Aon plc - Annual Report: 2021 (Form 10-K)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
____________________________________________________________________________
FORM 10-K
| (Mark One) | |||||||||||
| ☒ | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | ||||||||||
| FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED | December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||
| OR | |||||||||||
| ☐ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | ||||||||||
Commission file number: 1-7933
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Aon plc
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| IRELAND | 98-1539969 | |||||||||||||||||||
| (State or other jurisdiction of | (I.R.S. Employer | |||||||||||||||||||
| incorporation or organization) | Identification No.) | |||||||||||||||||||
Metropolitan Building, James Joyce Street, Dublin 1, Ireland D01 K0Y8
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
+353 1 266 6000
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||||||||
| Class A Ordinary Shares, $0.01 nominal value | AON | New York Stock Exchange | ||||||||||||
| Guarantees of Aon plc’s 4.00% Senior Notes due 2023 | AON23 | New York Stock Exchange | ||||||||||||
| Guarantees of Aon plc’s 3.50% Senior Notes due 2024 | AON24 | New York Stock Exchange | ||||||||||||
| Guarantees of Aon plc’s 3.875% Senior Notes due 2025 | AON25 | New York Stock Exchange | ||||||||||||
| Guarantees of Aon plc’s 2.875% Senior Notes due 2026 | AON26 | New York Stock Exchange | ||||||||||||
| Guarantees of Aon Corporation and Aon Global Holdings plc’s 2.05% Senior Notes due 2031 | AON31 | New York Stock Exchange | ||||||||||||
| Guarantees of Aon Corporation and Aon Global Holdings plc’s 2.60% Senior Notes due 2031 | AON31A | New York Stock Exchange | ||||||||||||
| Guarantees of Aon plc’s 4.25% Senior Notes due 2042 | AON42 | New York Stock Exchange | ||||||||||||
| Guarantees of Aon plc’s 4.45% Senior Notes due 2043 | AON43 | New York Stock Exchange | ||||||||||||
| Guarantees of Aon plc’s 4.60% Senior Notes due 2044 | AON44 | New York Stock Exchange | ||||||||||||
| Guarantees of Aon plc’s 4.75% Senior Notes due 2045 | AON45 | New York Stock Exchange | ||||||||||||
| Guarantees of Aon Corporation and Aon Global Holdings plc’s 2.90% Senior Notes due 2051 | AON51 | New York Stock Exchange | ||||||||||||
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: NONE
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | ☒ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | Emerging growth company | ☐ | ||||||||||||||||||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
As of June 30, 2021, the aggregate market value of the registrant’s Class A Ordinary Shares held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $53,867,751,208 based on the closing sales price as reported on the New York Stock Exchange — Composite Transaction Listing.
Number of the registrant’s Class A Ordinary Shares of Aon plc, $0.01 nominal value, outstanding as of February 17, 2022: 213,944,460.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the registrant’s proxy statement for its 2022 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference in this report in response to Part III, Items 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14.
Information Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains certain statements related to future results, or states our intentions, beliefs, and expectations or predictions for the future, which are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements represent management’s expectations or forecasts of future events. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “probably,” “potential,” “looking forward,” “continue,” and other similar terms, and future or conditional tense verbs like “could,” “may,” “might,” “should,” “will,” and “would.” You can also identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. For example, we may use forward-looking statements when addressing topics such as: market and industry conditions, including competitive and pricing trends; changes in our business strategies and methods of generating revenue; the development and performance of our services and products; changes in the composition or level of our revenues; our cost structure and the outcome of cost-saving or restructuring initiatives; the outcome of contingencies; dividend policy; the expected impact of acquisitions, dispositions, and other significant transactions or the termination thereof; pension obligations; cash flow and liquidity; expected effective tax rate; potential changes in laws or future actions by regulators; and the impact of changes in accounting rules. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from either historical or anticipated results depending on a variety of factors. Potential factors, which may be revised or supplemented in subsequent reports filed or furnished with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), that could impact results include:
•changes in the competitive environment or damage to our reputation;
•fluctuations in currency exchange and interest rates that could impact our financial condition or results;
•changes in global equity and fixed income markets that could affect the return on invested assets;
•changes in the funded status of our various defined benefit pension plans and the impact of any increased pension funding resulting from those changes;
•the level of our debt and the terms thereof reducing our flexibility or increasing borrowing costs;
•rating agency actions that could limit our access to capital and our competitive position;
•our global tax rate being subject to a variety of different factors, which could create volatility in that tax rate;
•changes in our accounting estimates and assumptions on our financial statements;
•limits on our subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends or otherwise make payments to us;
•the impact of legal proceedings and other contingencies, including those arising from acquisition or disposition transactions, errors and omissions and other claims against us;
•the impact of, and potential challenges in complying with, laws and regulations of the jurisdictions in which we operate, particularly given the global nature of operations and the possibility of differing or conflicting laws and regulations, or the application or interpretation thereof, across such jurisdictions;
•the impact of any regulatory investigations brought in Ireland, the United Kingdom (the “U.K.”), the United States (the “U.S.”). and other countries;
•failure to protect intellectual property rights or allegations that we have infringed on the intellectual property rights of others;
•general economic and political conditions in the countries in which we do business around the world, including the withdrawal of the U.K. from the European Union (the “E.U.”);
•the failure to retain, attract and develop experienced and qualified personnel;
•international risks associated with our global operations;
•the effects of natural or man-made disasters, including the effects of the COVID-19 and other health pandemics and the impacts of climate change;
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•the potential for a system or network disruption or breach to result in operational interruption or improper disclosure of confidential, personal, or proprietary data, and resulting damage to our reputation;
•our ability to develop and implement new technology;
•the actions taken by third parties that perform aspects of our business operations and client services;
•the extent to which we are exposed to certain risks, including lawsuits, related to our actions we may take in being responsible for making decisions on behalf of clients in our investment consulting business or in other advisory services that we currently provide, or will provide in the future;
•our ability to continue, and the costs and risks associated with, growing, developing and integrating acquired business, and entering into new lines of business or products;
•our ability to secure regulatory approval and complete transactions, and the costs and risks associated with the failure to consummate proposed transactions;
•changes in commercial property and casualty markets, commercial premium rates or methods of compensation;
•our ability to implement initiatives intended to yield cost savings and the ability to achieve those cost savings; and
•the effects of Irish law on our operating flexibility and the enforcement of judgments against us.
Any or all of our forward-looking statements may turn out to be inaccurate, and there are no guarantees about our performance. The factors identified above are not exhaustive. Aon and its subsidiaries operate in a dynamic business environment in which new risks may emerge frequently. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the dates on which they are made. We are under no (and expressly disclaim any) obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statement that we may make from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Further information about factors that could materially affect Aon, including our results of operations and financial condition, is contained in the “Risk Factors” section in Part I, Item 1A of this report.
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Table of Contents
Aon plc Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity | |||||
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The below definitions apply throughout this report unless the context requires otherwise:
| Term | Definition | ||||
| ABO | Accumulated Benefit Obligation | ||||
| AGI | Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC | ||||
| ASC | Accounting Standards Codification | ||||
| BPS | Basis Points | ||||
| CCC | Christchurch City Council | ||||
| CODM | Chief Operating Decision Maker | ||||
| CPI | Consumer Price Index | ||||
| DCF | Discounted Cash Flow | ||||
| DOJ | Department of Justice | ||||
| E&O | Errors and Omissions | ||||
| EBITDA | Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization | ||||
| ERISA | Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 | ||||
| ESG | Environmental, Social, Corporate Governance | ||||
| E.U. | European Union | ||||
| FASB | Financial Accounting Standards Board | ||||
| FCA | Financial Conduct Authority | ||||
| FINRA | Financial Industry Regulatory Authority | ||||
| Fitch | Fitch, Inc. | ||||
| GAAP | Generally Accepted Accounting Principles | ||||
| GILTI | Global Intangible Low-Tax Income | ||||
| HSR Act | Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act | ||||
| I&D | Inclusion and Diversity | ||||
| LOC | Letter of Credit | ||||
| LPP | Leadership Performance Plan | ||||
| MDI | Market Derived Income | ||||
| NEBC | National Employee Benefits Committee | ||||
| NYSE | New York Stock Exchange | ||||
| OECD | Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development | ||||
| PBO | Projected Benefit Obligation | ||||
| PCAOB | Public Company Accounting Oversight Board | ||||
| PSA | Performance Share Awards | ||||
| REIT | Real Estate Investment Trusts | ||||
| ROU | Right-of-use | ||||
| RPGIC | Retirement Plan Governance and Investment Committee | ||||
| RSU | Restricted Share Units | ||||
| S&P | Standard & Poor’s | ||||
| SEC | Securities and Exchange Commission | ||||
| U.K. | United Kingdom | ||||
| U.S. | United States | ||||
| VIE | Variable Interest Entity | ||||
| WTW | Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company | ||||
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PART I
Item 1. Business
OVERVIEW
Aon plc (which may be referred to as “Aon,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a leading global professional services firm providing a broad range of risk, health, and wealth solutions. Through our experience, global reach, and comprehensive analytics, we are better able to help clients meet rapidly changing, increasingly complex, and interconnected challenges. We are committed to accelerating innovation to address unmet and evolving client needs, so that our clients are better informed, better advised, and able to make better decisions to protect and grow their business. Management is focused on strengthening Aon and uniting the firm with one portfolio of capability enabled by data and analytics and one operating model to deliver additional insight, connectivity, and efficiency.
Our clients are in over 120 countries and include all market segments and almost every industry. This diversification of our customer base helps provide us stability in different economic scenarios that could affect specific industries, customer segments, or geographies.
We have continued to focus our portfolio on higher-margin, capital-light professional services businesses that have high recurring revenue streams and strong cash flow generation. We endeavor to make capital allocation decisions based upon return on invested capital.
BUSINESS SEGMENT
The Company operates as one segment that includes all of Aon’s continuing operations, which, as a global professional services firm, provides advice and solutions to clients focused on risk, health and wealth through four principal products and services: Commercial Risk Solutions, Reinsurance Solutions, Health Solutions, and Wealth Solutions. Collectively, these products and service lines make up our one segment: Aon United. In addition, the Company is continuing to expand on Aon United growth initiatives through its New Ventures Group.
In 2021, our consolidated total revenue was $12,193 million. This includes $6,635 million in Commercial Risk Solutions, $1,997 million in Reinsurance Solutions, $2,154 million in Health Solutions, and $1,426 million in Wealth Solutions, before intercompany eliminations.
Principal Products and Services
Commercial Risk Solutions includes retail brokerage, specialty solutions, global risk consulting and captives management, and Affinity programs. In retail brokerage, our dedicated teams of risk professionals utilize comprehensive analytics capabilities and insights providing clients with risk advice for their organizations. We utilize Aon’s differentiated capabilities in industry sector- and segment-specific approaches to risk transfer options and deliver them through a variety of channels including bespoke solutions for complex needs, structured solutions for mid-market and small and medium-sized enterprises, and digital distribution including CoverWallet. Our specialty-focused organizational structure includes financial and professional lines, cyber, surety and trade credit, crisis management, transaction liability, and intellectual property. We develop market leading insights on the most efficient risk transfer vehicles for clients in today’s complex and integrated risk environment to enable clients to make better decisions. Global risk consulting and captive management is a global leader in supporting better management of companies’ risk profiles by identifying and quantifying the risks they face, mapping out optimal risk mitigation, retention and transfer solutions and thus enabling them to be more informed to make better decisions for their businesses. Affinity programs include development, marketing, and administration of customized and targeted insurance programs, facilities, and other structured solutions, including Aon Client Treaty. We collaborate with sponsors and other privileged distribution channels through which Aon can deliver differentiated, highly targeted, and highly valuable solutions for unique risk solutions.
Reinsurance Solutions includes treaty reinsurance, facultative reinsurance, and capital markets. Treaty reinsurance addresses underwriting and capital objectives on a portfolio level, allowing our clients to more effectively manage the combination of premium growth, return on capital, and rating agency interests on an integrated basis. This includes the development of more competitive, innovative, and efficient risk transfer options. Facultative reinsurance empowers clients to better understand, manage, and transfer risk through innovative facultative solutions and provides the most efficient access to the global facultative reinsurance markets. Capital markets is a global investment bank with expertise in insurance-linked securities, capital raising, strategic advice, restructuring, and mergers and acquisitions. We partner with insurers, reinsurers, investment firms, and corporations in executing innovative risk management products, capital market solutions and corporate finance advisory services.
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Health Solutions includes consulting and brokerage, voluntary benefits and enrollment solutions, and human capital solutions. Consulting and brokerage develops and implements innovative, customized health and benefits strategies for clients of all sizes across industries and geographies to manage risk, drive engagement, and strengthen the workforce through improved health and well-being. We partner with insurers and other strategic partners to develop and implement new and innovative solutions and leverage world-class analytics and technology to help clients make informed decisions and manage healthcare outcomes. Consulting and brokerage also advises multinational companies on global benefits, including insurance placement across more than 120 countries, program design and management, financing optimization, and enhanced employee experience, as well as assists in navigating global regulatory and compliance requirements in countries in which they operate. Voluntary benefits and enrollment solutions designs and delivers innovative voluntary consumer benefits that improve an employer’s total rewards strategy and positively impacts their employees’ financial and overall well-being. We leverage our proprietary digital platform to provide efficient enrollment strategies through an effective combination of data, analytics, and tailored products. Multi-channel and targeted communications solutions increase consumer benefit knowledge and enhance engagement. Our human capital team delivers data, analytics, and advice to business leaders so they can make better workforce decisions and align their business and people strategies. We support clients across the full employee lifecycle, including talent assessment and selection, compensation benchmarking, total rewards strategy optimization, workforce analytics and benchmarking, workforce resilience planning, human capital integration in transaction situations, Corporate Governance, ESG consulting and strategic employee communication.
Wealth Solutions includes retirement consulting, pension administration, and investments consulting. Retirement consulting specializes in providing clients across the globe with strategic design consulting on their retirement programs, actuarial services, and risk management, including pension de-risking, governance, integrated pension administration and legal and compliance consulting. We also help organizations manage their balance sheet volatility. Retirement consulting and pension administration leverage Aon’s pension expertise to deliver high-quality integrated retirement services. Our customized services include outsourcing, co-sourcing and in-sourcing options. Our partnership-driven model is powered by deep pension experience and enabled with smart technology. Our investments consulting team provides public and private companies and other institutions with advice on developing and maintaining investment programs across a broad range of plan types, including defined benefit plans, defined contribution plans, endowments and foundations. Our delegated investment solutions offer ongoing management of investment programs and fiduciary responsibilities either in a partial or full discretionary model for multiple asset owners. We partner with clients to deliver our scale and experience to help them effectively manage their investments, risk, and governance and potentially lower costs. We believe in the power of connecting participants to experts to make better informed and smarter decisions about their wealth.
Revenue and Compensation
Our business generates revenues primarily through commissions, compensation from insurance and reinsurance companies for services we provide 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 we act. 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 and reinsurers. Fees from clients for advice and consulting services are dependent on the extent and value of the services we provide. Payment terms are consistent with current industry practices.
Funds Held on Behalf of Clients
We typically hold funds on behalf of clients, including premiums received from clients and claims due to clients that are in transit to and from insurers. Certain funds held on behalf of clients are invested in interest-bearing premium trust accounts and can fluctuate significantly depending on when we collect and remit cash. The principal is segregated and not available for general operating purposes, although we may earn interest on these accounts.
Competition
Our business operates in a highly competitive and fragmented environment. We compete with numerous other global insurance brokers and consulting companies, including Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., WTW, Arthur J Gallagher & Company, and Lockton Companies, Inc., as well as numerous other global specialist, regional, and local firms in almost every area of our business. We also compete with insurance and reinsurance companies that directly market and service their insurance products without the assistance of brokers or agents. Additionally, we compete with other businesses that do not fall into the categories above, including large financial institutions and independent consulting firms and consulting organizations affiliated with accounting, information systems, technology, and financial services firms.
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Seasonality
Due to buying patterns and delivery of certain products and services in the markets we serve, revenues recognized tend to be higher in the first and fourth quarters of each fiscal year.
Licensing and Regulation
Our business activities are subject to licensing requirements and extensive regulation under the laws of countries in which we operate, including U.S. federal and state laws. See the “Risk Factors” section in Part I, Item 1A of this report for information regarding how actions by regulatory authorities or changes in legislation and regulation in the jurisdictions in which we operate may have an adverse effect on our business.
Regulatory authorities in the U.S. and most other countries in which our operating subsidiaries conduct business may require individuals, entities and related service providers to obtain a license from a government agency, including (but not limited to) licenses to operate as insurance producers, brokers, agents, and consultants, reinsurance brokers or managing general agents.
Certain jurisdictions issue licenses only to resident entities or individuals. In such jurisdictions, if the Company has no licensed subsidiary, we may maintain arrangements with residents or business entities licensed to act in such jurisdiction. Such arrangements are subject to an internal review and approval process.
Our subsidiaries must comply with laws and regulations of the jurisdictions in which they do business. These laws and regulations are enforced by the FCA in the U.K., by federal and state agencies in the U.S., and by various regulatory agencies and other supervisory authorities in other countries through the granting and revoking of licenses to do business, the licensing of agents, the monitoring of trade practices, policy form approval, limits on commission rates, and mandatory remuneration disclosure requirements.
Insurance authorities in the U.K., U.S., and certain other jurisdictions in which our subsidiaries operate have enacted laws and regulations governing the investment of funds, such as premiums and claims proceeds, held in a fiduciary capacity for others. These laws and regulations generally require the segregation of these fiduciary funds and limit the types of investments that may be made with them.
Investment, securities, and futures licensing authorities also govern certain business activities. For example, in the U.S., we use Aon Securities LLC, an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Aon, and a U.S.-registered broker-dealer and investment advisor, member of FINRA and Securities Investor Protection Corporation, for investment banking, capital advisory services and other broker-dealer activities. Similar operations exist in other jurisdictions outside of the U.S.
Further, pension and financial laws and regulations, including oversight and supervision by the FCA in the U.K., the SEC in the U.S., and regulators in other countries govern certain of the retirement-related consulting services provided by Aon and its subsidiaries and affiliates. This includes Aon subsidiaries that provide investment advisory services regulated by various U.S. federal authorities including the SEC and FINRA, as well as authorities on the state level. In addition, other services provided by Aon and its subsidiaries and affiliates, such as trustee services and retirement and employee benefit program administrative services, are subject in various jurisdictions to pension, investment, securities, and insurance laws and regulations, and supervision.
