Summary of Significant Accounting Principles and Practices

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Aon plc and those entities in which the Company has a controlling financial interest. To determine if Aon holds a controlling financial interest in an entity, the Company first evaluates if it is required to apply the variable interest entity (VIE) model to the entity, otherwise, the entity is evaluated under the voting interest model. Where Aon holds rights that give it the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance, combined with a variable interest that gives the right to receive potentially significant benefits or the obligation to absorb potentially significant losses, the Company has a controlling financial interest in that VIE. Aon holds a controlling financial interest in entities that are not VIEs where it, directly or indirectly, holds more than 50% of the voting rights or where it exercises control through substantive participating rights or as a general partner.

Revenue Recognition

The Company generates revenues primarily through commissions, compensation from insurance and reinsurance companies for services provided to them, and fees from customers. Commissions and fees for brokerage services vary depending upon several factors, which may include the amount of premium, the type of insurance or reinsurance coverage provided, the particular services provided to a client, insurer, or reinsurer, and the capacity in which the Company acts. Compensation from insurance and reinsurance companies includes: (1) fees for consulting and analytics services and (2) fees and commissions for administrative and other services provided to or on behalf of insurers. In Aon’s capacity as an insurance and reinsurance broker, the service promised to the customer is placement of an effective insurance or reinsurance policy, respectively. At the completion of the insurance or reinsurance policy placement process once coverage is effective, the customer has obtained control over the services promised by the Company. Judgment is not typically required when assessing whether the coverage is effective. Fees from clients for advice and consulting services are dependent on the extent and value of the services provided. Payment terms for the Company’s principal service lines are discussed below; the Company believes these terms are consistent with current industry practices. Significant financing components are typically not present in Aon’s arrangements.

The Company recognizes revenue when control of the promised services is transferred to the customer in the amount that best reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those services. For arrangements where control is transferred over time, an input or output method is applied that represents a faithful depiction of the progress towards completion of the performance obligation. For arrangements that include variable consideration, the Company assesses whether any amounts should be constrained. For arrangements that include multiple performance obligations, the Company allocates consideration based on their relative fair values.

Costs incurred by the Company in obtaining a contract are capitalized and amortized on a systematic basis that is consistent with the transfer of control of the services to which the asset relates, considering anticipated renewals when applicable. Certain contract related costs, including pre-placement brokerage costs, are capitalized as a cost to fulfill and are amortized on a systematic basis consistent with the transfer of control of the services to which the asset relates, which is generally less than one year.

The Company has elected to apply practical expedients to not disclose the revenue related to unsatisfied performance obligations if (1) the contract has an original duration of 1 year or less, (2) the Company has recognized revenue for the amount in which it has the right to bill, and (3) the variable consideration is allocated entirely to an unsatisfied performance obligation which is recognized as a series of distinct goods or services that form a single performance obligation.

Disaggregation of Revenue

The following is a description of principal service lines from which the Company generates its revenue:

Commercial Risk Solutions includes retail brokerage, cyber solutions, global risk consulting, and captives. Revenue primarily includes insurance commissions and fees for services rendered. Revenue is predominantly recognized at a point in time upon the effective date of the underlying policy, or for a limited number of arrangements, over the term of the arrangement using output measures to depict the transfer of control of the services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those services. For arrangements recognized over time, various output measures, including units transferred and time elapsed, are utilized to provide a faithful depiction of the progress towards completion of the performance obligation. Revenue is recorded net of allowances for estimated policy cancellations, which are determined based on an evaluation of historical and current cancellation data. Commissions and fees for brokerage services may be invoiced near the effective date of the underlying policy or over the term of the arrangement in installments during the policy period.

Reinsurance Solutions includes treaty and facultative reinsurance brokerage and capital markets. Revenue primarily includes reinsurance commissions and fees for services rendered. Revenue is predominantly recognized at a point in time upon the effective date of the underlying policy (or policies), or for a limited number of arrangements, over the term of the arrangement using output measures to depict the transfer of control of the services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those services. For arrangements recognized over time, various output measures, including units delivered and time elapsed, are utilized to provide a faithful depiction of the progress towards completion of the performance obligation. Commissions and fees for brokerage services may be invoiced at the inception of the reinsurance period for certain reinsurance brokerage, or more commonly, over the term of the arrangement in installments based on deposit or minimum premiums for most treaty reinsurance arrangements.

