Aon Plans New Claims Operation As Net Improves

By Mark E. Ruquet

NU Online News Service, Feb. 11, 1:56 p.m. EST?Aon Corporation reported 2003 fourth-quarter net income increased 21 percent, based on overall increases in the corporation's products and services, and agreed with analysts' forecasts that Aon will increase earnings 20 cents per share this year.[@@]

In the fourth quarter, the Chicago-based insurance broker's net income rose 21 percent, or $37 million, going from $178 million, or 59 cents a share, to $215 million, or 67 cents a share. Revenues were up 10 percent, or $238 million, going from $2.4 billion to $2.6 billion.

For the full year ending Dec. 31, 2003, net income increased 35 percent to $162 million, or 33 cents a share, from $466 million, or $1.64 a share, to $628 million, or $1.97 a share. Revenues for the period rose 11 percent, or $1 billion, going from $8.8 billion to $9.8 billion.

During a conference call for analysts, Patrick G. Ryan, Aon's chairman and chief executive officer, said his firm is currently in discussions with "several parties" to either sell-off or join in a joint-venture in its claims management business, Cambridge U.S. He noted that there is "serious interest" by the parties in a deal and Aon is weighing what the best strategy would be.

He said the corporation is "comfortable" with analyst's earnings per share estimates of $2.17 per share. However, he said the per share goal does not include "potential gains/losses from possible divestitures and the potential conversion of our convertible debt into common shares."

In its operating segments, brokerage services revenues in 2003 rose 11 percent, or $155 million, going from $1.4 billion to $1.5 billion. Consulting services saw a 9 percent increase, or $27 million, going from $304 million to $331 million. Aon's insurance business, Combined, rose 8 percent, or $56 million, going from $684 million to $740 million.

Mr. Ryan stressed that Aon would continue to pursue fiscal discipline and seek to manage spending and use other internal controls to make the firm even more profitable in the future.

Aon is also looking at a new strategy for its premium finance business, Cananwill Inc., Mr. Ryan said. He explained Aon wants to stay in this business as a distributor and have someone else provide the capital.

"We think it is a good business, but we believe we can redeploy the capital and it would be better for our balance sheet if we became just the distributor," he explained.

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Aon Plans New Claims Operation As Net Improves

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