Clientele
Our clients operate in many businesses and industries throughout the world. No one client accounted for more than 2% of our consolidated total revenues in 2021. Additionally, we place insurance with many insurance carriers, none of which individually accounted for more than 10% of the total premiums we placed on behalf of our clients in 2021.
Human Capital Management
Our Culture
Our culture is driven by our values – committed as one firm to our purpose, united through trust as one inclusive, diverse team, and passionate about making our colleagues and clients successful. Our colleagues are the cornerstone of Aon's success. Collaboration and innovation drive our culture, bringing the best of Aon to clients in a holistic and seamless manner. Our Delivering Aon United strategy defines how Aon colleagues work together to deliver value to clients, setting a new standard for client leadership. Delivering Aon United is brought to life through our common client value creation model which scales strategies from across the firm to bring the best of Aon to clients.
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Colleagues
As of December 31, 2021, we employed approximately 50,000 employees and conducted our operations in more than 120 countries and territories. Our colleagues’ diverse talents, expertise, and insights contribute to the success of both our firm and our clients, and we seek to attract, grow, and retain the best talent in the industry. Our Inclusive People Leadership strategy is a central part of our Aon United Blueprint and is a key enabler to realizing our aspirations and purpose as a firm. At Aon, all colleagues are called upon to be leaders in embracing and modelling our Aon United values and behaviors. Inclusive People Leadership at Aon ensures that all colleagues – at every stage of their career journey – are equipped and motivated to deliver on our purpose and able to achieve their full potential.
Training and Development
We invest significant resources to develop the talent needed to remain at the forefront of innovation and make Aon an attractive employer. Colleagues are invited to complete a variety of curricula to meet their career stage goals and developmental needs. We provide our colleagues what they need to learn, grow, and become the leaders our clients seek. From self-guided Aon University courses to advanced learning programs, the curriculum is aligned to the Aon United Blueprint and Inclusive People Leader strategy. While the COVID-19 pandemic changed how our colleagues work and collaborate, it did not slow us down. Aon’s investment in technology and use of virtual based learning and development programs during the pandemic has allowed us to continue these efforts despite much of our workforce remaining virtual during 2021.
Colleague Engagement and Retention
Providing an engaging and rewarding colleague experience is a top priority for our firm and understanding colleagues’ feedback helps us reach that goal. We use a variety of channels to facilitate open, on-going, and direct communication with colleagues. These channels include open forums and town halls with executives, surveys, and engagement through our Business Resource Groups. Business Resource Groups are our independent, voluntary, non-profit associations that provide input, take action, and help identify opportunities for our firm to further its diversity and inclusion commitments.
In response to the challenging events of 2020, we updated our engagement survey process by offering more frequent pulse surveys to understand how colleagues are engaging with their teams, the firm, and clients. This outreach effort allows us to gather insights more rapidly and take timely action to address feedback. Our current practice is to conduct pulse surveys with subsets of the overall colleague population approximately six to eight times per year on timely or targeted issues, as well as an annual all-colleague engagement survey. The pulse surveys for 2021 were focused on topics such as manager and leadership support, especially in how we serve clients, colleague well-being, inclusion and diversity, and performance & rewards. Aon’s workforce feedback provides management a better understanding of evolving colleague viewpoints, and ensures we are taking appropriate steps to drive colleague engagement and retention. For discussion of the risks related to the attraction and retention of senior management and other professional personnel, see the “Risk Factors” section in Part I, Item 1A of this report.
Rewards
In addition to an inspired purpose and culture, we are proud to offer our colleagues a total rewards program that combines competitive pay, incentive opportunities, and benefits. Our compensation programs, including salary, recognition, cash and equity incentives, connect to our formal performance management and career development approach. These programs serve to reward colleagues for their impact both in what they accomplish for clients, colleagues, and shareholders and how they achieve those results. We maintain a global commitment to colleague well-being and play a key role in supporting colleagues across the physical, emotional, financial, and social spectrum. Our comprehensive benefit programs are competitive for the markets in which we operate and aligned with our values and culture.
In recognition of our colleagues’ role in growing the firm, we introduced the Aon United Growth Ownership Plan in 2021. Through the plan, all eligible colleagues that were active on September 24, 2021, received a one-time, stock-based award, enabling Aon colleagues to share in the future success of our Aon United mission.
Our compensation philosophy aligns with our Aon United strategy and delivering long-term shareholder value creation. Our executive incentives are based on driving results, delivery of strategic initiatives, and leadership. Beginning in 2021, 20% of the short-term incentives for senior executives are based on quantifiable performance against firm-wide Inclusion and Diversity initiatives.
Inclusion and Diversity
We believe that diverse, inclusive teams produce better insight, better solutions, and ultimately the best outcomes for clients and Aon’s long-term success.
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We are focused on being a firm that is representative of the communities in which we operate. We achieve this by aligning I&D actions to the following pillars: Recruitment, Education, Promotion, and Representation. We strongly believe that only when colleagues can be their authentic selves will they reach their full potential.
Our commitment to I&D starts from the top with our Board of Directors, including its I&D Sub-Committee. Our Global Inclusive Leadership Council is sponsored by our Chief Executive Officer and Chief People Officer. Regional Inclusive Leadership Councils and our Executive Leadership Teams drive actions to increase the diversity of our teams, and colleague-led Business Resource Groups support execution and provide additional opportunities for colleagues to enhance our inclusive environment.
As of December 31, 2021, Aon’s global workforce was 54% women and 46% men, and the Aon Executive Committee which leads the firm was 45% women and 55% men. At the manager level, 26% of senior leaders and 42% of managers with one or more direct report were women. New colleague hires for the year were 52% women and 48% men. Aon’s U.S. workforce was 24% racially or ethnically diverse, calculated as a percentage of colleagues that have voluntarily disclosed their race or ethnicity to Aon. At the manager level, 13% of U.S. senior leaders and 17% of U.S. managers with one or more direct report were racially or ethnically diverse. New colleague hires for the year in the U.S. were 34% racially or ethnically diverse.
Our Apprenticeship Program
Apprenticeship programs help build a talent pipeline of highly skilled and diverse professionals while providing apprentices with advanced education and work experience. By removing some of the traditional barriers to entry-level employment, Aon can contribute to local workforce development and cultivate talent while improving retention rates in these entry-level roles. As a founding member of six apprentice networks within the U.S., we partner with companies and organizations to assist them in building their own programs through sharing best practices and learnings. Across these networks, we have over 100 organizations committed as of December 31, 2021.
Aon's two-year Apprenticeship Program, which was implemented in the U.K. and U.S. in 2012 and 2017, respectively, serves as an alternate route into a permanent role that normally requires a specific degree or professional experience. Aon provides motivated, high-potential individuals with the required training (on the job and in the classroom), professional skills development, mentorship, and experiential learning to bridge the gap. Over 440 Aon apprentices have been hired since the inception of the program across the U.S. and U.K. Both programs are certified apprenticeship programs, by the Department of Labor in the U.S. and the Department of Education in the U.K. In 2021, we expanded our U.S. program to include additional U.S. cities outside of Chicago's metropolitan area to the following six metropolitan areas hiring over 100 apprentices and partnering with seven additional community colleges: Houston, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington, DC.
Website Access to Reports and Other Information
Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports are made available free of charge through our website (http://www.aon.com) as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. Also posted on our website are the charters for our Audit, Organization and Compensation, Governance/Nominating, and Finance Committees, and Compliance and Inclusion & Diversity Sub-Committees, our Governance Guidelines, and our Code of Business Conduct. Within the time period required by the SEC and the NYSE, we will post on our website any amendment to or waiver of the Code of Business Conduct applicable to any executive officer or director. In addition, we may announce material information to investors and the marketplace using our investor relations website. While not all of the information that we post to such website is of a material nature, some information could be deemed to be material. Accordingly, we encourage investors, the media, and others interested in our company to review the information that we share at our investor relations link located at the bottom of the page on www.aon.com. The information provided on our website is not part of this report and is therefore not incorporated herein by reference.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
The risk factors set forth below reflect risks associated with our existing and potential businesses and the industries in which we operate generally and contain “forward-looking statements” as discussed in the “Business” Section of Part I, Item 1 of this report. Readers should consider these risks in addition to the other information contained in this report because our business, financial condition, or results of operations could be materially adversely affected if any of these risks were to actually occur and the occurrence of such risks could cause our actual results to differ materially from those stated in or implied by the forward-looking statements in this document and elsewhere.
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Risks Related to Our Business
An overall decline in economic and business activity could have a material adverse effect on the financial condition and results of operations of our business.
The results of our operations are generally affected by the level of business activity of our clients, which in turn is affected by the economy of the industries and markets these clients serve. Economic downturns, volatility, or uncertainty in the broader economy or in specific markets (including as a result of endemics or pandemics, climate change, political unrest, or otherwise) may cause reductions in technology and discretionary spending by our clients, which may result in reductions in the growth of new business or reductions in existing business. If our clients become financially less stable, enter bankruptcy, liquidate their operations or consolidate, our revenues and collectability of receivables could be adversely affected.
The demand for property and casualty insurance generally rises as the overall level of economic activity increases and generally falls as such activity decreases, affecting both the commissions and fees generated by our Commercial Risk Solutions, Reinsurance Solutions, and Wealth Solutions lines. The economic activity that impacts property and casualty insurance is most closely correlated with employment levels, corporate revenues, and asset values. Downward fluctuations in the year-over-year insurance premiums charged by insurers to protect against the same risk, referred to in the industry as softening of the insurance market, could adversely affect these businesses as a significant portion of the earnings are determined as a percentage of premiums charged to our clients. In addition, certain discretionary services within our business, such as Human Capital, project-related work within Commercial Risk Solutions and Health Solutions, and transaction liability, may see a decrease in activity if the overall level of economic activity results in a reduction to our clients’ discretionary spending. Insolvencies and consolidations associated with an economic downturn, especially insolvencies in the insurance industry, could adversely affect our brokerage business through the loss of clients by hampering our ability to place insurance and reinsurance business. Also, error and omission claims against us, which we refer to as E&O claims, may increase in economic downturns, also adversely affecting our business.
We face significant competitive pressures from traditional and non-traditional competitors that could affect our business.
As a global professional services firm, we compete with global, national, regional, and local insurance companies that market and service their own products, other financial services providers, brokers, and investment managers, independent firms, and consulting organizations affiliated with accounting, information systems, technology, and financial services firms. We compete with respect to service, delivery of insights, product features, price, commission structure, technology, financial strength, ability to access certain insurance markets, and name recognition. Our competitors may have better financial, technical and marketing resources, broader customer bases, greater name recognition, more comprehensive products, stronger presence in certain geographies, or more established relationships with their customers and suppliers than we have.
In addition, alliances among competitors or mergers of competitors could affect our business, and some of our competitors may have or may develop a lower cost structure, adopt more aggressive pricing policies, or provide services that gain greater market acceptance than the services that we offer or develop.
Our competitors may be more successful in innovating and delivering services to meet new and existing client needs. Competitors may be able to respond to the need for technological changes, innovate faster, respond better to evolving client demand and industry conditions, or price their services more aggressively than we do. They may also compete for skilled professionals, finance acquisitions, fund internal growth, and compete for business more effectively than we do. Further, new and non- traditional competitors, our clients’ increasing ability and determination to self-insure, and capital market alternatives to traditional insurance and reinsurance markets cause additional forms of competition and innovation that could affect our business. This competition is further intensified by an industry trend where clients elect to engage multiple brokers to service different portions of their accounts. If we fail to respond successfully to the to the evolving competition we face, our financial condition or results of operations might be adversely affected.
If our clients are not satisfied with our services, we may face additional cost, loss of profit opportunities, damage to our reputation, or legal liability.
We depend, to a large extent, on our relationships with our clients and our reputation for high-quality advice and solutions. If a client is not satisfied with our services, it could cause us to incur additional costs and impair profitability, or lose the client relationship altogether. Moreover, if we fail to meet our contractual obligations, we could be subject to legal liability or loss of client relationships.
The nature of much of our work involves assumptions and estimates concerning future events, the actual outcome of which we cannot know with certainty in advance. For example, in our investment consulting business, we may be measured based on our track record regarding judgments and advice on investments that are susceptible to influences unknown at the time the advice was given. In addition, we could make computational, software programming, or data entry or management errors. A
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client may claim it suffered losses due to reliance on our consulting advice, which poses risks of liability exposure and costs of defense and increased insurance premiums. Many of our clients are businesses that actively share information among themselves about the quality of service they receive from their vendors. Accordingly, poor service to one client may negatively impact our relationships with multiple other clients.
Damage to our reputation could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We advise our clients on and provide services related to a wide range of subjects and our ability to attract and retain clients is highly dependent upon the external perceptions of our level of service, trustworthiness, business practices, financial condition, and other subjective qualities. Negative perceptions or publicity regarding these matters or others could erode trust and confidence and damage our reputation among existing and potential clients and existing and future employees, which could make it difficult for us to attract new clients and employees and retain existing ones. Negative public opinion could also result from actual or alleged conduct by us or those currently or formerly associated with us. Damage to our reputation, including as a result of negative perceptions or publicity regarding environmental matters, climate change, workforce diversity, pay equity, harassment, social justice, cyber security or data privacy, or our inability to meet commitments or client and stakeholder expectations with respect to such matters, could affect the confidence of our clients, rating agencies, regulators, stockholders, employees and third parties in transactions that are important to our business adversely affecting our business, financial condition, and operating results.
Revenues from commission arrangements may fluctuate due to many factors, including cyclical or permanent changes in the insurance and reinsurance markets outside of our control.
Revenues from commission arrangements have historically been affected by significant fluctuations arising from uncertainties and changes in the industries in which we operate. A significant portion of our revenue consists of commissions paid to us out of the premiums that insurers and reinsurers charge our clients for coverage. We have no control over premium rates, and our revenues and profitability are subject to change to the extent that premium rates fluctuate or trend in a particular direction. The potential for changes in premium rates is significant, due to pricing cyclicality in the commercial insurance and reinsurance markets.
In addition to movements in premium rates, our ability to generate premium-based commission revenue may be challenged by:
•the growing availability of alternative methods for clients to meet their risk-protection needs, including a greater willingness on the part of corporations to “self-insure,” the use of so-called “captive” insurers, and the development of capital markets-based solutions and other alternative capital sources for traditional insurance and reinsurance needs that increase market capacity, increase competition, and put pressure on pricing;
•fluctuation in the need for, or relevancy of, insurance;
•the level of compensation, as a percentage of premium, that insurance carriers are willing to compensate brokers for placement activity;
•the growing desire of clients to move away from variable commission rates and instead compensate brokers based upon flat fees, which can negatively impact us as fees are not generally indexed for inflation and may not rise as much as commission-based compensation;
•competition from insurers seeking to sell their products directly to consumers, including online sales, without the involvement of an insurance broker; and
•growing number of technology-enabled competitors offering new risk-transfer solutions that eliminate the traditional broker-client relationship in both commercial insurance and reinsurance markets.
The profitability of our operations may not meet our expectations due to unexpected costs, cost overruns, inflation, early contract terminations, unrealized assumptions used in our contract bidding process or the inability to maintain our prices.
Our profitability is highly dependent upon our ability to control our costs and improve our efficiency. As we adapt to changes in our business and the market, adapt to the regulatory environment, enter into new engagements, acquire additional businesses, and take on new employees in new locations, we may not be able to manage our large, diverse and changing workforce, control our costs, or improve our efficiency.
Our profit margin, and therefore our profitability, is largely a function of the revenue generated from our services and the staffing costs for our personnel. Accordingly, if we are not able to maintain the rates we charge for our services or appropriately manage the staffing costs of our personnel, we may not be able to sustain our profit margin and our profitability will suffer. The
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prices we are able to charge for our services are affected by a number of factors, including competitive factors, the extent of ongoing clients’ perception of our ability to add value through our services, and general economic conditions. If we cannot drive suitable cost efficiencies, our profit margins will suffer. Our cost efficiencies may also be impacted by factors such as our ability to transition consultants from completed projects to new assignments, our ability to secure new business, our ability to forecast demand for our services (and, consequently, appropriately manage the size and location of our workforce), employee attrition, inflation (including wage inflation) and the need to devote time and resources to training and professional and business development.
In our investment consulting business, we advise or act on behalf of clients regarding their investments. The results of these investments are uncertain and subject to numerous factors, some of which are within our control and some which are not. Clients that experience losses or lower than expected investment returns may leave us for competitors and/or assert claims against us.
Our investment consulting business provides advice to clients on: investment strategy, which can include advice on setting investment objectives, asset allocation, and hedging strategies; selection (or removal) of investment managers; the investment in different investment instruments and products; and the selection of other investment service providers such as custodians and transition managers. For some clients, we are responsible for making decisions on these matters and we may implement such decisions in a fiduciary or agency capacity without assuming title over the underlying funds or assets invested. Asset classes may experience poor absolute performance and third parties we recommend or select, such as investment managers, may underperform their benchmarks due to poor market performance, negligence, or other reasons, resulting in poor investment returns or losses. These losses may be attributable in whole or in part to failures on our part or to events entirely outside of our control, including but not limited to uncertainty or volatility in financial markets due to economic, political, and regulatory conditions or pandemics. Plaintiffs have, and may continue to, file individual and class action lawsuits alleging investment consultants have charged excessive fees, given improper advice due to conflicts of interest, or recommended investments that underperformed other investments available at the time. Defending against these claims can involve potentially significant costs, including legal defense costs, as well as cause substantial distraction and diversion of other resources. If any lawsuit – against the Company or any other investment consultant – results in a large adverse verdict, the size of the verdict or resultant negative adverse publicity may prompt the filing of additional lawsuits. Furthermore, our ability to limit our potential liability is restricted in certain jurisdictions and in connection with claims involving breaches of fiduciary or agency duties or other alleged errors or omissions.
The anticipated benefits of the redomiciliation from the U.K. to Ireland may not be realized.
In April 2020, we changed the jurisdiction of incorporation for our parent company from the U.K. to Ireland by means of a scheme of arrangement under English law (the “Reorganization”). At the time of the Reorganization we expected, and we continue to expect, that the Reorganization will, among other things, provide greater certainty around ongoing access to existing U.S. treaties with other EU member countries from which we derive benefit. However, we may not realize the benefits we anticipate from the Reorganization, which could have an adverse effect on our business.
