Restructuring

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Restructuring

Restructuring

7.  Restructuring

Aon Hewitt Restructuring Plan

On October 14, 2010, Aon announced a global restructuring plan (“Aon Hewitt Plan”) in connection with the acquisition of Hewitt Associates, Inc.  The Aon Hewitt Plan is intended to streamline operations across the combined Aon Hewitt organization and includes an estimated 1,500 to 1,800 job eliminations. The Company expects these restructuring activities and related expenses to affect continuing operations into 2013.  The Aon Hewitt Plan is expected to result in cumulative costs of approximately $325 million through the end of the plan, consisting of approximately $180 million in employee termination costs and approximately $145 million in real estate rationalization across the Company.

From the inception of the Aon Hewitt Plan through June 30, 2012, approximately 1,540 jobs have been eliminated and total expenses of $182 million have been incurred.  The Company recorded $13 million and $25 million of restructuring and related charges in the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively.  The Company recorded $31 million and $54 million of restructuring and related charges in the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively.  Charges related to the restructuring are included in Compensation and benefits and Other general expenses in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

The following summarizes restructuring and related costs by type that have been incurred and are estimated to be incurred through the end of the restructuring initiative related to the Aon Hewitt Plan (in millions):

	2010		2011		Second Quarter 2012		Six Months 2012		Total Inception to Date		Estimated Total Cost for Restructuring Plan (1)
Workforce reduction	$	49	$	64	$	12	$	19	$	132	$	180
Lease consolidation	3		32		1		5		40		95
Asset impairments	—		7		—		1		8		47
Other costs associated with restructuring (2)	—		2		—		—		2		3
Total restructuring and related expenses	$	52	$	105	$	13	$	25	$	182	$	325

(1)Actual costs, when incurred, will vary due to changes in the assumptions built into this plan.  Significant assumptions likely to change when plans are finalized and implemented include, but are not limited to, changes in severance calculations, changes in the assumptions underlying sublease loss calculations due to changing market conditions, and changes in the overall analysis that might cause the Company to add or cancel component initiatives.

(2)Other costs associated with restructuring initiatives, including moving costs and consulting and legal fees, are recognized when incurred.

Effective January 1, 2012, the Health and Benefits Consulting business was transferred from the HR Solutions segment to the Risk Solutions segment.  Restructuring costs associated with the Health and Benefits Consulting business are reflected in the Risk Solutions segment, including $41 million that was reclassified from the HR Solutions segment to the Risk Solutions segment for 2011.  During the second quarter 2011, $31 million in restructuring expenses were recorded, $10 million of which related to the Health and Benefits Consulting business.  The following summarizes the restructuring and related expenses, by segment, that have been incurred and are estimated to be incurred through the end of the restructuring initiative related to the Aon Hewitt Plan (in millions):

	2010		2011		Second Quarter 2012		Six Months 2012		Total Inception to Date		Estimated Total Cost for Restructuring Plan
HR Solutions	$	52	$	49	$	11	$	20	$	121	$	255
Risk Solutions	—		56		2		5		61		70
Total restructuring and related expenses	$	52	$	105	$	13	$	25	$	182	$	325

Aon Benfield Restructuring Plan

The Company announced a global restructuring plan (“Aon Benfield Plan”) in conjunction with its acquisition of Benfield in 2008.  The Aon Benfield Plan was intended to integrate and streamline operations across the combined Aon Benfield organization.  The Aon Benfield Plan included 810 job eliminations. Additionally, duplicate space and assets were abandoned. The Company incurred all remaining costs for the Aon Benfield Plan and the plan was closed in the first quarter 2012.

The Company recorded $8 million of restructuring and related charges in the six months ended June 30, 2012.  The Company recorded a net restructuring benefit of $12 million and $5 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively. All costs associated with the Aon Benfield Plan are included in the Risk Solutions segment. Charges related to the restructuring are included in Compensation and benefits and Other general expenses in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

The following summarizes the restructuring and related costs by type that have been incurred through the end of the restructuring initiative related to the Aon Benfield Plan (in millions):

	Purchase Price Allocation		2009		2010		2011			Second Quarter 2012		Six Months 2012		Inception to Date		Total Cost for Restructuring Plan
Workforce reduction	$	32	$	38	$	15	$	33		$	—	$	8	$	126	$	126
Lease consolidation	20		14		7		(15		)	—		—		26		26
Asset impairments	—		2		2		—			—		—		4		4
Other costs associated with restructuring	1		1		2		1			—		—		5		5
Total restructuring and related expenses	$	53	$	55	$	26	$	19		$	—	$	8	$	161	$	161

As of June 30, 2012, the Company’s liabilities for its restructuring plans are as follows (in millions):

	Aon Hewitt			Aon Benfield
	Plan			Plan			2007 Plan			Other			Total
Balance at December 31, 2011	$	95		$	20		$	50		$	8		$	173
Expensed	24			8			—			—			32
Cash payments	(39		)	(19		)	(10		)	(2		)	(70		)
Foreign exchange translation and other	—			1			(2		)	—			(1		)
Balance at June 30, 2012	$	80		$	10		$	38		$	6		$	134