Retirement Solutions includes core retirement, investment consulting, and talent, rewards & performance. Revenue consists primarily of fees paid by customers for consulting services, such as risk management strategies, health and benefits, and human capital consulting services. Revenue recognized for these arrangements is predominantly recognized over the term of the arrangement using input or output measures to depict the transfer of control of the services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those services, or for certain arrangements, at a point in time upon completion of the services. For consulting arrangements recognized over time, revenue will be recognized based on a measure of progress that depicts the transfer of control of the services to the customer, utilizing an appropriate input or output measure to provide a reasonable assessment of the progress towards completion of the performance obligation including units delivered or time elapsed. Fees paid by customers for consulting services are typically charged on an hourly, project or fixed-fee basis, and revenue for these arrangements is typically recognized based on time incurred, days elapsed, or reports delivered. Revenue from time-and-materials or cost-plus arrangements are recognized as services are performed using input or output measures to provide a reasonable assessment of the progress towards completion of the performance obligation including hours worked, and revenue for these arrangements is typically recognized based on time and materials incurred. Reimbursements received for out-of-pocket expenses are recorded as a component of revenue. Payment terms vary but are typically over the contract term in installments.

Health Solutions includes health and benefits brokerage and health care exchanges. Revenue primarily includes insurance commissions and fees for services rendered. For brokerage commissions, revenue is predominantly recognized at the effective date of the underlying policy (or policies), or for a limited number of arrangements, over the term of the arrangement to depict the transfer of control of the services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those services using input or output measures, including units delivered or time elapsed, to provide a faithful depiction of the progress towards completion of the performance obligation. Revenue from health care exchange arrangements are typically recognized upon successful enrollment of participants, net of a reserve for estimated cancellations. Commissions and fees for brokerage services may be invoiced at the effective date of the underlying policy or over the term of the arrangement in installments during the policy period. Payment terms for other services vary but are typically over the contract term in installments.

Data & Analytic Services includes Affinity, Aon InPoint, and ReView. Revenue consists primarily of fees for services rendered and is generally recognized over the term of the arrangement to depict the transfer of control of the services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those services. Payment terms vary but are typically over the contract term in installments. For Data & Analytic Services arrangements recognized over time, revenue will be recognized based on a measure of progress that depicts the transfer of control of the services to the customer, utilizing an appropriate input or output measure to provide a faithful depiction of the progress towards completion of the performance obligation, including units delivered or time elapsed. Input and output measures utilized vary based on the arrangement but typically include reports provided or days elapsed.

Share-Based Compensation Costs

Share-based payments to employees, including grants of restricted share units and performance share awards, are measured based on estimated grant date fair value. The Company recognizes compensation expense over the requisite service period for awards expected to ultimately vest. Forfeitures are estimated on the date of grant and revised if actual or expected forfeiture activity differs materially from original estimates.

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

The Company records net periodic cost relating to its pension and other postretirement benefit plans based on calculations that include various actuarial assumptions, including discount rates, assumed rates of return on plan assets, inflation rates, mortality rates, compensation increases, and turnover rates. The Company reviews its actuarial assumptions on an annual basis and modifies these assumptions based on current rates and trends. The effects of gains, losses, and prior service costs and credits are amortized over future service periods or future estimated lives if the plans are frozen. The funded status of each plan, calculated as the fair value of plan assets less the benefit obligation, is reflected in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Position using a December 31 measurement date.

Net Income per Share

Basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income available to ordinary shareholders by the weighted-average number of ordinary shares outstanding, including participating securities, which consist of unvested share awards with non-forfeitable rights to dividends. Diluted net income per share is computed by dividing net income available to ordinary shareholders by the weighted-average number of ordinary shares outstanding, which have been adjusted for the dilutive effect of potentially issuable ordinary shares, including certain contingently issuable shares. The diluted earnings per share calculation reflects the more dilutive effect of either (1) the two-class method that assumes that the participating securities have not been exercised, or (2) the treasury stock method.

Potentially issuable shares are not included in the computation of diluted income per share if their inclusion would be antidilutive.

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments

Cash and cash equivalents include cash balances and all highly liquid investments with initial maturities of three months or less. Short-term investments consist of money market funds. The estimated fair value of Cash and cash equivalents and Short-term investments approximates their carrying values.