Financial Risks
We are exposed to fluctuations in currency exchange rates that could negatively impact our financial results and cash flows.
We face exposure to adverse movements in exchange rates of currencies other than our reporting currency, the U.S. dollar, as a significant portion of our business is located outside of the U.S. These exposures may change over time, and they could have a material adverse impact on our financial results and cash flows. Approximately 55% of our consolidated revenue is non-U.S., attributed on the basis of where the services are performed, and where products are sold, and the exposures created can have significant currency volatility. These currency exchange fluctuations create risk in both the translation of the financial results of our global subsidiaries into U.S. dollars for our consolidated financial statements, as well as in those of our operations that receive revenue and incur expenses other than in their respective local currencies, which can reduce the profitability of our operations based on the direction the respective currencies’ exchange rates move. A decrease in the value of certain currencies relative to other currencies could place us at a relative disadvantage compared to our competitors that benefit to a greater degree from a specific exchange rate move and can, as a result, deliver services at a lower cost or receive greater revenues from such a transaction. Although we use various derivative financial instruments to help protect against certain adverse foreign exchange rate fluctuations, we cannot eliminate such risks, and, as a result, changes in exchange rates may adversely affect our results. For example, the strengthening of the value of the U.S. dollar versus other currencies might adversely affect the value of our products and services when translated to U.S. dollar, even if the value of such products and services has not changed in their original currency.
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Changes in interest rates and deterioration of credit quality could reduce the value of our cash balances and investment portfolios and adversely affect our financial condition or results.
Operating funds available for corporate use were $836 million at December 31, 2021 and are reported in Cash and cash equivalents and Short-term investments. Of the total balance, $160 million was restricted to its use as of December 31, 2021. Funds held on behalf of clients and insurers were $6.1 billion at December 31, 2021 and are reported in Fiduciary assets. We also carry an investment portfolio of other long-term investments. As of December 31, 2021, these long-term investments had a carrying value of $64 million. Adverse changes in interest rates, performance, and counterparty credit quality, including default, could reduce the value of these funds and investments, thereby adversely affecting our financial condition or results. We may experience reduced investment earnings on our cash and short-term investments of fiduciary and operating funds if the yields on investments deemed to be low risk remain at or near their current low levels or fall below their current levels, or if negative yields on deposits or investments are experienced, as we have experienced in Japan and certain jurisdictions in the E.U. On the other hand, higher interest rates could result in a higher discount rate used by investors to value our future cash flows thereby resulting in a lower valuation of the Company. In addition, during times of stress in the banking industry, counterparty risk can quickly escalate, potentially resulting in substantial losses for us as a result of our cash or other investments with such counterparties, as well as substantial losses for our clients and the insurance companies with which we work.
Our pension obligations and value of our pension assets could adversely affect our shareholders’ equity, net income, cash flow, and liquidity.
To the extent that the pension obligations associated with our pension plans continue to exceed the fair value of the assets supporting those obligations, our financial position and results of operations may be adversely affected. In particular, lower interest rates and investment returns could result in the present value of plan liabilities increasing at a greater rate than the value of plan assets, resulting in higher unfunded positions in our pension plans. In addition, the periodic revision of pension assumptions or variances of actual results from our assumptions can materially change the present value of expected future benefits, and therefore the funded status of the plans and resulting net periodic pension expense. As a result, we may experience future changes in the funded status of our plans that could require us to make additional cash contributions beyond those that have been estimated and which could adversely affect shareholders’ equity, net income, cash flow and liquidity.
Our worldwide pension plans are significant, and therefore our pension contributions and expense are sensitive to various market, demographic, and other factors. These factors include equity and bond market returns, fair value of pension assets, the assumed interest rates we use to discount our pension liabilities, foreign exchange rates, rates of inflation, mortality assumptions, potential regulatory and legal changes or developments, and counterparty exposure from various investments and derivative contracts, including annuities. Variations or developments in connection with any of these factors could cause significant changes to our financial position and results of operations from year to year. In addition, contributions are generally based on statutory requirements and local funding practices, which may differ from measurements under U.S. GAAP.
We have debt outstanding that could adversely affect our financial flexibility.
As of December 31, 2021, we had total consolidated debt outstanding of approximately $9.4 billion. The level of debt outstanding could adversely affect our financial flexibility by reducing our ability to use cash from operations for other purposes, including working capital, dividends to shareholders, share repurchases, acquisitions, capital expenditures and general corporate purposes. We also are subject to risks that, at the time any of our outstanding debt matures, we will not be able to retire or refinance the debt on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all.
As of December 31, 2021, we had two committed credit facilities outstanding. Each of these facilities is intended to support our commercial paper obligations and our general working capital needs. In addition, each of these facilities included customary representations, warranties, and covenants, including financial covenants that require us to maintain specified ratios of adjusted consolidated EBITDA to consolidated interest expense and consolidated debt to adjusted consolidated EBITDA, tested quarterly.
A substantial portion of our outstanding debt, including certain intercompany debt obligations, contains financial and other covenants. The terms of these covenants may limit our ability to obtain, or increase the costs of obtaining, additional financing to fund working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, or general corporate requirements. This in turn may have the impact of reducing our flexibility to respond to changing business and economic conditions, thereby placing us at a relative disadvantage compared to competitors that have less indebtedness, or fewer or less onerous covenants associated with such indebtedness, and making us more vulnerable to general adverse economic and industry conditions.
If we cannot service our indebtedness, we may have to take actions such as selling assets, seeking additional equity, or reducing or delaying capital expenditures, strategic acquisitions, investments, and alliances, any of which could impede the implementation of our business strategy or prevent us from entering into transactions that would otherwise benefit our business.
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Additionally, we may not be able to take such actions or refinance any of our debt, if necessary, on commercially reasonable terms, or at all.
A decline in the credit ratings of our senior debt and commercial paper may adversely affect our borrowing costs, access to capital, and financial flexibility.
A downgrade in the credit ratings of our senior debt and commercial paper could increase our borrowing costs, reduce or eliminate our access to capital, reduce our financial flexibility, and limit our ability to implement on corporate strategy. Our senior debt ratings at December 31, 2021 were A- with a stable outlook S&P, BBB+ with a stable outlook (Fitch), and Baa2 with a stable outlook (Moody’s). Our commercial paper ratings were A-2 (S&P), F-2 (Fitch) and P-2 (Moody’s).
Real or anticipated changes in our credit ratings will generally affect any trading market for, or trading value of, our securities. Such changes could result from any number of factors, including the modification by a credit rating agency of the criteria or methodology it applies to particular issuers, a change in the agency’s view of us or our industry, or as a consequence of actions we take to implement our corporate strategies. A change in our credit rating could adversely limit our access to capital and our competitive position.
Our global effective tax rate is subject to a variety of different factors, which could create volatility in that tax rate, expose us to greater than anticipated tax liabilities or cause us to adjust previously recognized tax assets and liabilities.
We are, and anticipate we will be, subject to income taxes in Ireland, the U.K., the U.S. and many other jurisdictions. As a result, our global effective tax rate from period to period can be affected by many factors, including changes in tax legislation or regulations, the continuing development of regulations and other governmental action that affect the application of such legislation, our global mix of earnings, the use of global funding structures, the tax characteristics of our income, the effect of complying with transfer pricing requirements under laws of many different countries on our revenues and costs, the consequences of acquisitions and dispositions of businesses and business segments. In addition, we could be subject to increased taxation as a result of changes in eligibility for the benefits of current income tax treaties between and among Ireland, the U.K., the U.S and other countries, including any future amendments to the current income tax treaties between and among such countries, or any new statutory or regulatory provisions that might limit our ability to take advantage of any such treaties. Significant judgment is required in determining our worldwide provision for income taxes, and our determination of the amount of our tax liability is always subject to review by applicable tax authorities. Our actual global tax rate may vary from our expectation and that variance may be material.
The overall tax environment in the jurisdictions in which we are or may be subject to taxes is highly uncertain and increasingly complex. Countries around the world are considering changes in their tax laws and regulations. In the U.S., various proposals to raise corporate income taxes are under active consideration, which could have a material adverse effect on our effective tax rate, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition. The OECD, a global coalition of member countries, proposed a plan to reform international taxation which includes the introduction of a global minimum tax. There remains significant uncertainty as to if, when and how the various OECD proposals will ultimately be enacted in the various countries in which Aon is or may be subject to taxes, including the E.U. member states, and, if enacted, the extent of their impact. Some of the proposals, if enacted, could have a material adverse effect on our effective tax rate, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.
We are, and anticipate we will be, subject to tax audits conducted by Ireland, the U.K., the U.S., and other tax authorities, and the resolution of such audits could impact our tax rate in future periods, as would any reclassification or other changes (such as those in applicable accounting rules) that increases the amounts we have provided for income taxes in our consolidated financial statements. The tax laws and regulations in Ireland, the U.K., the U.S., and the other tax jurisdictions in which the we operate are inherently complex, and we will be obligated to make judgments and interpretations about the application of these laws and regulations to our operations and businesses. The interpretation and application of these laws and regulations could be challenged by the relevant governmental authorities, which could result in administrative or judicial procedures, actions or sanctions, which could be material.
There can be no assurance that we would be successful in attempting to mitigate the adverse impacts resulting from any changes in tax laws and regulations, including any changes in the interpretation of such tax authorities, or from audits and other matters. Our inability to mitigate the negative consequences of such actions could cause our global effective tax rate to increase, our use of cash to increase and our financial condition and results of operations to suffer.
Changes in our accounting estimates and assumptions could negatively affect our financial position and results of operations.
We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These accounting principles require us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and the disclosure of contingent assets
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and liabilities at the date of our consolidated financial statements. We are also required to make certain judgments that affect the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during each reporting period. We periodically evaluate our estimates and assumptions including, but not limited to, those relating to revenue recognition, pensions, recoverability of assets including customer receivables, valuation of goodwill and intangibles, contingencies, share-based payments, and income taxes. We base our estimates on historical experience and various assumptions that we believe to be reasonable based on specific circumstances. These assumptions and estimates involve the exercise of judgment and discretion, which may evolve over time in light of operational experience, regulatory direction, developments or changes in accounting principles or standards, and other factors. Actual results could differ from these estimates, or changes in assumptions, estimates, policies, or developments in the business may change our initial estimates, which could materially affect the Consolidated Statements of Income, Comprehensive Income, Financial Position, Shareholders’ Equity, and Cash Flows.
We may be required to record goodwill or other long-lived asset impairment charges, which could result in a significant charge to earnings.
Under U.S. GAAP, we review our long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. Goodwill is assessed for impairment at least annually. Factors that may be considered in assessing whether goodwill or other long-lived assets may not be recoverable include a decline in our share price or market capitalization, reduced estimates of future cash flows and slower growth rates in our industry. We may experience unforeseen circumstances that adversely affect the value of our goodwill or other long- lived assets and trigger an evaluation of the recoverability of the recorded goodwill and other long-lived assets. Future goodwill or other long-lived asset impairment charges could materially impact our consolidated financial statements.
We are a holding company and, therefore, may not be able to receive dividends or other payments in needed amounts from our subsidiaries.
The Company is organized as a holding company, a legal entity separate and distinct from our operating entities. As a holding company without significant operations of its own, our principal assets are the shares of capital stock of our subsidiaries. We rely on dividends, interest, and other payments from these subsidiaries to meet our obligations for paying principal and interest on outstanding debt, paying dividends to shareholders, repurchasing ordinary shares, and corporate expenses. Certain of our subsidiaries are subject to regulatory requirements of the jurisdictions in which they operate or other restrictions that may limit the amounts that subsidiaries can pay in dividends or other payments to us. No assurance can be given that there will not be further changes in law, regulatory actions, or other circumstances that could restrict the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or otherwise make payments to us. Furthermore, no assurance can be given that our subsidiaries may be able to make timely payments to us in order for us to meet our obligations.
Legal and Regulatory Risks
We are subject to E&O claims against us as well as other contingencies and legal proceedings, some of which, if determined unfavorably to us, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
We assist our clients with various matters, including advising on and placing insurance and reinsurance coverage and handling related claims, consulting on various human resources matters, and providing actuarial, investment consulting, and asset management services. E&O claims against us may allege our potential liability for damages arising from these services. E&O claims could include, for example, the failure of our employees or sub-agents, whether negligently or intentionally, to place coverage correctly or notify carriers of claims on behalf of clients, to provide insurance carriers with complete and accurate information relating to the risks being insured, or the failure to give error-free consulting or investment advice. It is not always possible to prevent and detect E&O, and the precautions we take may not be effective in all cases. In addition, we are subject to other types of claims, litigation, and proceedings in the ordinary course of business, which along with E&O claims, may seek damages, including punitive damages, in amounts that could, if awarded, have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial position, earnings, and cash flows. In addition to potential liability for monetary damages, such claims or outcomes could harm our reputation or divert management resources away from operating our business.
We have historically purchased, and intend to continue to purchase, insurance to cover E&O claims and other insurance to provide protection against certain losses that arise in such matters. However, we have exhausted or materially depleted our coverage under some of the policies that protect us for certain years and, consequently, are self-insured or materially self-insured for some historical claims. Additionally, parts or all of an E&O claim could fall within insurance deductibles, self-insured retentions, or policy exclusions. Accruals for these exposures, and related insurance receivables, when applicable, have been provided to the extent that losses are deemed probable and are reasonably estimable. These accruals and receivables are adjusted from time to time as developments warrant and may also be adversely affected by disputes we may have with our insurers over coverage. Amounts related to settlement provisions are recorded in Other general expenses in the Consolidated
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Statements of Income. Discussion of some of these claims, lawsuits, and proceedings are contained in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
In addition, we provide a variety of guarantees and indemnifications to our customers and others. In the event of a default, our potential exposure is equal to the amount of the guarantee or indemnification.
The ultimate outcome of claims, lawsuits, proceedings, guarantees and indemnifications cannot be ascertained, and liabilities in indeterminate amounts may be imposed on us. It is possible that future results of operations or cash flows for any particular quarterly or annual period could be materially affected by an unfavorable resolution of these matters.
Our businesses are subject to extensive governmental regulation, which could reduce our profitability, limit our growth, or subject us to legal and regulatory actions.
Our businesses are subject to extensive legal and regulatory oversight throughout the world, including the Irish Companies Act, the U.S. securities laws, rules, and regulations, the rules and regulations promulgated by the FCA and a variety of other laws, rules, and regulations addressing, among other things, licensing, data privacy and protection, trade sanctions laws, restrictions and export controls, anti-money laundering, wage-and-hour standards, employment and labor relations, anti-competition, anti-corruption, currency, reserves, government contracting, and the amount of local investment with respect to our operations in certain countries. This legal and regulatory oversight could reduce our profitability or limit our growth by: increasing the costs of legal and regulatory compliance; limiting or restricting the products or services we sell, the markets we serve or enter, the methods by which we sell our products and services, the overall structure of our business units, the type of services and prices we can charge for our services, or the form of compensation we can accept from our clients, carriers, and third parties; or by subjecting our businesses to the possibility of legal and regulatory actions, proceedings, or fines.
The global nature of our operations increases the complexity and cost of compliance with laws and regulations adding to our cost of doing business. In addition, many of these laws and regulations may have differing or conflicting legal standards across jurisdictions, increasing the complexity and cost of compliance. In emerging markets and other jurisdictions with less developed legal systems, local laws and regulations may not be established with sufficiently clear and reliable guidance to provide us adequate assurance that we are operating our business in a compliant manner with all required licenses or that our rights are otherwise protected. In addition, certain laws and regulations, such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the Foreign Account Tax Compliance provisions of the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act in the U.S., and the Bribery Act of 2010 in the U.K., impact our operations outside of the legislating country by imposing requirements for the conduct of overseas operations, and in several cases, requiring compliance by foreign subsidiaries.
In addition to the complexity of the laws and regulations themselves, the development of new laws and regulations or changes in application or interpretation of current laws and regulations or conflict between them also increases our legal and regulatory compliance complexity. Additionally, our acquisitions of new businesses and our continued operational changes and entry into new jurisdictions and new service offerings increases our legal and regulatory compliance complexity, as well as the type of governmental oversight to which we may be subject. Changes in laws and regulations could mandate significant and costly changes to the way we implement our services and solutions, impose additional licensure requirements or costs to our operations and services, or cause us to cease offering certain services or solutions. Furthermore, as we enter new jurisdictions or businesses and further develop and expand our services, including through acquisitions, we may become subject to additional types of laws and governmental oversight and supervision, such as those applicable to the financial lending or other service institutions. Regulatory developments that could result in changes that adversely affect us or cause us to change our business or operations include: additional requirements respecting data privacy, data security, and data usage in jurisdictions in which we operate that may increase our costs of compliance and potentially reduce the manner in which we can use data; changes in tax regulations in the jurisdictions in which we operate; regulatory actions or changes that require us to change our compensation model; or additional regulations promulgated by , regulatory bodies in jurisdictions in which we operate.
Governmental and public attention to climate change and environmental matters, including new or enhanced reporting, diligence or disclosure rules and regulations, could expand the nature, scope, and complexity of matters that we are required to control, assess, and report. These and other rapidly changing laws, rules and regulations, may increase the cost of our compliance and risk management and otherwise impact our business, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. In addition, the shift toward a lower-carbon economy, driven by changes in laws, rules and regulations, low-carbon technology advancement, consumer sentiment, and/or liability risks, may negatively impact our business model and/or the business models of our clients. In addition, as governments, investors and other stakeholders face additional pressures to accelerate actions to address climate change and other ESG topics, governments and other stakeholders may impose new rules or expectations causing a shift in disclosure and other behaviors that may negatively impact our business.
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In all jurisdictions, the applicable laws and regulations are subject to amendment or interpretation by regulatory authorities. Generally, such authorities are vested with relatively broad discretion to grant, renew, and revoke licenses and approvals and to implement regulations. Accordingly, we may have a license revoked or be unable to obtain new licenses and therefore be precluded or suspended from carrying on or developing some or all of our activities or otherwise fined or penalized in a given jurisdiction. No assurances can be given that our business can further develop or continue to be conducted in any given jurisdiction in the future as it has been conducted in the past. Changes in the regulatory scheme, or even changes in how existing regulations are interpreted, could have an adverse impact on our results of operations by limiting revenue streams or increasing costs of compliance.
