Basis of Presentation

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Aon plc and all of its controlled subsidiaries (“Aon” or the “Company”). Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The Consolidated Financial Statements include, in the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments and reclassifications) necessary to present fairly the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for all periods presented.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements, and the reported amounts of reserves and expenses. These estimates and assumptions are based on management’s best estimates and judgments. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current economic environment. Management believes its estimates to be reasonable given the current facts available. Aon adjusts such estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. Illiquid credit markets, volatile equity markets, and foreign currency exchange rate movements increase the uncertainty inherent in such estimates and assumptions. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ significantly from these estimates. Changes in estimates resulting from continuing changes in the economic environment would, if applicable, be reflected in the Consolidated Financial Statements in future periods.

Reclassification

Certain amounts in prior periods' Consolidated Financial Statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. In prior periods, commercial paper issuances and repayments were included in Issuance of debt and Repayment of debt, respectively, in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The net amount of commercial paper activity is now disclosed separately in Commercial paper issuances, net of repayments in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. For the year ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, commercial paper issuances reclassified from Issuance of debt was $4,478 million and $3,162 million, respectively, and commercial paper repayments reclassified from Repayment of debt was $3,807 million and $3,275 million, respectively. Further information on the gross commercial paper activity for the current and prior year periods is included within the Liquidity and Financial Conditions section of Part II Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

In November 2022, Aon incurred a non-cash pension settlement charge of $170 million in connection with the purchase of an annuity for portions of its U.S. pension plans. Aon has separately classified the non-cash pension settlement charge within Other, net on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows as an adjustment to reconcile Net income to Cash provided by operating activities for the period ended December 31, 2022. Prior year comparable balances have been reclassified to conform with current year presentation. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, Aon incurred insignificant non-cash pension settlement charges of $5 million and $2 million, respectively, which were presented as changes in assets and liabilities held within Pension, other postretirement and other postemployment liabilities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. See Note 11 “Employee Benefits” for further information regarding the non-cash settlement charges incurred.

In prior periods, Cash paid for employee taxes on withholding shares were included with Proceeds from issuance of shares, and presented as Issuance of shares for employee benefit plans in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. These items are now presented separately and prior year balances have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation. For the year ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, Proceeds from issuance of shares was $55 million and $44 million, respectively, and Cash paid for employee taxes on withholding shares was $185 million and $193 million, respectively.