At December 31, 2018, Cash and cash equivalents and Short-term investments totaled $828 million compared to $1,285 million at December 31, 2017. Of the total balance, $91 million and $96 million was restricted as to its use at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Included within the December 31, 2018 and 2017 balances, respectively, were £42.7 million ($53.9 million at December 31, 2018 exchanges rates) and £42.7 million ($57.1 million at December 31, 2017 exchange rates) of operating funds required to be held by the Company in the U.K. by the FCA, which were included in Short-term investments.

Fiduciary Assets and Liabilities

In its capacity as an insurance agent and broker, Aon collects premiums from insureds and, after deducting its commission, remits the premiums to the respective insurers. Aon also collects claims or refunds from insurers on behalf of insureds. Uncollected premiums from insureds and uncollected claims or refunds from insurers are recorded as Fiduciary assets in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. Unremitted insurance premiums and claims are held in a fiduciary capacity and the obligation to remit these funds is recorded as Fiduciary liabilities in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

Aon held fiduciary assets for premiums collected from insureds but not yet remitted to insurance companies and claims collected from insurance companies but not yet remitted to insureds of $3.9 billion and $3.7 billion at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. These funds and a corresponding liability are included in Fiduciary assets and Fiduciary liabilities, respectively, in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts with respect to receivables is based on a combination of factors, including evaluation of historical write-offs, aging of balances, and other qualitative and quantitative analyses. Receivables, net included an allowance for doubtful accounts of $62 million and $59 million at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Fixed Assets

Fixed assets are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Included in this category is internal use software, which is software that is acquired, internally-developed or modified solely to meet internal needs, with no plan to market externally. Costs related to directly obtaining, developing, or upgrading internal use software are capitalized. Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which are generally as follows:



Asset Description		Expected Life
Software		Lesser of the life of an associated license, or 4 to 7 years
Leasehold improvements		Lesser of estimated useful life or lease term, not to exceed 10 years
Furniture, fixtures and equipment		4 to 10 years
Computer equipment		4 to 6 years
Buildings		35 years
Automobiles		6 years

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of acquisition cost over the fair value of the net assets in the acquisition of a business. Goodwill is allocated to various reporting units. Upon disposition of a business entity, goodwill is allocated to the disposed entity based on the fair value of that entity compared to the fair value of the reporting unit in which it was included. Goodwill is not amortized, but instead is tested for impairment at least annually. The goodwill impairment test is performed at the reporting unit level. The Company may initially perform a qualitative analysis to determine if it is more likely than not that the goodwill balance is impaired. If a qualitative assessment is not performed or if a determination is made that it is not more likely than not that their value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, then the Company will perform a two-step quantitative analysis. First, the fair value of each reporting unit is compared to its carrying value. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value, the Company performs a hypothetical purchase price allocation based on the reporting unit’s fair value to determine the fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill. Any resulting difference will be a charge to Amortization and impairment of intangible assets in the Consolidated Statements of Income in the period in which the determination is made. Fair value is determined using a combination of present value techniques and market prices of comparable businesses.

We classify our intangible assets acquired as either tradenames, customer-related and contract-based, or technology and other. Amortization basis and estimated useful lives by intangible asset type are generally as follows:



Intangible Asset Description	Amortization Basis	Expected Life
Customer-related and contract-based	In line with underlying cash flows	7 to 20 years
Tradenames	Straight-line	1 to 3 years
Technology and other	Straight-line	5 to 7 years

Derivatives

Derivative instruments are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position at fair value. Where the Company has entered into master netting agreements with counterparties, the derivative positions are netted by counterparties and are reported accordingly in Other assets or Other liabilities. Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments are recognized in earnings each period, unless the derivative is designated and qualifies as a cash flow or net investment hedge.

The Company has historically designated the following hedging relationships for certain transactions: (1) a hedge of the change in fair value of a recognized asset or liability or firm commitment (“fair value hedge”), (2) a hedge of the variability in cash flows from a recognized variable-rate asset or liability or forecasted transaction (“cash flow hedge”), and (3) a hedge of the net investment in a foreign operation (“net investment hedge”).