Our business’ regulatory oversight also includes licensing of insurance brokers and agents, managing general agency or general underwriting operations, and the regulation of the handling and investment of client funds held in a fiduciary capacity. Our continuing ability to provide insurance broking in the jurisdictions in which we operate depends on our compliance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the regulatory authorities in each of these jurisdictions, and our failure to adhere to these rules and regulations can expose us to fines or other sanctions. Also, we can be affected indirectly by the governmental regulation and supervision of insurance companies. For instance, if we are providing or managing general underwriting services for an insurer, we may have to contend with regulations affecting our client.
Services provided in our Health Solutions and Wealth Solutions businesses are also the subject of ever-evolving government regulation, either because the services provided to our clients are regulated directly or because third parties upon whom we rely to provide services to clients are regulated, thereby indirectly affecting the manner in which we provide services to those clients. In particular, our health care exchange business depends upon the private sector of the U.S. insurance system and its role in financing health care delivery, and insurance carriers’ use and payment of commissions to agents, brokers, and other organizations to market and sell individual and family health insurance products and plans. Uncertainty regarding, or any changes to, state or federal law, or the interpretation of such law by applicable regulatory agencies could delay client adoption of our health care exchanges, impair our ability to retain clients who have adopted our health care exchanges, or cause insurance carriers to alter or eliminate the products and plans that they offer or attempt to move members into new products or plans for which we receive lower commissions. In addition, changes in laws, government regulations, or the way those regulations are interpreted in the jurisdictions in which we operate could affect the viability, value, use, or delivery of benefits and human resources programs, including changes in regulations relating to health and welfare plans (such as medical), defined contribution plans (such as 401(k)), or defined benefit plans (such as pension), may adversely affect the demand for, or profitability of, our services.
If we violate the laws and regulations to which we are subject, we could be subject to fines, penalties, or criminal sanctions and could be prohibited from conducting business in one or more countries. There can be no assurance that our employees, contractors, or agents will not violate these laws and regulations, causing an adverse effect on our operations and financial condition.
Heightened regulatory oversight and scrutiny may lead to additional regulatory investigations, increased government involvement, or enforcement actions, which could consume significant management time and resources and could have adverse effects on our business and operations. For instance, increased scrutiny by competition authorities may increase our costs of doing business or force us to change the way we conduct business or refrain from or otherwise alter the way we engage in certain activities. Additionally, we could suffer significant financial or reputational harm if we fail to properly identify and manage potential conflicts of interest, which exist or could exist any time we or any of our employees have or may have an interest in a transaction or engagement that is inconsistent with our clients’ interests. This could occur, for example, when we are providing services to multiple parties in connection with a transaction. We also provide services to advise and assist in satisfying all our clients’ needs from all our businesses, creating a greater potential for conflicts with advisory services.
Due to the broad scope of our businesses and our client base, we regularly address potential conflicts of interest, including, without limitation, situations where our services to a particular client or our own investments or other interests conflict, or are perceived to conflict, with the interests of another client. If these are not adequately identified and managed, this could then lead to failure or perceived failure to protect the client’s interests, with consequential regulatory and reputational risks, including litigation or enforcement actions that could adversely affect us and our operations. Identifying conflicts of interest may also prove particularly difficult as we continue to bring systems and information together and integrate newly acquired businesses. In addition, we may not be able to adequately address such conflicts of interest.
Insurance intermediaries have traditionally been remunerated by base commissions paid by insurance carriers in respect of insurance placements for clients, or by fees paid by clients. Intermediaries also obtain other revenue from insurance carriers. This revenue, when derived from carriers in their capacity as insurance markets (as opposed to as corporate clients of the intermediaries where they may be purchasing insurance or reinsurance or other non-market related services), is commonly known as MDI. MDI is another example of an area in which potential conflicts of interest may arise. This revenue may be subject to scrutiny by various regulators under conflict of interest, anti-trust, unfair competition, conduct and anti-bribery laws
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and regulations. MDI takes a variety of forms, including volume- or profit-based contingent commissions, facilities administration charges, business development agreements, and fees for providing consulting services to carriers. While accepting MDI is a lawful and acceptable business practice, we cannot predict whether our position will result in regulatory or other scrutiny and our controls may not be fully effective.
Failure to protect our intellectual property rights, or allegations that we have infringed on the intellectual property rights of others, could harm our reputation, ability to compete effectively, and financial condition.
To protect our intellectual property rights, we rely on a combination of trademark laws, copyright laws, patent laws, trade secret protection, confidentiality agreements, and other contractual arrangements with our affiliates, employees, clients, strategic partners, and others, as well as internal policies and procedures regarding our management of intellectual property. However, the protective steps that we take may be inadequate to deter misappropriation of our proprietary information. In addition, we may be unable to detect the unauthorized use of, or take appropriate steps to enforce, our intellectual property rights. Further, we operate in many jurisdictions and effective trademark, copyright, patent, and trade secret protection may not be available or adequate in every country or jurisdiction in which we offer our services or employ our colleagues. Additionally, our competitors may develop products similar to our products that do not conflict with our related intellectual property rights. Failure to protect our intellectual property adequately could harm our reputation and affect our ability to compete effectively.
In addition, to protect or enforce our intellectual property rights, we may initiate litigation against third parties, such as infringement suits or interference proceedings. Third parties may assert intellectual property rights claims against us, which may be costly to defend, could require the payment of damages, and could limit our ability to use or offer certain technologies, products, or other intellectual property. Any intellectual property claims, with or without merit, could be expensive, take significant time and divert management’s attention from other business concerns. Successful challenges against us could require us to modify or discontinue our use of technology or business processes where such use is found to infringe or violate the rights of others, or require us to purchase licenses from third parties, any of which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and operating results.
Operational Risks
Our results of operations have been adversely affected and could be materially adversely affected in the future by the COVID-19 global pandemic.
The COVID-19 global pandemic and the emergence of COVID-19 variants has created significant public health concerns and significant volatility, uncertainty, and economic disruption in every region where we operate.
A number of evolving factors related to the global pandemic and the post-pandemic recovery period may influence the duration, nature and extent of the impact on our business and financial results. Such factors include worldwide macroeconomic conditions, including interest rates, employment rates, consumer confidence and spending, gross domestic product, property values, and changes in client behavior, and foreign exchange rates in each of the markets in which we operate; business closures; changes in laws, regulations (including those changes that may provide for extended premium payment terms), and guidance; court decisions and litigation trends; a decline in business and the ability of counterparties to pay for our services on time or at all; an increased number of E&O claims in those areas impacted by the pandemic, as well as an increase in the incidence or severity of E&O claims against us and our market partners; our ability to sell and provide our services, including due to the impact of travel restrictions, lockdowns, quarantines, social distancing, and alternative work arrangements; the health of, and the effect of the pandemic on, our employees; political disruption; potential effects on our internal controls and risk mitigation processes, including those over financial reporting, as a result of changes in working environments for our employees and business partners; resurgences of spread; identification of new, more contagious variants of the virus; resulting “lockdowns,” government restrictions, mandates, requirements or recommendations; and uncertainties in vaccine adoption.
In addition, the continuing COVID-19 pandemic may again create significant disruptions or volatility in the credit or financial markets, or impact our credit ratings, which could adversely affect our ability to access capital on favorable terms or at all.
Finally, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may heighten other risks discussed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, and stock price.
The economic and political conditions of the countries and regions in which we operate could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition, operating results, liquidity, and prospects for growth.
Our operations in countries undergoing political change or experiencing economic instability are subject to uncertainty and risks that could materially adversely affect our business. These risks include, particularly in emerging markets, the possibility
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we would be subject to undeveloped or evolving legal systems, unstable governments and economies, and potential governmental actions affecting the flow of goods, services, and currency.
Furthermore, the U.K. formally withdrew from the E.U., commonly referred to as Brexit. The E.U. and U.K. ratified a trade cooperation agreement governing their future relationship in 2021 to address trade, economic arrangements, law enforcement, judicial cooperation and a governance framework including procedures for dispute resolution, among other things. Because the agreement merely sets forth a framework in many respects and requires ongoing complex additional bilateral negotiations between the U.K. and the E.U. as both parties continue to work on the rules for implementation, significant political and economic uncertainty remains. We have significant operations and a substantial workforce within the U.K., and we previously enjoyed certain benefits based on the U.K.’s membership in the E.U., and the lack of clarity around the future relationship between the U.K. and the E.U. creates uncertainty that may have a material impact on our business and operations. We may also be required to incur additional expense as we adapt to and create the ability to operate within the new political and regulatory environment.
Additionally, any development that has the effect of devaluing the euro or British pound could meaningfully reduce the value of our assets and reduce the usefulness of liquidity alternatives denominated in that currency such as our multicurrency U.S. credit facility. We also deposit some of our cash, including cash held in a fiduciary capacity, with certain European financial institutions. While we continuously monitor and manage exposures associated with those deposits, to the extent the uncertainty surrounding economic stability in Europe and the future viability of the euro suddenly and adversely impacts those financial institutions, some or all of those cash deposits could be at risk.
Our success depends on our ability to retain, attract and develop experienced and qualified personnel, including our senior management team and other personnel.
We depend, in material part, upon the members of our senior management team who possess extensive knowledge and a deep understanding of our business and our strategy, as well as the colleagues who are critical to developing and retaining client relationships. The unexpected loss of services of any of these senior leaders could have a disruptive effect adversely impacting our ability to manage our business effectively and execute our business strategy. Additionally, competition for experienced professional personnel is increasingly intense, and we are constantly working to retain, attract and develop these professionals. If we cannot successfully do so, our business, operating results, and financial condition could be adversely affected. We may also become involved in disputes and litigation in connection with our efforts to retain and hire personnel, which can be disruptive to our business. While we have plans for key management succession and long-term compensation plans designed to retain our senior management team and critical colleagues, if our succession plans and retention programs do not operate effectively, our business could be adversely affected.
We strive to maintain an equitable work environment that unlocks the full potential of all of our personnel - this includes our commitment to diversity and inclusion, focus on colleague wellness and mental health, and building a flexible work environment that meets colleague and client needs. If we are unsuccessful in maintaining such a work environment or adapting to colleague needs or expectations, we could experience difficulty attracting and retaining personnel, which could have a negative impact on our business.
Our global operations expose us to various international risks that could adversely affect our business.
Our operations are conducted globally. Accordingly, we are subject to regulatory, legal, economic, and market risks associated with global operations and sourcing, including:
•difficulties in staffing and managing our offices, and overseeing joint venture operations and compliance in disparate jurisdictions, including due to unexpected inflation (including wage inflation) or job turnover, and the increased travel, infrastructure, and legal and compliance costs and risks associated with multiple international locations;
•hyperinflation in certain countries;
•conflicting regulations across the countries in which we do business;
•imposition of investment requirements or other restrictions by governments in certain countries;
•longer payment cycles;
•greater difficulties in collecting accounts receivable;
•insufficient demand for our services in certain jurisdictions;
•our ability to execute effective and efficient cross-border sourcing of services on behalf of our clients;
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•the reliance on or use of third parties to perform services on behalf of the Company;
•disparate tax regimes;
•restrictions on the import and export of technologies; and
•trade barriers.
The occurrence of natural or man-made disasters could result in declines in business and increases in claims that could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
We are exposed to various risks arising out of natural disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, fires, floods, tornadoes, extreme weather, or other climate events; pandemic health events, and man-made disasters, including acts of terrorism, civil unrest, violence, military actions, and cyber-terrorism (including, but not limited to, ransomware). The continued threat of terrorism and other events or disasters may cause significant volatility in global financial markets, and a natural or man-made disaster could trigger energy shortages, public health issues, or an economic downturn or instability in the areas directly or indirectly affected by the disaster. These consequences could, among other things, result in a decline in business and increased claims from those areas. They could also result in reduced underwriting capacity, making it more difficult for our professionals to place business. Disasters also could disrupt public and private infrastructure, including communications and financial services, which could disrupt our normal business operations. If access to underwriting markets for certain lines of coverage becomes unavailable or difficult due to the impact of climate change on the claims environment, this may have a negative impact on our clients’ access to coverage, which could in turn reduce our ability to place certain lines of coverage and negatively impact our business.
A natural or man-made disaster also could disrupt the operations of our counterparties or result in increased prices for the products and services they provide to us. In addition, a disaster could adversely affect the value of the assets in our investment portfolio. Finally, a natural or man-made disaster could increase the incidence or severity of E&O claims against us. Climate change may increase the likelihood or severity of a natural or man-made disaster.
Our inability to successfully recover should we experience a disaster or other business continuity problem could cause material financial loss, loss of human capital, regulatory actions, reputational harm, or legal liability.
Our operations are dependent upon our ability to protect our personnel, offices, and technology infrastructure against damage from business continuity events that could have a significant disruptive effect on our operations. Should we experience a local or regional disaster or other business continuity problem, such as a security incident or attack, a natural disaster, climate event, terrorist attack, pandemic, power loss, telecommunications failure, or other natural or man-made disaster, our continued success will depend, in part, on the availability of our personnel and office facilities, and the proper functioning of computer systems, telecommunications, and other related systems and operations. In events like these, while our operational size, the multiple locations from which we operate, and our existing back-up systems provide us with some degree of flexibility, we still can experience near-term operational challenges in particular areas of our operations. We could potentially lose access to key executives, personnel, or client data or experience material adverse interruptions to our operations or delivery of services to our clients in a disaster recovery scenario. A disaster on a significant scale or affecting certain of our key operating areas within or across regions, or our inability to successfully recover should we experience a disaster or other business continuity problem, could materially interrupt our business operations and cause material financial loss, loss of human capital, regulatory actions, reputational harm, damaged client relationships, or legal liability.
We rely on third parties to perform key functions of our business operations enabling our provision of services to our clients. These third parties may act in ways that could harm our business.
We rely on third parties, and in some cases subcontractors, to provide services, data, and information such as technology, information security, funds transfers, data processing, support functions, and administration that are critical to the operations of our business. These third parties include correspondents, agents and other brokerage and intermediaries, insurance markets, data providers, plan trustees, payroll service providers, benefits administrators, software and system vendors, business process outsourcing providers, health plan providers, investment managers, and providers of human resources, among others. As we do not fully control the actions of these third parties, we are subject to the risk that their decisions, actions, or inactions may adversely impact us and replacing these service providers could create significant delay and expense. A failure by third parties to comply with service level agreements or regulatory or legal requirements in a high quality and timely manner, particularly during periods of our peak demand for their services, could result in economic and reputational harm to us. In addition, we face risks as we transition from in-house functions to third- party support functions and providers that there may be disruptions in service or other unintended results that may adversely affect our business operations. These third parties face their own technology, operating, business, and economic risks, and any significant failures by them, including the improper use or disclosure of our confidential client, employee, or company information, could cause harm to our business and reputation. An
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interruption in or the cessation of service by any service provider as a result of systems failures, cybersecurity incidents (including, but not limited to, ransomware), capacity constraints, financial difficulties, or for any other reason could disrupt our operations, impact our ability to offer certain products and services, and result in contractual or regulatory penalties, liability claims from clients, or employees, damage to our reputation, and harm to our business.
Our business is exposed to risks associated with the handling of client funds.
Certain of our businesses collect premiums from insureds and remits the premiums to the respective insurers. We also collect claims or refunds from insurers on behalf of insureds, which are then remitted to the insureds. Consequently, at any given time, we may be holding and managing funds of our clients. This function creates a risk of loss arising from, among other things, fraud by employees or third parties, execution of unauthorized transactions, errors relating to transaction processing, or other cybersecurity events or security breaches. We are also potentially at risk in the event the financial institution in which we hold these funds suffers any kind of insolvency or liquidity event. The occurrence of any of these types of events in connection with this function could cause us financial loss and reputational harm.
In connection with the implementation of our corporate strategies and initiatives, we face risks associated with, among others, the acquisition or disposition of businesses, the integration and development of acquired businesses, and the entry into new lines of business or products.
In pursuing our corporate strategy, we often acquire other businesses or dispose of or exit businesses we currently own and we routinely are actively engaged in the process of identifying, analyzing, and negotiating possible transactions. The success of this strategy is dependent upon our ability to identify appropriate acquisition and disposition targets, negotiate transactions on favorable terms, secure regulatory approval of transactions where required, complete transactions and, in the case of acquisitions, successfully integrate them into our existing businesses and culture. If a proposed transaction is not consummated, the time and resources spent pursuing it could adversely impact employees, clients and shareholders and the failure to consummate a proposed transaction could result in payment of termination fees and reimbursement of expenses, reputational harm, disputes and litigation and missed opportunities to locate and acquire other businesses. If acquisitions are made, there can be no assurance that we will realize the anticipated benefits of such acquisitions, including, but not limited to, revenue growth, operational efficiencies, or expected synergies, and we could incur unexpected costs in connection with integration. If we dispose of or otherwise exit certain businesses, there can be no assurance that we will not incur certain disposition related charges, will not be subject to post-closing liabilities, obligations or restrictions, will be able to reduce overhead related to the divested assets, or will realize the intended benefits of the disposition.
We may enter new lines of business or offer new products and services within existing lines of business either through acquisitions or through initiatives to generate organic revenue growth. These new lines of business, products, and services present the Company with additional risks, particularly in instances where the markets are new or not fully developed. Such risks include the investment of significant time and resources; the possibility that these efforts will be not be successful; the possibility that the marketplace does not accept our products or services or that we are unable to retain clients that adopt our new products or services; and the risk of new or additional liabilities associated with these efforts. In addition, many of the businesses that we acquire and develop will likely have significantly smaller scales of operations prior to the implementation of our growth strategy. If we are not able to manage the growing complexity of these businesses, including improving, refining, or revising our systems and operational practices, and enlarging the scale and scope of the businesses, our business may be adversely affected. Other risks include developing knowledge of and experience in the new business, product or service, integrating the acquired business into our systems and culture, recruiting and retaining experienced professionals, and developing and capitalizing on new relationships with experienced market participants. External factors, such as compliance with new or revised regulations, competitive alternatives, and shifting market preferences may also impact the successful implementation of a new line of business, products, or services. Failure to manage these risks in the acquisition or development of new businesses could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
We are subject to various risks and uncertainties in connection with the sale of the Divested Business.
On May 1, 2017, the Company completed the sale of the benefits administration and business process outsourcing business (the “Divested Business) to an entity controlled by affiliates of The Blackstone Group L.P. (the “Buyer”). This transaction carries inherent risks, including the risk that we will not earn the $500 million of additional consideration or otherwise realize the intended value of the transaction.
