9375 per share.

2.                                       Other Provisions of Award Agreement.  The remaining terms and conditions of the Award Agreement shall survive this Amendment and will continue in full force and effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amendment on August ___, 2007.

AON CORPORATION

 

EXECUTIVE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Patrick G. Ryan

Its:

 

 

 

 



EX-99.2 3 a07-21840_2ex99d2.htm EX-99.2

Exhibit 99.2

AMENDMENT TO STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT

This Amendment to Stock Option Award Agreement is entered into by Aon Corporation (the “Company”) and Patrick G. Ryan (the “Executive”) effective August ___, 2007 (the “Amendment”).

WHEREAS, as of April 22, 2002 the Executive was awarded an option to purchase 250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Options”) pursuant to the Aon Stock Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time, as set forth in a Notice of Grant of Stock Options and Option Agreement and other communications regarding option award number 0127449 (collectively, the “Award Agreement”).

WHEREAS, each of the Options remains unexercised;

WHEREAS, for good and valuable consideration the parties desire to amend the Award Agreement to increase the exercise price of the Options from $36.8750 per share to $39.2500 per share.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises the parties hereby agree as follows:

1.                                       Exercise Price.  The Award Agreement is hereby amended effective as of the date indicated below to increase the exercise price for each of the Options from $36.8750 per share to $39.2500 per share.

2.                                       Other Provisions of Award Agreement.  The remaining terms and conditions of the Award Agreement shall survive this Amendment and will continue in full force and effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amendment on August ___, 2007.

AON CORPORATION

 

EXECUTIVE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Patrick G. Ryan

Its:

 

 

 

 



EX-99.3 4 a07-21840_2ex99d3.htm EX-99.3

Exhibit 99.3

AMENDMENT TO STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT

This Amendment to Stock Option Award Agreement is entered into by Aon Corporation (the “Company”) and Michael D. O’Halleran (the “Executive”) effective August ___, 2007 (the “Amendment”).

WHEREAS, as of April 22, 2002 the Executive was awarded an option to purchase 120,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Options”) pursuant to the Aon Stock Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time, as set forth in a Notice of Grant of Stock Options and Option Agreement and other communications regarding option award number 0127452 (collectively, the “Award Agreement”).

WHEREAS, each of the Options remains unexercised;

WHEREAS, for good and valuable consideration the parties desire to amend the Award Agreement to increase the exercise price of the Options from $36.8750 per share to $39.2500 per share.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises the parties hereby agree as follows:

1.                                       Exercise Price.  The Award Agreement is hereby amended effective as of the date indicated below to increase the exercise price for each of the Options from $36.8750 per share to $39.2500 per share.

2.                                       Other Provisions of Award Agreement.  The remaining terms and conditions of the Award Agreement shall survive this Amendment and will continue in full force and effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amendment on August ___, 2007.

AON CORPORATION

 

EXECUTIVE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael D. O’Halleran

Its:

 

 

 

 



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