In order for a derivative to qualify for hedge accounting, the derivative must be formally designated as a fair value, cash flow, or a net investment hedge by documenting the relationship between the derivative and the hedged item. The documentation must include a description of the hedging instrument, the hedged item, the risk being hedged, Aon’s risk management objective and strategy for undertaking the hedge, the method for assessing the effectiveness of the hedge, and the method for measuring hedge ineffectiveness. Additionally, the hedge relationship must be expected to be highly effective at offsetting changes in either the fair value or cash flows of the hedged item at both the inception of the hedge and on an ongoing basis. Aon assesses the ongoing effectiveness of its hedges and measures and records hedge ineffectiveness, if any, at the end of each quarter or more frequently if facts and circumstances require.

For a derivative designated as a fair value hedging instrument, the gain or loss is recognized in earnings in the period of change together with the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item attributable to the risk being hedged. The effect is to reflect in earnings the extent to which the hedge is not effective in achieving offsetting changes in fair value. For a cash flow hedge that qualifies for hedge accounting, the effective portion of the change in fair value of a hedging instrument is recognized in Other comprehensive income (“OCI”) and subsequently reclassified to earnings in the same period the hedged item impacts earnings. The ineffective portion of the change in fair value is recognized immediately in earnings. For a net investment hedge, the effective portion of the change in fair value of the hedging instrument is recognized in OCI as part of the cumulative translation adjustment, while the ineffective portion is recognized immediately in earnings.

Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is not designated as part of a hedging relationship (commonly referred to as an “economic hedge”) are recorded in Other income (expense) in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

The Company discontinues hedge accounting prospectively when (1) the derivative expires or is sold, terminated, or exercised, (2) the qualifying criteria are no longer met, or (3) management removes the designation of the hedging relationship.

Foreign Currency

Certain of the Company’s non-U.S. operations use their respective local currency as their functional currency. These operations that do not have the U.S. dollar as their functional currency translate their financial statements at the current rates of exchange in effect at the balance sheet date and revenues and expenses using rates that approximate those in effect during the period. The resulting translation adjustments are included in Net foreign currency translation adjustments within the Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity. Further, for all entities, gains and losses from the remeasurement of monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in a non-functional currency of that entity are included in Other income (expense) within the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Income Taxes

Deferred income taxes are recognized for the effect of temporary differences between financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted marginal tax rates and laws that are currently in effect. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities from a change in tax rates is recognized in the period when the rate change is enacted.

Deferred tax assets are reduced by valuation allowances if, based on the consideration of all available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. Significant weight is given to evidence that can be objectively verified. Deferred tax assets are realized by having sufficient future taxable income to allow the related tax benefits to reduce taxes otherwise payable. The sources of taxable income that may be available to realize the benefit of deferred tax assets are future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carry-forwards, taxable income in carry-back years, and tax planning strategies that are both prudent and feasible.

The Company recognizes the effect of income tax positions only if sustaining those positions is more likely than not. Tax positions that meet the more likely than not recognition threshold but are not highly certain are initially and subsequently measured based on the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon settlement with the taxing authority. Only information that is available at the reporting date is considered in the Company’s recognition and measurement analysis, and events or changes in facts and circumstances are accounted for in the period in which the event or change in circumstance occurs.

The Company records penalties and interest related to unrecognized tax benefits in Income taxes in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income.

New Accounting Pronouncements

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

Presentation of Net Periodic Pension and Postretirement Benefit Costs

In March 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new accounting guidance on the presentation of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost. The new guidance requires that an employer report the service cost component in the same line item or items as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. It also requires the other components of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations, if one is presented. Additionally, only the service cost component is eligible for capitalization, when applicable. The Company has applied the new guidance retrospectively for the presentation of the service cost component and the other components of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost in the Consolidated Statement of Income, and prospectively, on and after the effective date, for the capitalization of the service cost component of net periodic pension costs and net periodic postretirement benefit cost in assets. The new guidance allows a practical expedient that permits an employer to use the amounts disclosed in its pension and other postretirement benefit plan note for the prior comparative periods as the estimation basis for applying the retrospective presentation requirements. The Company did not apply the practical expedient upon adoption of this guidance. The new guidance was effective for Aon in the first quarter of 2018. The adoption of this guidance had no impact on the net income of the Company.