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Risks Related to Technology, Cybersecurity, and Data Protection
We rely on complex information technology systems and networks to operate our business. Any significant system or network disruption due to a breach in the security of our information technology systems could have a negative impact on our reputation, operations, sales, and operating results.
We rely on the efficient, uninterrupted, and secure operation of complex information technology systems and networks, some of which are within the Company and some of which are outsourced to third parties. All information technology systems are potentially vulnerable to damage or interruption from a variety of sources, including but not limited to cyber-attacks, computer viruses, security breaches, and unauthorized access or improper actions by insiders or employees. We are at risk of attack by a growing list of adversaries through new and increasingly sophisticated methods of attack, including methods that take advantage of remote work scenarios due to COVID-19. Because the techniques used to obtain unauthorized access or sabotage systems change frequently, we may be unable to anticipate these techniques, implement adequate preventative measures, or detect and respond quickly enough in the event of an incident or attack. We regularly experience social engineering attempts, attacks to our systems and networks and have from time to time experienced cybersecurity incidents, such as computer viruses, unauthorized parties gaining access to our information technology systems, ransomware incidents, data loss via malicious and non-malicious methods, and similar incidents, which to date have not had a material impact on our business. If we are unable to efficiently and effectively maintain and upgrade our system safeguards, we may incur unexpected costs and certain of our systems may become more vulnerable to unauthorized access. Problems with the information technology systems of vendors, including breakdowns or other disruptions in communication services provided by a vendor, failure of a vendor to handle current or higher volumes, difficulties in the migration of services or data to third parties or the cloud hosted by third parties, cyber-attacks, and security breaches could adversely affect our ability to deliver products and services to customers and otherwise conduct business. Additionally, we are a global and acquisitive organization and we therefore might not adequately identify weaknesses in certain of our information systems, including those of targets we acquire, which could expose us to unexpected liabilities and fines or make our own systems more vulnerable to attack. These types of incidents affecting us, our clients, insurance carriers, vendors, or other third-parties could result in intellectual property or other confidential information being lost or stolen, including client or employee personal information or company data.
We have implemented various measures to manage our risks related to system and network security and disruptions, but a security breach or a significant or extended disruption in the functioning of our information technology systems could damage our reputation, cause us to lose clients, adversely impact our operations, sales, and operating results, and require us to incur significant expense and divert resources to address and remediate or otherwise resolve such issues. Additionally, in order to maintain the level of security, service, and reliability that our clients require, we may be required to make significant additional investments in our information technology system.
Improper disclosure of confidential, personal, or proprietary data could result in regulatory scrutiny, legal liability, or harm to our reputation.
One of our significant responsibilities is to maintain the security and privacy of our employees’ and clients’ confidential and proprietary information, including confidential information about our clients’ and employees’ compensation, medical information, and other personally identifiable information. We maintain policies, procedures, and technological safeguards designed to protect the security and privacy of this information. Nonetheless, we cannot eliminate the risk of human error, employee or vendor malfeasance, or cyber-attacks that could result in improper access to or disclosure of confidential, personal, or proprietary information. Such access or disclosure could harm our reputation and subject us to liability under our contracts and laws and regulations that protect personal data, resulting in increased costs, fines, loss of revenue, and loss of clients. The release of confidential information as a result of a security breach could also lead to litigation or other proceedings against us by affected individuals or business partners, or by regulators, and the outcome of such proceedings, which could include penalties or fines, could have a significant negative impact on our business.
In many jurisdictions, including in the E.U. and the U.S., we are subject to laws and regulations relating to the collection, use, retention, security, and transfer of this information. These laws and regulations are frequently changing and are becoming increasingly complex and sometimes conflict among the various jurisdictions and countries in which we provide services both in terms of substance and in terms of enforceability. This makes compliance challenging and expensive. Additionally, certain jurisdictions’ regulations include notice provisions that may require us to inform affected clients or employees in the event of a breach of confidential information before we fully understand or appreciate the extent of the breach. These notice provisions present operational challenges and related risk. In particular, in 2021 there have been a number of new privacy laws around the globe including China, Brazil and significant privacy rulings in the E.U. relating to the “Schrems II” case, which imposed significant changes to the way companies export personal data from the E.U. We have had to implement new requirements set out in these laws within our business before the effective date causing distraction from other aspects of our business. This new guidance issued to firms by the European Regulators has and will continue to require significant time to implement and may require significant effort to review and effect applicable changes to IT systems and transfer methods. Non-compliance with new
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and existing laws could result in proceedings against us by governmental entities or others and additional costs in connection therewith. We expect additional jurisdictions to continue to adopt new privacy regulations and there to be amendments to existing regulations as governments continue to legislate in respect of personal data. We have and will continue to incur expenses and devote resources to bring our practices into compliance with these regulations and future regulations. Our failure to comply with or successfully implement processes in response to changing regulatory requirements in this area could result in legal liability, result in proceedings or fines against us by governmental entities or others, or impair our reputation in the marketplace. Further, regulatory initiatives in the area of data protection are more frequently including provisions allowing authorities to impose substantial fines and penalties, and therefore, failure to comply could also have a significant financial impact.
Our business performance and growth plans could be negatively affected if we are not able to develop, implement, update, and enhance technology-based solutions to support our business operations or if we are not able to effectively drive value for our clients through innovation and technology-based solutions.
Our success depends, in part, on our ability to enhance and implement the technology systems necessary to operate our businesses and to achieve intended efficiencies and improvements. We may not be successful in anticipating or responding to rapid and continuing changes in technology, industry standards and client preferences. The effort to gain technological expertise, develop new technologies in our business, and achieve internal efficiencies through technology require us to incur significant expenses.
We also make investments in technology-based solutions, including data and analytics solutions, for our clients. If we cannot innovate as quickly as our competitors, if our competitors develop more cost-effective technologies, or if our ideas are not accepted in the marketplace, it could have a material adverse effect on our ability to obtain and complete client engagements. For example, we have invested significantly in the development of our proprietary data and analytics tools including repositories of global insurance and reinsurance placement information, which we use to drive results for our clients in the insurance and reinsurance placement process. Our competitors are developing competing data and analytics tools, and their success in this space may impact our ability to differentiate our services to our clients through the use of unique technological solutions. Innovations in software, cloud computing, data and analytics or other technologies that alter how our services are delivered could significantly undermine our investment in the business if we are slow to innovate or unable to take advantage of these developments.
Risks Related to Being an Irish-incorporated Company
We are incorporated in Ireland, and Irish law differs from the laws in effect in the U.S. and may afford less protection to holders of our securities.
It may not be possible to enforce court judgments obtained in the U.S. against us in Ireland, based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal or state securities laws. In addition, there is some uncertainty as to whether the courts of Ireland would recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained against us or our directors or officers based on the civil liabilities provisions of the U.S. federal or state securities laws or hear actions against us or those persons based on those laws. We have been advised that the U.S. currently does not have a treaty with Ireland providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters. Therefore, a final judgment for the payment of money rendered by any U.S. federal or state court based on civil liability, whether or not based solely on U.S. federal or state securities laws, would not automatically be enforceable in Ireland.
As an Irish company, we are governed by the Irish Companies Act, which differs in some material respects from laws generally applicable to U.S. corporations and shareholders, including, among others, differences relating to interested director and officer transactions and shareholder lawsuits. Likewise, the duties of directors and officers of an Irish company generally are owed to the company only. Shareholders of Irish companies generally do not have a personal right of action against directors or officers of the company and may exercise such rights of action on behalf of the company only in limited circumstances. Accordingly, holders of our securities may have more difficulty protecting their interests than would holders of securities of a corporation incorporated in a jurisdiction of the U.S.
In addition, depending on the circumstances, the acquisition, ownership and/or disposition of our ordinary shares may subject shareholders to different or additional tax consequences under Irish law including, but not limited to, Irish stamp duty, dividend withholding tax and capital acquisitions tax.
As an Irish public limited company, certain capital structure decisions regarding the Company will require the approval of shareholders, which may limit the Company’s flexibility to manage its capital structure.
Irish law generally provides that a board of directors may allot and issue shares (or rights to subscribe for or convert into shares) if authorized to do so by a company’s constitution or by an ordinary resolution of shareholders. Such authorization may
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be granted in respect of up to the entirety of a company’s authorized but unissued share capital and for a maximum period of five years, at which point it must be renewed by another ordinary resolution. The Company’s constitution authorizes our directors to allot shares up to the maximum of the Company’s authorized but unissued share capital for a period of five years from March 31, 2020. This authorization will need to be renewed by ordinary resolution upon its expiration and at periodic intervals thereafter. Under Irish law, an allotment authority may be given for up to five years at each renewal, but governance considerations may result in renewals for shorter periods or in respect of less than the maximum permitted number of shares being sought or approved.
Irish law also generally provides shareholders with statutory pre-emption rights when new shares are issued for cash. However, it is possible for such statutory pre-emption rights to be dis-applied in a company’s constitution or by a special resolution of shareholders. Such dis-application of pre-emption rights may be given in respect of up to the entirety of a company’s authorized but unissued share capital and for a maximum period of five years, at which point it must be renewed by another special resolution. The Company’s constitution dis-applies statutory pre-emption rights up to the maximum of the Company’s authorized but unissued share capital for a period of five years from March 31, 2020. This dis-application will need to be renewed by special resolution upon its expiration and at periodic intervals thereafter. Under Irish law, a dis-application of statutory pre-emption rights may be given for up to five years at each renewal, but governance considerations may result in renewals for shorter periods or in respect of less than the maximum permitted number of unissued shares being sought or approved.
Irish law requires us to have available “distributable profits” to pay dividends to shareholder and generally to make share repurchases and redemptions.
Under Irish law, we may only pay dividends and, generally, make share repurchases and redemptions from distributable profits. Distributable profits may be created through the earnings of the Company or other methods (including certain intra-group reorganizations involving the capitalization of the Company’s un-distributable profits and their subsequent reduction). While it is our intention to maintain a sufficient level of distributable profits in order to pay dividends on our ordinary shares and make share repurchases, there is no assurance that the Company will maintain the necessary level of distributable profits to do so.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2. Properties
We have offices in various locations throughout the world. Substantially all of our offices are located in leased premises. We maintain our corporate headquarters at Metropolitan Building, James Joyce Street, Dublin 1, Ireland, where we occupy approximately 43,000 square feet of space under an operating lease agreement that expires in 2032. The following are additional significant leased properties, along with the occupied square footage and expiration.
| Property: | Occupied Square Footage | Lease Expiration Dates | |||||||||
| 200 E. Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois | 312,000 | 2028 | |||||||||
| 165 Broadway, New York, New York | 217,000 | 2028 | |||||||||
| 122 Leadenhall Street, London, England | 178,000 | 2034 | |||||||||
| 4 Overlook Point, Lincolnshire, Illinois | 174,000 | 2024 | |||||||||
As leases expire, we do not anticipate difficulty in negotiating renewals or finding other satisfactory space if the premise becomes unavailable. We believe that the facilities we currently occupy are adequate for the purposes for which they are being used and are well maintained. In certain circumstances, we may have unused space and may seek to sublet such space to third parties, depending upon the demands for office space in the locations involved. Due to COVID-19, the vast majority of colleagues are working remotely. We continue to be fully operational and to reoccupy certain offices in phases, where deemed appropriate and in compliance with governmental restrictions considering the impact on health and safety of our colleagues, their families, and our clients, and we have restricted or minimized access to offices where appropriate to support the health and safety of our colleagues. See Note 8 “Lease Commitments” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report for information with respect to our lease commitments as of December 31, 2021.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
We hereby incorporate by reference Note 15 “Claims, Lawsuits, and Other Contingencies” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
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Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosure
Not applicable.
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Information about our Executive Officers
The executive officers of Aon, as of February 18, 2022 unless otherwise noted, their business experience during a period of the last five years or longer, and their ages and positions held are set forth below.
| Name | Age | Position | ||||||||||||
| Eric Andersen | 57 | President. Mr. Andersen joined Aon in 1997 upon the completion of the acquisition of Minet. Mr. Andersen has served in a variety of roles during his more than 20 year career at Aon, including as Chief Executive Officer of Aon Risk Solutions Americas from 2011 to 2013, and Chief Executive Officer of Aon Benfield from September 2013 to May 2018. Mr. Andersen was appointed Co-President of the Company in May 2018 and became President in February 2020. He was named an Executive Officer in February 2017. | ||||||||||||
| Gregory C. Case | 59 | Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Case became Chief Executive Officer of Aon in April 2005. He also served as Aon’s President from April 2005 to May 2018. Prior to joining Aon, Mr. Case was a partner with McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm, for 17 years, most recently serving as head of the Financial Services Practice. He previously was responsible for McKinsey’s Global Insurance Practice and was a member of McKinsey’s governing Shareholders’ Committee. Prior to joining McKinsey, Mr. Case worked for the investment banking firm of Piper, Jaffray and Hopwood and the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. | ||||||||||||
| Christa Davies | 50 | Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Davies became Executive Vice President - Global Finance in November 2007. In March 2008, Ms. Davies assumed the additional role of Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Aon, Ms. Davies served for 5 years in various capacities at Microsoft Corporation, an international software company, most recently serving as Chief Financial Officer of the Platform and Services Division. Before joining Microsoft in 2002, Ms. Davies served at ninemsn, an Australian joint venture with Microsoft. | ||||||||||||
| Michael Neller | 43 | Chief Accounting Officer and Global Controller. Mr. Neller joined Aon in August 2011 as its Vice President, Technical Accounting and Policy. From December 2011 to February 2018, Mr. Neller served as Aon’s Deputy Global Controller. In this role, he was responsible for Aon’s Latin America and North America regions, as well as global accounting policy, corporate accounting, and external reporting. Before joining Aon, Mr. Neller served from July 2009 to August 2011 as a Senior Manager of KPMG LLP, an international public accounting firm, in its Department of Professional Practice (National Office). He was named Senior Vice President and Global Controller in February 2018. | ||||||||||||
| James Platt | 50 | Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Platt joined Aon in September 2014 as the Chief Executive Officer of Aon Inpoint and Head of Data & Analytics for Aon Risk Solutions and served in that role until December 2016. From January 2017 through June 2019, Mr. Platt served as the Chief Operating Officer of Aon Risk Solutions, and then from June 2019 through September 2020, as the Company’s Global Solution Lines Chief Operating Officer. From September 2020 to June 2021, Mr. Platt served as Aon’s Business Chief Operating Officer and was appointed Chief Operating Officer of the Company in June 2021. | ||||||||||||
| Jillian Slyfield | 49 | Chief Innovation Officer. Ms. Slyfield joined Aon in November 2015 as an Account Executive and later served as the Resident Sales Director for San Francisco until her appointment to Managing Director, Digital Economy Practice Leader in 2018. Ms. Slyfield was appointed Chief Innovation Officer of Aon in December 2021. Prior to joining Aon in 2015, Ms. Slyfield held client executive and commercial insurance executive positions at Marsh and Wells Fargo Insurance Services. | ||||||||||||
| Lisa Stevens | 52 | Chief People Officer and Head of Global Human Capital Solutions. Ms. Stevens joined Aon in December 2018 as Global Executive Vice President and was named as Chief People Officer in October 2019. Prior to joining Aon, Ms. Stevens held a variety of roles during her 29-year career at Wells Fargo, most recently as Executive Vice President where she led the Western Region for the Community Bank. | ||||||||||||
| Andy Weitz | 45 | Chief Marketing Officer. Mr. Weitz joined Aon in 2014 as Senior Vice President for Global Marketing and Communications. Before joining Aon, Mr. Weitz was President and CEO of the U.S. region for Hill + Knowlton Strategies, a global strategic communications consultancy. Prior to Hill + Knowlton, Mr. Weitz worked at Marsh, Inc., a global insurance brokerage, and served in various roles at Trilogy, Inc. a software company. | ||||||||||||
| Darren Zeidel | 50 | General Counsel and Company Secretary. Mr. Zeidel was named General Counsel and Company Secretary in July 2019. Prior to this Mr. Zeidel held several leadership roles with Aon, including as Deputy General Counsel immediately prior to his appointment; Global Chief Counsel - Corporate, Retirement & Investment and Health Exchanges from 2017 to 2019; and Global Chief Counsel of Aon Hewitt upon joining Aon in 2012 to 2017. Before this Mr. Zeidel worked for Honeywell, where he held business segment general counsel roles in the aerospace strategic business unit and at Honeywell UOP LLC. Mr. Zeidel began his career as an Associate in the Mergers and Acquisitions group in the New York office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP. | ||||||||||||
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PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Our class A ordinary shares, $0.01 nominal value per share, are traded on the NYSE under the trading symbol AON.
On February 17, 2022, the last reported sale price of our ordinary shares as reported by the NYSE was $281.04 per share. We have approximately 403 holders of record of our class A ordinary shares as of February 17, 2022.
The following information relates to the repurchases of equity securities by Aon or any affiliated purchaser during any month within the fourth quarter of the fiscal year covered by this report:
| Period | Total Number of Shares Purchased | Average Price Paid per Share (1) | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs (2) | Maximum Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (1) (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10/1/21 – 10/31/21 | 1,305,162 | $ | 305.71 | 1,305,162 | $ | 3,321,244,884 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 11/1/21 – 11/30/21 | 4,004,487 | $ | 298.47 | 4,004,487 | $ | 2,126,024,122 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 12/1/21 – 12/31/21 | 1,372,594 | $ | 295.62 | 1,372,594 | $ | 1,720,253,713 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 6,682,243 | $ | 299.30 | 6,682,243 | $ | 1,720,253,713 | |||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Does not include commissions or other costs paid to repurchase shares.
(2)The Repurchase Program was established in April 2012 with $5.0 billion in authorized repurchases and was increased by $5.0 billion in authorized repurchases in each of November 2014, June 2017, and November 2020, and by $7.5 billion in authorized repurchases in February 2022 for a total of $27.5 billion in repurchase authorizations.
Information relating to the compensation plans under which equity securities of Aon are authorized for issuance is set forth under Part III, Item 12 “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters” of this report and is incorporated herein by reference.
We did not make any unregistered sales of equity in 2021.
Item 6. [Reserve]
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF 2021 FINANCIAL RESULTS
Aon plc is a leading global professional services firm providing a broad range of risk, health, and wealth solutions. Through our experience, global reach, and comprehensive analytics, we are better able to help clients meet rapidly changing, increasingly complex, and interconnected challenges. We are committed to accelerating innovation to address unmet and evolving client needs, so that our clients are better informed, better advised, and able to make better decisions to protect and grow their business. Management is focused on strengthening Aon and uniting the firm with one portfolio of capability enabled by data and analytics and one operating model to deliver additional insight, connectivity, and efficiency.
Financial Results
The following is a summary of our 2021 financial results:
•Revenue increased $1.1 billion, or 10%, to $12.2 billion in 2021 compared to 2020, reflecting 9% organic revenue growth and a 2% favorable impact from foreign currency translation, partially offset by a 1% unfavorable impact from divestitures, net of acquisitions.
•Operating expenses increased $1.8 billion, or 22%, to $10.1 billion in 2021 compared to 2020 due primarily to a $1.3 billion increase in charges related to terminating the combination with WTW and related costs, increased expenses associated with 9% organic revenue growth, and a $195 million unfavorable impact from translating prior year period results at current period foreign exchange rates (“foreign currency translation”), partially offset by a $72 million decrease in amortization related to certain tradenames that were fully amortized in the second quarter of 2020 and a $58 million decrease in expenses related to divestitures, net of acquisitions.
•Operating margin decreased to 17.1% in 2021 from 25.1% in 2020. The decrease was driven by an increase in operating expenses as listed above, partially offset by organic revenue growth of 9%.
•Due to the factors set forth above, Net income was $1.3 billion in 2021, a decrease of $0.7 billion, or 35%, from 2020.
•Diluted earnings per share decreased 34% to $5.55 per share during the twelve months of 2021 compared to $8.45 per share for the prior year period.
•Cash flows provided by operating activities was $2.2 billion in 2021, a decrease of $0.6 billion, or 22%, from $2.8 billion in 2020, primarily due to the $1 billion termination fee payment and additional payments related to terminating the combination with WTW, partially offset by strong revenue growth.
We focus on four key metrics not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP that we communicate to shareholders: organic revenue growth, adjusted operating margin, adjusted diluted earnings per share, and free cash flow. These non-GAAP metrics should be viewed in addition to, not instead of, our Consolidated Financial Statements. The following is our measure of performance against these four metrics for 2021:
•Organic revenue growth, a non-GAAP measure defined under the caption “Review of Consolidated Results — Organic Revenue Growth,” was 9% in 2021, compared to 1% organic growth in the prior year.
•Adjusted operating margin, a non-GAAP measure defined under the caption “Review of Consolidated Results — Adjusted Operating Margin,” was 30.1% in 2021, compared to 28.5% in the prior year. The increase in adjusted operating margin primarily reflects 9% organic revenue growth and a favorable impact from foreign currency translation of $63 million.
•Adjusted diluted earnings per share, a non-GAAP measure defined under the caption “Review of Consolidated Results — Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share,” was $12.00 per share in 2021, an increase of $2.19 per share, or 22%, from $9.81 per share in 2020. The increase in adjusted diluted earnings per share primarily reflects strong operational performance and effective capital management, highlighted by $3.5 billion of share repurchase during 2021, and a favorable impact from foreign currency translation.
•Free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure defined under the caption “Review of Consolidated Results — Free Cash Flow,” was $2.0 billion in 2021, a decrease of $597 million, or 23%, from $2.6 billion in 2020, reflecting a decrease in cash flows from operations, partially offset by a $4 million decrease in capital expenditures.
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BUSINESS OVERVIEW
In the third quarter of 2021, we announced a realignment of our principal service lines to the following: Commercial Risk Solutions, Reinsurance Solutions, Health Solutions, and Wealth Solutions. Realignment to these four solution lines results in the following changes in the presentation of our principal service line reporting:
•Data & Analytic Services’ revenue and organic revenue results, which were previously reported as a separate principal service line and include Affinity, Aon Inpoint, CoverWallet, and ReView, are included within Commercial Risk Solutions.
•Human Capital, which was previously reported within Retirement Solutions, is included within Health Solutions’ revenue and organic revenue results.
•Wealth Solutions includes revenue and organic revenue results for all businesses previously reported within Retirement Solutions, excluding Human Capital.
The changes in the solution line structure affects only the manner in which our revenue and organic revenue results for our principal service lines were previously reported and have no impact our previously reported Consolidated Financial Statements, results of operations, or total organic revenue growth. We continue to operate as one segment that includes all of our operations. See the “Principal Products and Services” section in Part I, Item 1 of this report for information on each of the four principal service lines.
TERMINATION OF BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT
On March 9, 2020, we and WTW entered into a Business Combination Agreement with respect to a combination of the parties (the “Combination”). The parties’ respective shareholders approved the Combination on August 26, 2020.
On June 16, 2021, the DOJ filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against the Company and WTW in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia seeking to enjoin the Combination. On July 26, 2021, the Company and WTW mutually agreed to terminate the Business Combination Agreement (the “Termination Agreement”). Pursuant to the Termination Agreement, the Business Combination Agreement was terminated and a termination fee of $1 billion (the “Termination Fee”) was paid to WTW. Following the termination, the lawsuit by the DOJ was dismissed.
Aon Corporation, a subsidiary of Aon plc, paid the Termination Fee to WTW on July 27, 2021, reflecting that U.S. business services provided by Aon Corporation and its subsidiaries were the primary focus of the DOJ’s challenge to our proposed combination. The Termination Fee was paid to defend the existing U.S. business of Aon Corporation and to avoid additional remedy divestitures of critical Aon Corporation business segments in the U.S. and the continuing delay and uncertainty in completing the combination.
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
The outbreak of the coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, was declared by the World Health Organization to be a pandemic and has impacted almost all countries, in varying degrees, creating significant public health concerns, and significant volatility, uncertainty, and economic disruption in every region in which we operate. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted, and may continue to result, in significant economic disruption and volatility, although in recent months progress has been made in the development and distribution of vaccines, contributing to overall improved economic conditions globally, despite recent developments as a result of the Delta and Omicron variants. We continue to closely monitor the situation and its impacts on our business, liquidity, and capital planning initiatives. We continue to be fully operational and to reoccupy certain offices in phases, where deemed appropriate and in compliance with governmental restrictions considering the impact on health and safety of our colleagues, their families, and our clients, and we have restricted or minimized access to offices where appropriate to support the health and safety of our colleagues. We continue to deploy business continuity protocols to facilitate remote working capabilities to ensure the health and safety of our colleagues and to comply with public health and travel guidelines and restrictions.
As the situation continues to evolve, the scale and duration of disruption cannot be predicted, and it is not possible to quantify or estimate the full impact that COVID-19 will have on our business. While we continue to focus on managing our cash flow to meet liquidity needs, our results of operations, particularly with respect to our more discretionary revenues, may be adversely affected. However, for the year ended December 31, 2021, the impacts of COVID-19 on our business results have lessened and we have seen overall strength across the firm. We continue to monitor the situation closely.
The impacts of the pandemic on our business operations and results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021 are further described in the sections entitled “Review of Consolidated Results” and “Liquidity and Financial Condition” contained in Part II, Item 7 of this report.
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ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, AND GOVERNANCE
For many companies, the management of ESG risks and opportunities has become increasingly important. Aon offers a wide range of consulting and advisory solutions designed to address and manage ESG issues for clients. We view ESG risks as presenting an important opportunity to help clients and improve our impact on ESG matters.
REVIEW OF CONSOLIDATED RESULTS
Summary of Results
Our consolidated results are as follow (in millions, except per share data):
| Years Ended December 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenue | $ | 12,193 | $ | 11,066 | $ | 11,013 | ||||||||||||||
| Expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Compensation and benefits | 6,738 | 5,905 | 6,054 | |||||||||||||||||
| Information technology | 477 | 444 | 494 | |||||||||||||||||
| Premises | 327 | 291 | 339 | |||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation of fixed assets | 179 | 167 | 172 | |||||||||||||||||
| Amortization and impairment of intangible assets | 147 | 246 | 392 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other general expense | 2,235 | 1,232 | 1,393 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 10,103 | 8,285 | 8,844 | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | 2,090 | 2,781 | 2,169 | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest income | 11 | 6 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | (322) | (334) | (307) | |||||||||||||||||
| Other income | 152 | 13 | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 1,931 | 2,466 | 1,870 | |||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | 623 | 448 | 297 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income | 1,308 | 2,018 | 1,573 | |||||||||||||||||
| Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | 53 | 49 | 41 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Aon shareholders | $ | 1,255 | $ | 1,969 | $ | 1,532 | ||||||||||||||
| Diluted net income per share attributable to Aon shareholders | $ | 5.55 | $ | 8.45 | $ | 6.37 | ||||||||||||||
| Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding - diluted | 226.1 | 233.1 | 240.6 | |||||||||||||||||
Consolidated Results for 2021 Compared to 2020
Revenue
Total revenue increased $1.1 billion, or 10%, to $12.2 billion in 2021, compared to $11.1 billion in 2020. The increase was driven by 9% organic revenue growth and a 2% favorable impact from foreign currency translation, partially offset by a 1% unfavorable impact from divestitures, net of acquisitions.
Commercial Risk Solutions revenue increased $774 million, or 13%, to $6.6 billion in 2021, compared to $5.9 billion in 2020. Organic revenue growth was 11% in 2021, reflecting growth across every major geography, driven by strong new business generation, retention, and management of the renewal book portfolio. Strength in retail brokerage was highlighted by double-digit growth in the U.S., Latin America, and Asia. Results also reflect growth in the more discretionary portions of the business, including double-digit growth in transaction solutions and project-related work. On average globally, exposures and pricing were both modestly positive, which resulted in a modestly positive market impact overall.
Reinsurance Solutions revenue increased $183 million, or 10%, to $2.0 billion in 2021, compared to $1.8 billion in 2020. Organic revenue growth was 8% in 2021 driven by strong net new business generation in treaty, as well as solid growth in facultative placements and double-digit growth in capital markets transactions. In addition, market impact was modestly positive on results.
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Health Solutions revenue increased $87 million, or 4%, to $2.2 billion in 2021, compared to $2.1 billion in 2020. Organic revenue growth was 10% in 2021 driven by double-digit growth in human capital due to growth in both rewards and assessments solutions. In health and benefits brokerage, solid growth globally in the core was driven by strong retention and management of the renewal book portfolio, as well as growth in the more discretionary portions of the business, including double-digit growth in voluntary benefits and enrollment solutions and project-related work.
Wealth Solutions revenue increased $85 million, or 6%, to $1.4 billion in 2021, compared to $1.3 billion in 2020. Organic revenue growth was 2% in 2021 driven by growth in investments, including solid growth in delegated investment management, as well as growth in retirement, primarily from higher utilization rates and project-related work.
Compensation and Benefits
Compensation and benefits increased $833 million, or 14%, in 2021 compared to 2020. The increase was primarily driven by an increase in expense associated with 9% organic revenue growth, a $245 million increase in charges related to terminating the combination with WTW and related costs, and a $151 million unfavorable impact from foreign currency translation, partially offset by a $17 million decrease in expenses related to divestitures, net of acquisitions.
Information Technology
Information technology, which represents costs associated with supporting and maintaining our infrastructure, increased $33 million, or 7%, in 2021 compared to 2020. The increase was primarily driven by a $17 million increase in charges related to terminating the combination with WTW and related costs, an increase in expense associated with 9% organic revenue growth, investments in long-term growth, and a $5 million unfavorable impact from foreign currency translation.
Premises
Premises, which represents the cost of occupying offices in various locations throughout the world, increased $36 million, or 12%, in 2021 compared to 2020. The increase was primarily driven by a $22 million increase in charges related to terminating the combination with WTW and related costs and a $10 million unfavorable impact from foreign currency translation.
Depreciation of Fixed Assets
Depreciation of fixed assets primarily relates to software, leasehold improvements, furniture, fixtures and equipment, computer equipment, buildings, and automobiles. Depreciation of fixed assets increased $12 million, or 7%, in 2021 compared to 2020. The increase was primarily driven by a $16 million increase in charges related to terminating the combination with WTW and related costs.
Amortization and Impairment of Intangible Assets
Amortization and impairment of intangibles primarily relates to finite-lived tradenames and customer-related, contract-based, and technology assets. Amortization and impairment of intangibles decreased $99 million, or 40%, in 2021 compared to 2020. The decrease was primarily driven by a $72 million decrease from certain tradenames that were fully amortized in the second quarter of 2020.
Other General Expenses
Other general expenses increased $1.0 billion, or 81%, in 2021 compared to 2020. The increase was primarily driven by a $1.0 billion increase in charges related to terminating the combination with WTW and related costs, a $21 million unfavorable impact from foreign currency translation, and an increase in expense associated with 9% organic revenue growth, partially offset by a $37 million decrease in expenses related to divestitures, net of acquisitions.
Interest Income
Interest income represents income earned on operating cash balances and other income-producing investments. It does not include interest earned on Funds held on behalf of clients. Interest income was $11 million in 2021, an increase of $5 million, or 83%, from 2020.
Interest Expense
Interest expense, which represents the cost of our debt obligations, was $322 million in 2021, a decrease of $12 million, or 4%, from 2020. The decrease was primarily driven by lower average outstanding term debt.
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Other Income
Other income was $152 million in 2021, compared to $13 million in 2020. Other income in 2021 primarily includes $142 million of gains from the disposal of business, compared to $25 million in 2020.
Income before Income Taxes
Due to factors described above, income before income taxes was $1.9 billion in 2021, a 22% decrease from $2.5 billion in 2020. The decrease was primarily driven by a $1.0 billion increase in charges related to terminating the combination with WTW and related costs, as previously described.
Income Taxes
The effective tax rate on net income was 32.3% in 2021 and 18.2% in 2020. The primary drivers of the 2021 tax rate were the impact of the Termination Fee, the U.K. statutory tax rate increase, and the tax benefit of share-based payments. The U.K. enacted legislation in the second quarter of 2021 which increases the corporate income tax rate from 19% to 25% with effect from April 1, 2023 and the Company remeasured its U.K. deferred tax assets and liabilities accordingly.
The 2020 tax rate was primarily driven by the geographical distribution of income, as well as certain discrete items, primarily the favorable impacts of share-based payments and the release of a valuation allowance.
Net Income Attributable to Aon Shareholders
Net income attributable to Aon shareholders decreased to $1.3 billion, or $5.55 per diluted share, in 2021, compared to $2.0 billion, or $8.45 per diluted share, in 2020.
Consolidated Results for 2020 Compared to 2019
We have elected not to include a discussion of our consolidated results for 2020 compared to 2019 in this report in reliance upon Instruction 1 to Item 303(b) of Regulation S-K. This discussion can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, which was filed with the SEC on February 19, 2021.
Non-GAAP Metrics
In our discussion of consolidated results, we sometimes refer to certain non-GAAP supplemental information derived from consolidated financial information specifically related to organic revenue growth (decline), adjusted operating margin, adjusted diluted earnings per share, free cash flow, and the impact of foreign exchange rate fluctuations on operating results. Management believes that these measures are important to make meaningful period-to-period comparisons and that this supplemental information is helpful to investors. Management also uses these measures to assess operating performance and performance for compensation. This non-GAAP supplemental information should be viewed in addition to, not instead of, our Consolidated Financial Statements.
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Organic Revenue Growth (Decline)
We use supplemental information related to organic revenue growth (decline) to help us and our investors evaluate business growth from existing operations. Organic revenue growth (decline) is a non-GAAP measure that includes the impact of intercompany activity and excludes the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates, fiduciary investment income, acquisitions, divestitures, transfers between revenue lines, and gains or losses on derivatives accounted for as hedges. This supplemental information related to organic revenue growth (decline) represents a measure not in accordance with U.S. GAAP and should be viewed in addition to, not instead of, our Consolidated Financial Statements. Industry peers provide similar supplemental information about their revenue performance, although they may not make identical adjustments. A reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure to the reported Total revenue is as follows (in millions, except percentages):
| Years Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | % Change | Less: Currency Impact (1) | Less: Fiduciary Investment Income (2) | Less: Acquisitions, Divestitures & Other | Organic Revenue Growth (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commercial Risk Solutions | $ | 6,635 | $ | 5,861 | 13 | % | 2 | % | — | % | — | % | 11 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reinsurance Solutions | 1,997 | 1,814 | 10 | 2 | — | — | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Health Solutions | 2,154 | 2,067 | 4 | 2 | — | (8) | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wealth Solutions | 1,426 | 1,341 | 6 | 3 | — | 1 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elimination | (19) | (17) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenue | $ | 12,193 | $ | 11,066 | 10 | % | 2 | % | — | % | (1) | % | 9 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dec 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2019 | % Change | Less: Currency Impact (1) | Less: Fiduciary Investment Income (2) | Less: Acquisitions, Divestitures & Other | Organic Revenue Growth (Decline) (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commercial Risk Solutions | $ | 5,861 | $ | 5,857 | — | % | — | % | — | % | (1) | % | 1 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reinsurance Solutions | 1,814 | 1,686 | 8 | — | (1) | (1) | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Health Solutions | 2,067 | 2,104 | (2) | (1) | — | 1 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wealth Solutions | 1,341 | 1,380 | (3) | — | — | (2) | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elimination | (17) | (14) | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenue | $ | 11,066 | $ | 11,013 | — | % | — | % | — | % | (1) | % | 1 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Currency impact is determined by translating last year’s revenue at this year’s foreign exchange rates.
(2)Fiduciary investment income for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 was $8 million and $27 million, respectively.
(3)Organic revenue growth (decline) includes the impact of intercompany activity, changes in foreign exchange rates, fiduciary investment income, acquisitions, divestitures, transfers between revenue lines, and gains or losses on derivatives accounted for as hedges.
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Adjusted Operating Margin
We use adjusted operating margin as a non-GAAP measure of core operating performance of the Company. Adjusted operating margin excludes the impact of certain items, as listed below, because management does not believe these expenses reflect our core operating performance. This supplemental information related to adjusted operating margin represents a measure not in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and should be viewed in addition to, not instead of, our Consolidated Financial Statements.
A reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure to reported operating margins is as follows (in millions, except percentages):
| Years Ended December 31 | ||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||
| Revenue | $ | 12,193 | $ | 11,066 | ||||||||||
| Operating income - as reported | $ | 2,090 | $ | 2,781 | ||||||||||
| Amortization and impairment of intangible assets | 147 | 246 | ||||||||||||
Transaction costs and other charges related to the combination and resulting termination (1) | 1,436 | 123 | ||||||||||||
| Operating income - as adjusted | $ | 3,673 | $ | 3,150 | ||||||||||
| Operating margin - as reported | 17.1 | % | 25.1 | % | ||||||||||
| Operating margin - as adjusted | 30.1 | % | 28.5 | % | ||||||||||
(1)As part of the terminated combination with WTW, certain transaction costs have been incurred by us in 2021. These costs may include advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees related to the combination, including planned divestitures that have been terminated, as well as certain compensation expenses and expenses related to further steps on our Aon United operating model as a result of the termination. Additionally, this includes the $1 billion Termination Fee paid in connection with the termination of the combination.
Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share
We use adjusted diluted earnings per share as a non-GAAP measure of our core operating performance. Adjusted diluted earnings per share excludes the items identified above, along with pension settlements and related income taxes, because management does not believe these expenses are representative of our core earnings. This supplemental information related to adjusted diluted earnings per share represents a measure not in accordance with U.S. GAAP and should be viewed in addition to, not instead of, our Consolidated Financial Statements. A reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure to reported diluted earnings per share is as follows (in millions, except per share data and percentages):
| Year Ended December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. GAAP | Adjustments | Non-GAAP Adjusted | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | $ | 2,090 | $ | 1,583 | $ | 3,673 | ||||||||||||||
| Interest income | 11 | — | 11 | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | (322) | — | (322) | |||||||||||||||||
Other income (1) | 152 | (124) | 28 | |||||||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 1,931 | 1,459 | 3,390 | |||||||||||||||||
Income tax expense (2) | 623 | — | 623 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income | 1,308 | 1,459 | 2,767 | |||||||||||||||||
| Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | 53 | — | 53 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Aon shareholders | $ | 1,255 | $ | 1,459 | $ | 2,714 | ||||||||||||||
| Diluted net income per share attributable to Aon shareholders | $ | 5.55 | $ | 6.45 | $ | 12.00 | ||||||||||||||
| Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding — diluted | 226.1 | — | 226.1 | |||||||||||||||||
Effective tax rates (2) | 32.3 | % | 18.4 | % | ||||||||||||||||
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| Year Ended December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. GAAP | Adjustments | Non-GAAP Adjusted | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | $ | 2,781 | $ | 369 | $ | 3,150 | ||||||||||||||
| Interest income | 6 | — | 6 | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | (334) | — | (334) | |||||||||||||||||
Other income (3) | 13 | — | 13 | |||||||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 2,466 | 369 | 2,835 | |||||||||||||||||
Income tax expense (2) | 448 | 51 | 499 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income | 2,018 | 318 | 2,336 | |||||||||||||||||
| Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | 49 | — | 49 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Aon shareholders | $ | 1,969 | $ | 318 | $ | 2,287 | ||||||||||||||
| Diluted net income per share attributable to Aon shareholders | $ | 8.45 | $ | 1.36 | $ | 9.81 | ||||||||||||||
| Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding — diluted | 233.1 | — | 233.1 | |||||||||||||||||
Effective tax rates (2) | 18.2 | % | 17.6 | % | ||||||||||||||||
(1)Adjusted Other income excludes gains from dispositions of $124 million, for the year ended December 31, 2021.
(2)Adjusted items are generally taxed at the estimated annual effective tax rate, except for the applicable tax impact associated with accelerated tradename amortization, impairment charges, certain gains from dispositions, and certain transaction costs and other charges related to the combination and resulting termination, which are adjusted at the related jurisdictional rate. In addition, income tax expense for the year ended December 30, 2021 excludes the impact of remeasuring the net deferred tax liabilities in the U.K. as a result of the corporate income tax rate increase enacted in the second quarter of 2021.
(3)There was $1 million of income for the year ended December 31, 2020, including the related tax effect, from discontinued operations recognized in Net Income from discontinued operations in the Consolidated Statement of Income.
Free Cash Flow
We use free cash flow, defined as cash flow provided by operations minus capital expenditures, as a non-GAAP measure of our core operating performance and cash generating capabilities of our business operations. This supplemental information related to free cash flow represents a measure not in accordance with U.S. GAAP and should be viewed in addition to, not instead of, the Consolidated Financial Statements. The use of this non-GAAP measure does not imply or represent the residual cash flow for discretionary expenditures. A reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure to cash flow provided by operations is as follows (in millions):
| Years Ended December 31 | ||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||
| Cash provided by operating activities | $ | 2,182 | $ | 2,783 | ||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | (137) | (141) | ||||||||||||
| Free cash flow | $ | 2,045 | $ | 2,642 | ||||||||||
Impact of Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Fluctuations
Because we conduct business in more than 120 countries, foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations have a significant impact on our business. Foreign currency exchange rate movements may be significant and may distort true period-to-period comparisons of changes in revenue or pretax income. Therefore, to give financial statement users meaningful information about our operations, we have provided an illustration of the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations on our financial results. The methodology used to calculate this impact isolates the impact of the change in currencies between periods by translating the prior year’s revenue, expenses, and net income using the current year’s foreign currency exchange rates.
Currency fluctuations had a favorable impact of $0.17 on earnings per diluted share during the year ended December 31, 2021 if prior year period results were translated at current period foreign exchange rates. Currency fluctuations had an unfavorable impact of $0.03 on earnings per diluted share during the year ended December 31, 2020, if 2019 results were translated at 2020 rates.
Currency fluctuations had a favorable impact of $0.23 on adjusted earnings per diluted share during the year ended December 31, 2021 if prior year period results were translated at current period foreign exchange rates. Currency fluctuations had an unfavorable impact of $0.04 on adjusted earnings per diluted share during the year ended December 31, 2020, if 2019
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results were translated at 2020 rates. These translations are performed for comparative and illustrative purposes only and do not impact the accounting policies or practices for amounts included in our Financial Statements.
LIQUIDITY AND FINANCIAL CONDITION
Liquidity
Executive Summary
We believe that our balance sheet and strong cash flow provide us with adequate liquidity. Our primary sources of liquidity in the near-term include cash flows provided by operations and available cash reserves; primary sources of liquidity in the long-term include cash flows provided by operations, debt capacity available under our credit facilities and capital markets. Our primary uses of liquidity are operating expenses and investments, capital expenditures, acquisitions, share repurchases, pension obligations, and shareholder dividends. We believe that cash flows from operations, available credit facilities, available cash reserves, and the capital markets will be sufficient to meet our liquidity needs, including principal and interest payments on debt obligations, capital expenditures, pension contributions, and anticipated working capital requirements in the next twelve months and over the long-term. Although there continues to be uncertainties around future economic conditions due to COVID-19, we have largely returned to normal levels of liquidity and will continue to monitor our needs as economic conditions change.
In the third quarter of 2021, the Combination with WTW was terminated and on July 27, 2021, we paid the Termination Fee of $1 billion. Refer to “Termination of Business Combination Agreement” within Part II, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for further information. The Termination Fee, along with other payments made in the third and fourth quarters related to terminating the combination with WTW, are reflected as an outflow to operating activities.
Cash on our balance sheet includes funds available for general corporate purposes, as well as amounts restricted as to their use. Funds held on behalf of clients in a fiduciary capacity are segregated and shown together with uncollected insurance premiums and claims in Fiduciary assets in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position, with a corresponding amount in Fiduciary liabilities.
In our capacity as an insurance broker or agent, we collect premiums from insureds and, after deducting our commission, remit the premiums to the respective insurance underwriters. We also collect claims or refunds from underwriters on behalf of insureds, which are then returned to the insureds. Unremitted insurance premiums and claims are held by us in a fiduciary capacity. The levels of funds held on behalf of clients and liabilities can fluctuate significantly depending on when we collect the premiums, claims, and refunds, make payments to underwriters and insureds, and collect funds from clients and make payments on their behalf, and upon the impact of foreign currency movements. Funds held on behalf of clients, because of their nature, are generally invested in very liquid securities with highly rated, credit-worthy financial institutions. Fiduciary assets include funds held on behalf of clients comprised of cash and cash equivalents of $6.1 billion and $5.7 billion at December 31, 2021 and 2020, and fiduciary receivables of $8.3 billion and $8.1 billion at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. While we earn investment income on the funds held in cash and money market funds, the funds cannot be used for general corporate purposes.
We maintain multi-currency cash pools with third-party banks in which various Aon entities participate. Individual Aon entities are permitted to overdraw on their individual accounts provided the overall global balance does not fall below zero. At December 31, 2021, non-U.S. cash balances of one or more entities may have been negative; however, the overall balance was positive.
The following table summarizes our Cash and cash equivalents, Short-term investments, and Fiduciary assets as of December 31, 2021 (in millions):
| Statement of Financial Position Classification | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Type | Cash and cash equivalents | Short-term investments | Fiduciary assets | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
| Certificates of deposit, bank deposits, or time deposits | $ | 544 | $ | — | $ | 3,475 | $ | 4,019 | |||||||||||||||
| Money market funds | — | 292 | 2,626 | 2,918 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Cash, Short-term investments, and Funds held on behalf of clients | 544 | 292 | 6,101 | 6,937 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fiduciary receivables | — | — | 8,285 | 8,285 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 544 | $ | 292 | $ | 14,386 | $ | 15,222 | |||||||||||||||
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Cash and cash equivalents and Funds held on behalf of clients increased $72 million in 2021 compared to 2020. A summary of our cash flows provided by and used for operating, investing, and financing activities is as follows (in millions):
| Years Ended December 31 | ||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 (1) (As Revised) | |||||||||||||
| Cash provided by operating activities | $ | 2,182 | $ | 2,783 | ||||||||||
| Cash provided by (used for) investing activities | $ | 49 | $ | (679) | ||||||||||
| Cash used for financing activities | $ | (1,924) | $ | (1,772) | ||||||||||
| Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents and funds held on behalf of clients | $ | (235) | $ | 297 | ||||||||||
(1) Certain amounts on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as presented in our financial statements previously filed in the Company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K have been restated. Refer to Note 1 “Basis of Presentation” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2021 decreased $601 million, or 22%, from the prior year to $2,182 million. This amount represents net income reported, as adjusted for gains or losses on sales of businesses, share-based compensation expense, depreciation expense, amortization and impairments, and other non-cash income and expenses, as well as changes in working capital that relate primarily to the timing of payments of accounts payable and accrued liabilities and the collection of receivables.
Pension Contributions
Pension contributions were $87 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to $120 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. In 2022, we expect to contribute approximately $74 million in cash to our pension plans, including contributions to non-U.S. pension plans, which are subject to changes in foreign exchange rates.
Investing Activities
Cash flows provided by investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2021 were $49 million, an increase of $728 million compared to prior year. Generally, the primary drivers of cash flows provided by investing activities are sales of businesses, sales of short-term investments, and proceeds from investments. Generally, the primary drivers of cash flows used for investing activities are acquisition of businesses, purchases of short-term investments, capital expenditures, and payments for investments. The gains and losses corresponding to cash flows provided by proceeds from investments and used for payments for investments are primarily recognized in Other income in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
Short-term Investments
Short-term investments decreased $16 million at December 31, 2021 as compared to December 31, 2020. As disclosed in Note 14 “Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Part II, Item 8 of this report, the majority of our investments carried at fair value are money market funds. These money market funds are held throughout the world with various financial institutions. We are not aware of any market liquidity issues that would materially impact the fair value of these investments.
Acquisitions and Dispositions of Businesses
During 2021, the Company completed the acquisition of two businesses for consideration of $14 million, net of cash and funds held on behalf of clients, and the disposition of six businesses for a $218 million cash inflow, net of cash and funds held on behalf of clients.
During 2020, the Company completed the acquisition of six businesses for consideration of $368 million, net of cash and funds held on behalf of clients, and the disposition of one business for a $30 million cash inflow, net of cash and funds held on behalf of clients.
Capital Expenditures
The Company’s additions to fixed assets, including capitalized software, which amounted to $137 million in 2021 and $141 million in 2020, primarily related to the refurbishing and modernizing of office facilities, software development costs, and computer equipment purchases.
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Financing Activities
Cash flows used for financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2021 was $1,924 million, an increase of $152 million compared to prior year. Generally, the primary drivers of cash flows used for financing activities are issuances of debt, net of repayments, share repurchases, change in net fiduciary liabilities, dividends paid to shareholders, issuances of shares for employee benefit plans, transactions with noncontrolling interests, and other financing activities, such as collection of or payments for deferred consideration in connection with prior-year business acquisitions and divestitures.
Share Repurchase Program
We have a share repurchase program authorized by our Board of Directors. The Repurchase Program was established in April 2012 with $5.0 billion in authorized repurchases, and was increased by $5.0 billion in authorized repurchases in each of November 2014, June 2017, and November 2020, and by $7.5 billion in authorized repurchases in February 2022 for a total of $27.5 billion in repurchase authorizations.
The following table summarizes the Company’s Share Repurchase activity (in millions, except per share data):
| Years Ended December 31 | ||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||
| Shares repurchased | 12.4 | 8.5 | ||||||||||||
| Average price per share | $ | 286.82 | $ | 206.28 | ||||||||||
| Costs recorded to retained earnings | ||||||||||||||
| Total repurchase cost | $ | 3,543 | $ | 1,761 | ||||||||||
| Additional associated costs | — | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Total costs recorded to retained earnings | $ | 3,543 | $ | 1,763 | ||||||||||
At December 31, 2021, the remaining authorized amount for share repurchase under the Repurchase Program was approximately $1.7 billion. Under the Repurchase Program, we have repurchased a total of 149.6 million shares for an aggregate cost of approximately $18.3 billion.
Borrowings
Total debt at December 31, 2021 was $9.4 billion, an increase of $1.7 billion compared to December 31, 2020. Commercial paper activity during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 is as follows (in millions):
| Years Ended December 31 | |||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||
Total issuances (1) | $ | 4,478 | $ | 3,162 | |||||||
| Total repayments | (3,807) | (3,275) | |||||||||
| Net issuances (repayments) | $ | 671 | $ | (113) | |||||||
(1) The proceeds of the commercial paper issuances were used primarily for short-term working capital needs.
Commercial paper may be issued in aggregate principal amounts of up to $1 billion under the U.S. Program and €625 million under the European Program, not to exceed the amount of our committed credit facilities, which was $1.75 billion at December 31, 2021. The aggregate capacity of the U.S. Program was increased in the fourth quarter of 2021 from $900 million to $1 billion. The aggregate capacity of the Commercial Paper Program remains fully backed by our committed credit facilities.
Proceeds from commercial paper issued by Aon Corporation under the U.S. Program, where the aggregate principal was raised on July 26, 2021, were used to pay approximately $400 million of the Termination Fee on July 27, 2021.
On December 2, 2021, Aon Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and Aon Global Holdings plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales, co-issued $500 million aggregate principal amount of 2.60% Senior Notes set to mature on December 2, 2031. We intend to use the net proceeds of the offering for general corporate purposes.
In November 2021, the Company’s $500 million 2.20% Senior Notes due November 2022 were classified as Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as the date of maturity is in less than one year as of December 31, 2021.
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On August 23, 2021, Aon Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and Aon Global Holdings plc, a public limited company formed under the laws of England and Wales, both wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company, co-issued $400 million of 2.05% Senior Notes due August 2031 and $600 million of 2.90% Senior Notes due August 2051. We intend to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes.
On January 13, 2021, Aon Global Limited, a limited company organized under the laws of England and Wales and a wholly owned subsidiary of Aon plc, issued an irrevocable notice of redemption to holders of its 2.80% Senior Notes for the redemption of all $400 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of the notes, which were set to mature in March 2021 and classified as Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt as of December 31, 2020. The redemption date was on February 16, 2021 and resulted in an insignificant loss due to extinguishment.
On May 29, 2020, Aon Corporation, a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, issued an irrevocable notice of redemption to holders of its 5.00% Senior Notes, which were set to mature on September 30, 2020, for the redemption of all $600 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of the notes. The redemption date was on June 30, 2020 and resulted in a loss of $7 million due to extinguishment.
On May 12, 2020, Aon Corporation issued $1 billion 2.80% Senior Notes due May 2030. Aon Corporation used a portion of the net proceeds on June 30, 2020 to repay its outstanding 5.00% Senior Notes, which were set to mature on September 30, 2020. We used the remainder to repay other borrowings and for general corporate purposes.
Other Liquidity Matters
Distributable Profits
We are required under Irish law to have available “distributable profits” to make share repurchases or pay dividends to shareholders. Distributable profits are created through the earnings of the Irish parent company and, among other methods, through intercompany dividends or a reduction in share capital approved by the High Court of Ireland. Distributable profits are not linked to a U.S. GAAP reported amount (e.g. retained earnings). On July 16, 2021, we received approval from the High Court of Ireland to complete a reduction in share premium to create distributable profits of $34.0 billion to support the payment of possible future dividends or future share repurchases, if and to the extent declared by the directors in compliance with their duties under Irish law. As of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, we had distributable profits in excess of $32.7 billion and $0.2 billion, respectively. We believe that we will have sufficient distributable profits for the foreseeable future.
Credit Facilities
We expect cash generated by operations for 2021 to be sufficient to service our debt and contractual obligations, finance capital expenditures, and continue to pay dividends to our shareholders. Although cash from operations is expected to be sufficient to service these activities, we have the ability to access the commercial paper markets or borrow under our credit facilities to accommodate any timing differences in cash flows. Additionally, under current market conditions, we believe that we could access capital markets to obtain debt financing for longer-term funding, if needed.
As of December 31, 2021, we had two primary committed credit facilities outstanding: our $1.0 billion multi-currency U.S. credit facility expiring in September 2026 and our $750 million multi-currency U.S. credit facility expiring in October 2023. In aggregate, these two facilities provide $1.75 billion in available credit. The $1.0 billion credit facility was entered into on September 28, 2021 and replaced the $900 million credit facility, which was scheduled to mature on February 2, 2022.
Each of these primary committed credit facilities includes customary representations, warranties, and covenants, including financial covenants that require us to maintain specified ratios of adjusted consolidated EBITDA to consolidated interest expense and consolidated debt to consolidated adjusted EBITDA, tested quarterly. At December 31, 2021, we did not have borrowings under either facility, and we were in compliance with the financial covenants and all other covenants contained therein during the rolling year ended December 31, 2021.
Shelf Registration Statement
On May 12, 2020, we filed a shelf registration statement with the SEC, registering the offer and sale from time to time of an indeterminate amount of, among other securities, debt securities, preference shares, Class A Ordinary Shares and convertible securities. Our ability to access the market as a source of liquidity is dependent on investor demand, market conditions, and other factors.