Upon adoption of the guidance, the presentation of the results reflect a change in Operating income (loss) offset by an equal and offsetting change in Other income (expense) for each period, as follows:



	Years ended December 31
	2017									2016
	As Reported			Adjustments			As Adjusted			As Reported		Adjustments			As Adjusted
Operating income (loss) ⁽¹⁾	$	979		$	86		$	1,065		$	1,638	$	173		$	1,811
Other income (expense)	$	(39	)	$	(86	)	$	(125	)	$	36	$	(173	)	$	(137	)


(1)	Reclassification from Operating income is recorded in Compensation and benefits.

Income Tax Consequences of Intercompany Transactions

In October 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on the income tax consequences of intra-entity asset transfers other than inventory. The guidance requires that the seller and buyer recognize the consolidated current and deferred income tax consequences of a transaction in the period the transaction occurs rather than deferring to a future period and recognizing those consequences when the asset has been sold to an outside party or otherwise recovered through use (i.e. depreciated, amortized, or impaired). The Company has applied the new guidance on a modified retrospective basis with a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. The new guidance was effective for Aon in the first quarter of 2018. Upon the adoption of this guidance on January 1, 2018, the Company recognized an increase to Deferred tax assets of $23 million, an increase to Deferred tax liabilities of $12 million, and a decrease to Other non-current assets of $26 million on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position through a cumulative adjustment of $15 million decrease to Retained earnings. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, the impact of adopting this guidance on the Consolidated Statement of Income was insignificant.

Statement of Cash Flows

In August 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on the classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments. Under the new guidance, an entity no longer has discretion to choose the classification for a number of transactions, including contingent consideration payments made after a business combination, proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims, proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance policies, and distributions received from equity method investees. The new standard was effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2018. The adoption of this guidance had no impact on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Financial Assets and Liabilities

In January 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on recognition and measurement of financial assets and financial liabilities. The amendments in the new guidance make targeted improvements, which include the requirement to measure equity investments with readily determinable fair values at fair value through net income, simplification of the impairment assessment for equity investments without readily determinable fair values, adjustments to existing and additional disclosure requirements, and additional tax considerations. The Company applied the amendments by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption, with the exception of the amendments related to equity securities without readily determinable fair values, including disclosure requirements, which were applied prospectively. Upon the adoption of this guidance on January 1, 2018, the Company recognized an increase to Accumulated other comprehensive loss of $1 million on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position through a cumulative adjustment of $1 million increase to Retained earnings. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, the impact of adopting this guidance on the Consolidated Statement of Income was insignificant.

Revenue Recognition

In May 2014, the FASB issued a new accounting standard on revenue from contracts with customers (the “Standard” or “ASC 606”), which supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP (“ASC 605”). The core principal of the Standard is that an entity should recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The Standard also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments, changes in judgments, and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. Two methods of transition were permitted upon adoption: full retrospective and modified retrospective. The Company elected to apply the modified retrospective adoption approach to all contracts. Under this approach, prior periods were not restated. Rather, revenues and other disclosures for prior periods were provided in the notes to the financial statements as previously reported under ASC 605, and the cumulative effect of initially applying the guidance was recognized as an adjustment to Retained earnings.

The following summarizes the significant changes to the Company as a result of the adoption of ASC 606 on January 1, 2018.

•

The Company previously recognized revenue either at a point in time or over a period of time based on the transfer of value to customers or as the remuneration became determinable. Under ASC 606, the revenue related to certain brokerage services recognized over a period of time is recognized on the effective date of the associated policies when control of the policy transfers to the customer. As a result, revenue from these arrangements are typically recognized in earlier periods under ASC 606 in comparison to ASC 605, changing the timing and amount of revenue recognized for annual and interim periods. This change resulted in a significant shift in timing of interim revenue for the Reinsurance Solutions revenue line and, to a lesser extent, certain other brokerage services.

•

The Standard provides guidance on accounting for certain revenue-related costs including when to capitalize costs associated with obtaining and fulfilling a contract. The majority of these costs were previously expensed as incurred under ASC 605. Assets recognized for the costs to obtain a contract, which includes certain sales commissions, are amortized on a systematic basis that is consistent with the transfer of the services to which the asset relates, considering anticipated renewals when applicable. For situations where the renewal period is one year or less and renewal costs are commensurate with the initial contract, the Company applied a practical expedient and recognizes the costs of obtaining a contract as an expense when incurred. Assets recognized as costs to fulfill a contract, which includes internal costs related to pre-placement broking activities, as well as other costs, are amortized on a systematic basis that is consistent with the transfer of the services to which the asset relates, which is generally less than one year.

As a result of applying the modified retrospective method to adopt ASC 606, the following adjustments were made to the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position as of January 1, 2018:



	December 31, 2017					January 1, 2018
(millions)	As Reported		Adjustments			As Adjusted
Assets
Receivables, net	$	2,478	$	252		$	2,730
Other current assets	$	289	$	298		$	587
Deferred tax assets	$	389	$	(128	)	$	261
Other non-current assets	$	307	$	145		$	452

Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	1,961	$	8		$	1,969
Other current liabilities	$	870	$	13		$	883
Deferred tax liabilities	$	127	$	42		$	169
Other non-current liabilities	$	1,102	$	(3	)	$	1,099

Equity
Total equity	$	4,648	$	507		$	5,155

The following tables summarize the impacts of adopting ASC 606 on the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Income, Financial Position, and Cash Flows as of and for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018.

Consolidated Statement of Income



	Twelve months ended December 31, 2018
(millions)	As Reported			Adjustments			Balances Without Adoption of ASC 606
Revenue
Total revenue	$	10,770		$	(61	)	$	10,709
Expenses
Compensation and benefits	$	6,103		$	51		$	6,154
Other general expenses	$	1,500		$	(1	)	$	1,499
Other income (expense)	$	(25	)	$	1		$	(24	)
Income taxes	$	146		$	(34	)	$	112

Adoption of ASC 606 had a favorable impact of $78 million on net income from continuing operations, or $0.32 per share, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018.

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position



	As of December 31, 2018
(millions)	As Reported		Adjustments			Balances Without Adoption of ASC 606
Assets
Receivables, net	$	2,760	$	(301	)	$	2,459
Other current assets	$	618	$	(319	)	$	299
Deferred tax assets	$	561	$	137		$	698
Other non-current assets	$	448	$	(155	)	$	293

Liabilities
Other current liabilities	$	936	$	(43	)	$	893
Deferred tax liabilities	$	181	$	(28	)	$	153
Other non-current liabilities	$	1,097	$	2		$	1,099

Equity
Total equity	$	4,219	$	(569	)	$	3,650

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows



	Twelve months ended December 31, 2018
(millions)	As Reported			Adjustments			Balances Without Adoption of ASC 606
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$	1,174		$	(78	)	$	1,096
Receivables, net	$	(127	)	$	49		$	(78	)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	25		$	8		$	33
Current income taxes	$	34		$	(34	)	$	—
Other assets and liabilities	$	2		$	55		$	57

The adoption of ASC 606 had no impact on total Cash provided by operating activities.

Refer to Note 3 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” for further information.

Accounting Standards Issued but Not Yet Adopted

Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans

In August 2018, the FASB issued new accounting guidance related to the disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans. The guidance requires sponsors of these plans to provide additional disclosures, including weighted-average interest rates used in the entity’s cash balance pension plans and a narrative description of reasons for any significant gains or losses impacting the benefit obligation for the period, and eliminates certain previous disclosure requirements. The guidance is effective for Aon in the first quarter of 2021 with early adoption permitted and will be applied retrospectively. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the guidance will have on the Financial Statements and the period of adoption.

Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

In February 2018, the FASB issued new accounting guidance related to reclassification of certain tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income. The guidance allows a reclassification from accumulated comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Reform Act. In addition, the entity is required to provide certain disclosures regarding stranded tax effects. The guidance is effective for Aon in the first quarter of 2019 and early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period. The guidance should be applied either in the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period (or periods) in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Reform Act is recognized. The Company does not anticipate electing to reclassify stranded tax effects in accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings and will adopt the disclosure guidance in the first quarter of 2019. Refer to Note 11 “Income Taxes” for further discussion of the Tax Reform Act.

Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities

In August 2017, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on targeted improvements to accounting for hedging activities. The new guidance amends its hedge accounting model to enable entities to better portray their risk management activities in the financial statements. The guidance eliminates the requirement to separately measure and report hedge ineffectiveness and requires the effect of a hedging instrument to be presented in the same income statement line as the hedged item. Further, in December 2018, the FASB issued additional guidance which added to the list of U.S. benchmark interest rates that are eligible to be hedged, the Overnight Index Swap (“OIS”) rate based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate. Thus, entities may designate the OIS rate in hedging relationships they enter into on or after the date of adoption of this guidance. An entity will apply the new guidance on a modified retrospective basis with a cumulative effect adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income with a corresponding adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. Changes to income statement presentation and financial statement disclosures will be applied prospectively. The new guidance is effective for Aon in the first quarter of 2019 and early adoption is permitted. The Company will adopt the new guidance in the first quarter of 2019 and does not expect a significant impact on the Financial Statements.

Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment

In January 2017, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on simplifying the test for goodwill impairment. Currently the standard requires an entity to perform a two-step test to determine the amount, if any, of goodwill impairment. In Step 1, an entity compares the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the entity performs Step 2 and compares the implied fair value of goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill for that reporting unit. An impairment charge equal to the amount by which the carrying amount of goodwill for the reporting unit exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill is recorded, limited to the amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. The new guidance removes Step 2, resulting in an entity applying a line-step quantitative test and will record the amount of goodwill impairment as the excess of a reporting unit’s carrying amount over its fair value, not to exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. The new guidance does not amend the optional qualitative assessment of goodwill impairment. An entity will apply the new guidance on a prospective basis. The new guidance is effective for Aon in the first quarter of 2020 and early adoption is permitted beginning in the first quarter of 2019. The Company is currently evaluating the period of adoption, but does not expect a significant impact on the Financial Statements.

Credit Losses

In June 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments. The new guidance replaces the current incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. An entity will apply the new guidance through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective. The guidance is effective for Aon in the first quarter of 2020 and early adoption is permitted beginning in the first quarter of 2019. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the standard will have on the Financial Statements and period of adoption.

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued a new accounting standard on leases, which requires lessees to recognize assets and liabilities for most leases. Under the new standard, a lessee is required to recognize in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position liabilities to make future lease payments and right-of-use assets representing its right to use the underlying assets for the lease term. The recognition, measurement, timing, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee have not significantly changed from current U.S. GAAP standards. The new standard is effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2019, with early adoption permitted and must be applied using a modified retrospective transition approach. In July 2018, the FASB amended this guidance and provided an additional transition method with which to adopt the guidance. Under the additional transition method, entities may elect to recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the year of adoption. Under this transition method, an entity's reporting for the comparative periods prior to adoption presented in the financial statements would continue to be in accordance with current lease guidance and thus not restated. The Company will adopt the new standard as of January 1, 2019 using the cumulative-effect adjustment transition method approved by the FASB. Additionally, the Company will provide expanded lease disclosures required under the new standard in the first quarter of 2019, including both qualitative and quantitative information.

The modified retrospective approach includes several optional practical expedients that entities may elect to apply upon transition. The Company has determined it will elect the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the new standard, which allows a lessee to carryforward their population of existing leases, the classification of each lease, as well as the treatment of initial direct costs as of the period of adoption. In addition, the Company will elect the practical expedient related to lease and non-lease components, as an accounting policy election for all asset classes, which allows a lessee to not separate non-lease from lease components and instead account for consideration paid in a contract as a single lease component. Furthermore, the Company has made a policy election to not recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities that arise from leases with an initial term of twelve months or less on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. Lastly, the Company has determined it will not elect the practical expedient related to hindsight in determining the lease term and in assessing impairment of right-of-use assets.

The Company will implement the standard as of January 1, 2019 and has executed a comprehensive approach to identify arrangements that may contain a lease, has performed completeness assessments over the identified lease population, and has implemented system solutions and processes to appropriately account for the lease right-of-use assets and lease liabilities upon transition and an ongoing basis. Further, control activities related to the adoption of this standard as well as ongoing transactional processes and procedures have been designed and begun to be implemented to ensure compliance with the new standard.

The Company expects to recognize lease liabilities ranging from approximately $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion and corresponding right-of-use assets ranging from $1.1 billion to $1.3 billion on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position upon the adoption of this standard. The Company does not anticipate that the new standard will have a significant impact on the Consolidated Statements of Income or the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.