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Rating Agency Ratings
The major rating agencies’ ratings of our debt at February 18, 2022 appear in the table below.
| Ratings | |||||||||||||||||
| Senior Long-term Debt | Commercial Paper | Outlook | |||||||||||||||
| Standard & Poor’s | A- | A-2 | Stable | ||||||||||||||
| Moody’s Investor Services | Baa2 | P-2 | Stable | ||||||||||||||
| Fitch, Inc. | BBB+ | F-2 | Stable | ||||||||||||||
Guarantees in Connection with the Sale of the Divested Business
In connection with the sale of the Divested Business, we guaranteed future operating lease commitments related to certain facilities assumed by the Buyer. We are obligated to perform under the guarantees if the Divested Business defaults on the leases at any time during the remainder of the lease agreements, which expire on various dates through 2025. As of December 31, 2021, the undiscounted maximum potential future payments under the lease guarantee were $40 million, with an estimated fair value of $5 million. No cash payments were made in connection to the lease commitments during the year ended December 31, 2021.
Additionally, we are subject to performance guarantee requirements under certain client arrangements that were assumed by the Buyer. Should the Divested Business fail to perform as required by the terms of the arrangements, we would be required to fulfill the remaining contract terms, which expire on various dates through 2023. As of December 31, 2021, the undiscounted maximum potential future payments under the performance guarantees were $52 million, with an estimated fair value of less than $1 million. No cash payments were made in connection to the performance guarantees during the year ended December 31, 2021.
Letters of Credit and Other Guarantees
We have entered into a number of arrangements whereby our performance on certain obligations is guaranteed by a third party through the issuance of an LOC. We had total LOCs outstanding of approximately $75 million at December 31, 2021, compared to $79 million at December 31, 2020. These LOCs cover the beneficiaries related to certain of our U.S. and Canadian non-qualified pension plan schemes and secure deductible retentions for our own workers’ compensation program. We also have obtained LOCs to cover contingent payments for taxes and other business obligations to third parties, and other guarantees for miscellaneous purposes at our international subsidiaries.
We have certain contractual contingent guarantees for premium payments owed by clients to certain insurance companies. The maximum exposure with respect to such contractual contingent guarantees was approximately $153 million at December 31, 2021, compared to $113 million at December 31, 2020.
Contractual Obligations
Our contractual obligations and commitments as of December 31, 2021 are comprised of principal payments on debt, interest payments on debt, operating leases, pension and other postretirement benefit plans, and purchase obligations.
Operating leases are primarily comprised of leased office space throughout the world. As leases expire, we do not anticipate difficulty in negotiating renewals or finding other satisfactory space if the premise becomes unavailable. In certain circumstances, we may have unused space and may seek to sublet such space to third parties, depending upon the demands for office space in the locations involved. Refer to Note 8 “Lease Commitments” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Part II, Item 8 of this report for further information.
Pension and other postretirement benefit plan obligations include estimates of our minimum funding requirements pursuant to the ERISA and other regulations, as well as minimum funding requirements agreed with the trustees of our U.K. pension plans. Additional amounts may be agreed to with, or required by, the U.K. pension plan trustees. Nonqualified pension and other postretirement benefit obligations are based on estimated future benefit payments. We may make additional discretionary contributions. Refer to Note 11 “Employee Benefits” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Part II, Item 8 of this report for further information.
Purchase obligations are defined as agreements to purchase goods and services that are enforceable and legally binding on us, and that specifies all significant terms, including the goods to be purchased or services to be rendered, the price at which the goods or services are to be rendered, and the timing of the transactions. Most of our purchase obligations are related to purchases of information technology services or other service contracts.
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We had no other cash requirements from known contractual obligations and commitments that have, or are reasonably likely to have, a current or future material effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.
Guarantee of Registered Securities
In connection with the Reorganization, on April 1, 2020 Aon plc and Aon Global Holdings plc, a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales, entered into various agreements pursuant to which they agreed to guarantee the obligations of Aon Corporation arising under issued and outstanding debt securities, which were previously guaranteed solely by Aon Global Limited and the obligations of Aon Global Limited arising under issued and outstanding debt securities, which were previously guaranteed solely by Aon Corporation. Those agreements include: (1) Second Amended and Restated Indenture, dated April 1, 2020, among Aon Corporation, Aon Global Limited, Aon plc, and Aon Global Holdings plc and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”) (amending and restating the Amended and Restated Indenture, dated April 2, 2012, among Aon Corporation, Aon Global Limited and the Trustee); (2) Amended and Restated Indenture, dated April 1, 2020, among Aon Corporation, Aon Global Limited, Aon plc, Aon Global Holdings plc and the Trustee (amending and restating the Indenture, dated December 12, 2012, among Aon Corporation, Aon Global Limited plc and the Trustee); (3) Second Amended and Restated Indenture, dated April 1, 2020, among Aon Corporation, Aon Global Limited, Aon plc, Aon Global Holdings plc and the Trustee (amending and restating the Amended and Restated Indenture, dated May 20, 2015, among Aon Corporation, Aon Global Limited and the Trustee); (4) Amended and Restated Indenture, dated April 1, 2020, among Aon Corporation, Aon Global Limited, Aon plc, Aon Global Holdings plc and the Trustee (amending and restating the Indenture, dated November 13, 2015, among Aon Corporation, Aon Global Limited and the Trustee); and (5) Amended and Restated Indenture, dated April 1, 2020, among Aon Corporation, Aon Global Limited, Aon plc, Aon Global Holdings plc and the Trustee (amending and restating the Indenture, dated December 3, 2018, among Aon Corporation, Aon Global Limited and the Trustee).
After the Reorganization, newly issued and outstanding debt securities by Aon Corporation are guaranteed by Aon Global Limited, Aon plc, and Aon Global Holdings plc, and include the following (collectively, the “Aon Corporation Notes”):
| Aon Corporation Notes | ||
| 2.20% Senior Notes due November 2022 | ||
| 8.205% Junior Subordinated Notes due January 2027 | ||
| 4.50% Senior Notes due December 2028 | ||
| 3.75% Senior Notes due May 2029 | ||
| 2.80% Senior Notes due 2030 | ||
| 6.25% Senior Notes due September 2040 | ||
All guarantees of Aon plc, Aon Global Limited, and Aon Global Holdings plc of the Aon Corporation Notes are joint and several as well as full and unconditional. Senior Notes rank pari passu in right of payment with all other present and future unsecured debt which is not expressed to be subordinate or junior in rank to any other unsecured debt of the company. There are no subsidiaries other than those listed above that guarantee the Aon Corporation Notes.
After the Reorganization, newly issued and outstanding debt securities by Aon Global Limited are guaranteed by Aon plc, Aon Global Holdings plc, and Aon Corporation, and include the following (collectively, the “Aon Global Limited Notes”):
| Aon Global Limited Notes | ||
| 4.00% Senior Notes due November 2023 | ||
| 3.50% Senior Notes due June 2024 | ||
| 3.875% Senior Notes due December 2025 | ||
| 2.875% Senior Notes due May 2026 | ||
| 4.25% Senior Notes due December 2042 | ||
| 4.45% Senior Notes due May 2043 | ||
| 4.60% Senior Notes due June 2044 | ||
| 4.75% Senior Notes due May 2045 | ||
All guarantees of Aon plc, Aon Global Holdings plc, and Aon Corporation of the Aon Global Limited Notes are joint and several as well as full and unconditional. Senior Notes rank pari passu in right of payment with all other present and future
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unsecured debt which is not expressed to be subordinate or junior in rank to any other unsecured debt of the company. There are no subsidiaries other than those listed above that guarantee the Aon Global Limited Notes.
Newly co-issued and outstanding debt securities by Aon Corporation and Aon Global Holdings plc (together, the “Co-Issuers”) are guaranteed by Aon plc and Aon Global Limited and include the following (collectively, the “Co-Issued Notes”):
| Co-Issued Notes - Aon Corporation and Aon Global Holdings plc | ||
| 2.05% Senior Notes due August 2031 | ||
| 2.60% Senior Notes due December 2031 | ||
| 2.90% Senior Notes due August 2051 | ||
All guarantees of Aon plc and Aon Global Limited of the Co-Issued Notes are joint and several as well as full and unconditional. Senior Notes rank pari passu in right of payment with all other present and future unsecured debt which is not expressed to be subordinate or junior in rank to any other unsecured debt of the Co-Issuers. There are no subsidiaries other than those listed above that guarantee the Co-Issued Notes.
Aon Corporation, Aon Global Limited, and Aon Global Holdings plc are indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of Aon plc. Aon plc, Aon Global Limited, Aon Global Holdings plc, and Aon Corporation together comprise the “Obligor group”. The following tables set forth summarized financial information for the Obligor group.
Adjustments are made to the tables to eliminate intercompany balances and transactions between the Obligor group. Intercompany balances and transactions between the Obligor group and non-guarantor subsidiaries are presented as separate line items within the summarized financial information. These balances are presented on a net presentation basis, rather than a gross basis, as this better reflects the nature of the intercompany positions and presents the funding or funded position that is to be received or owed. No balances or transactions of non-guarantor subsidiaries are presented in the summarized financial information, including investments of the Obligor group in non-guarantor subsidiaries. Summarized Statement of Income information for the Obligor group is as follows (in millions):
| Obligor Group | |||||
| Summarized Statement of Income Information | |||||
Year Ended December 31, 2021 | |||||
| Revenue | $ | — | |||
| Operating loss | $ | (1,156) | |||
| Expense from non-guarantor subsidiaries before income taxes | $ | (778) | |||
| Net loss | $ | (2,120) | |||
| Net loss attributable to Aon shareholders | $ | (2,120) | |||
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Summarized Statement of Financial Position information for the Obligor group is as follows (in millions):
| Obligor Group | |||||
| Summarized Statement of Financial Position Information | |||||
As of December 31, 2021 | |||||
| Receivables due from non-guarantor subsidiaries | $ | 1,646 | |||
| Other current assets | 57 | ||||
| Total current assets | $ | 1,703 | |||
| Non-current receivables due from non-guarantor subsidiaries | $ | 498 | |||
| Other non-current assets | 882 | ||||
| Total non-current assets | $ | 1,380 | |||
| Payables to non-guarantor subsidiaries | $ | 13,509 | |||
| Other current liabilities | 2,013 | ||||
| Total current liabilities | $ | 15,522 | |||
| Non-current payables to non-guarantor subsidiaries | $ | 7,139 | |||
| Other non-current liabilities | 9,512 | ||||
| Total non-current liabilities | $ | 16,651 | |||
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. To prepare these financial statements, we make estimates, assumptions, and judgments that affect what we report as our assets and liabilities, what we disclose as contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods presented.
In accordance with our policies, we regularly evaluate our estimates, assumptions, and judgments, including, but not limited to, those concerning revenue recognition, pensions, goodwill and other intangible assets, contingencies, share-based payments, and income taxes, and base our estimates, assumptions, and judgments on our historical experience and on factors we believe reasonable under the circumstances. The results involve judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities not readily apparent from other sources. If our assumptions or conditions change, the actual results we report may differ from these estimates. We believe the following critical accounting policies affect the more significant estimates, assumptions, and judgments we use to prepare these Consolidated Financial Statements.
Revenue Recognition
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.
Commercial Risk Solutions includes retail brokerage, specialty solutions, global risk consulting and captives management, and Affinity programs. 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 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
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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 reinsurance, facultative reinsurance, 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.
Health Solutions includes consulting and brokerage, Human Capital, and voluntary benefits and enrollment solutions. 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. For Human Capital, revenue is recognized over time or at a point in time upon completion of the services. For arrangements recognized over time, revenue is 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. Revenue from voluntary benefits and enrollment solutions arrangements are typically recognized upon successful enrollment of participants. 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.
Wealth Solutions includes retirement consulting, pension administration and investments. 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. 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 generally recorded as a component of revenue. Payment terms vary but are typically over the contract term in installments.
Pensions
We sponsor defined benefit pension plans throughout the world. Our most significant plans are located in the U.S., the U.K., the Netherlands, and Canada, which are closed to new entrants. We have ceased crediting future benefits relating to salary and services for our U.S., U.K., Netherlands, and Canada plans to the extent statutorily permitted.
The service cost component of net periodic benefit cost is reported in Compensation and benefits and all other components are reported in Other income. We used a full-yield curve approach in the estimation of the service and interest cost components of net periodic pension and postretirement benefit cost for our major pension and other postretirement benefit plans; this was obtained by applying the specific spot rates along the yield curve used in the determination of the benefit obligation to the relevant projected cash flows.
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Recognition of Gains and Losses and Prior Service
Certain changes in the value of the obligation and in the value of plan assets, which may occur due to various factors such as changes in the discount rate and actuarial assumptions, actual demographic experience, and/or plan asset performance are not immediately recognized in net income. Such changes are recognized in Other comprehensive income and are amortized into net income as part of the net periodic benefit cost.
Unrecognized gains and losses that have been deferred in Other comprehensive income, as previously described, are amortized into expense as a component of periodic pension expense based on the average life expectancy of the U.S., U.K., Netherlands, and Canada plan members. We amortize any prior service expense or credits that arise as a result of plan changes over a period consistent with the amortization of gains and losses.
As of December 31, 2021, our pension plans have deferred losses that have not yet been recognized through income in the Consolidated Financial Statements. We amortize unrecognized actuarial losses outside of a corridor, which is defined as 10% of the greater of market-related value of plan assets or PBO. To the extent not offset by future gains, incremental amortization as calculated above will continue to affect future pension expense similarly until fully amortized.
The following table discloses our accumulated other comprehensive loss, the number of years over which we are amortizing the loss, and the estimated 2022 amortization of loss by country (in millions, except amortization period):
| U.K. | U.S. | Other | |||||||||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | $ | 1,255 | $ | 1,551 | $ | 483 | |||||||||||
| Amortization period | 7 - 26 | 6 - 23 | 11 - 35 | ||||||||||||||
Estimated 2022 amortization of loss | $ | 34 | $ | 67 | $ | 14 | |||||||||||
The U.S. had no unrecognized prior service cost (credit) at December 31, 2021. The unrecognized prior service cost (credit) at December 31, 2021 was $40 million, and $(6) million for the U.K. and other plans, respectively.
For the U.S. pension plans, we use a market-related valuation of assets approach to determine the expected return on assets, which is a component of net periodic benefit cost recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income. This approach recognizes 20% of any gains or losses in the current year’s value of market-related assets, with the remaining 80% spread over the next four years. As this approach recognizes gains or losses over a five-year period, the future value of assets and therefore, our net periodic benefit cost will be impacted as previously deferred gains or losses are recorded. As of December 31, 2021, the market-related value of assets was $2.2 billion. We do not use the market-related valuation approach to determine the funded status of the U.S. plans recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. Instead, we record and present the funded status in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position based on the fair value of the plan assets. As of December 31, 2021, the fair value of plan assets was $2.4 billion. Our non-U.S. plans use fair value to determine expected return on assets.
Rate of Return on Plan Assets and Asset Allocation
The following table summarizes the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets for future pension expense as of December 31, 2021:
| U.K. | U.S. | Other | |||||||||||||||
| Expected return on plan assets, net of administration expenses | 2.34% | 2.03 - 5.28% | 1.80 - 3.15% | ||||||||||||||
In determining the expected rate of return for the plan assets, we analyze investment community forecasts and current market conditions to develop expected returns for each of the asset classes used by the plans. In particular, we surveyed multiple third-party financial institutions and consultants to obtain long-term expected returns on each asset class, considered historical performance data by asset class over long periods, and weighted the expected returns for each asset class by target asset allocations of the plans.
The U.S. pension plan asset allocation is based on approved allocations following adopted investment guidelines. The investment policy for U.K. and other non-U.S. pension plans is generally determined by the plans’ trustees. Because there are several pension plans maintained in the U.K. and other non-U.S. categories, our target allocation presents a range of the target allocation of each plan. Target allocations are subject to change.
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Impact of Changing Economic Assumptions
Changes in the discount rate and expected return on assets can have a material impact on pension obligations and pension expense.
Holding all other assumptions constant, the following table reflects what a 25 BPS increase and decrease in our discount rate would have on our PBO at December 31, 2021 (in millions):
Increase (decrease) in projected benefit obligation (1) | 25 BPS Change in Discount Rate | ||||||||||
| Increase | Decrease | ||||||||||
| U.K. plans | $ | (201) | $ | 219 | |||||||
| U.S. plans | $ | (89) | $ | 93 | |||||||
| Other plans | $ | (64) | $ | 69 | |||||||
(1)Increases to the PBO reflect increases to our pension obligations, while decreases in the PBO are recoveries toward fully-funded status. A change in the discount rate has an inverse relationship to the PBO.
Holding all other assumptions constant, the following table reflects what a 25 BPS increase and decrease in our discount rate would have on our estimated 2022 pension expense (in millions):
| 25 BPS Change in Discount Rate | |||||||||||
| Increase (decrease) in expense | Increase | Decrease | |||||||||
| U.K. plans | $ | (1) | $ | 1 | |||||||
| U.S. plans | $ | 2 | $ | (2) | |||||||
| Other plans | $ | 1 | $ | (1) | |||||||
Holding all other assumptions constant, the following table reflects what a 25 BPS increase and decrease in our long-term rate of return on plan assets would have on our estimated 2022 pension expense (in millions):
| 25 BPS Change in Long-Term Rate of Return on Plan Assets | |||||||||||
| Increase (decrease) in expense | Increase | Decrease | |||||||||
| U.K. plans | $ | (15) | $ | 15 | |||||||
| U.S. plans | $ | (5) | $ | 5 | |||||||
| Other plans | $ | (4) | $ | 4 | |||||||
The net unfunded pension balance has continued to improve in 2021, reflecting continued progress in reducing the funded status at risk. As a result, the potential impact of a hypothetical adverse change in discount rates and return seeking asset exposures would have a less significant impact as compared to prior years. A hypothetical discount rates decrease of 1% and return seeking assets decline of 10% would have resulted in expected balance sheet deterioration at 2021 of approximately $235 million, as compared to approximately $410 million in 2019, an improvement of approximately $175 million. This is largely due to greater amounts of liability matching assets and de-risking actions.
Estimated Future Contributions
We estimate cash contributions of approximately $74 million to our pension plans in 2022 as compared with cash contributions of $87 million in 2021.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Goodwill represents the excess of cost over the fair market value of the net assets acquired. We classify our intangible assets acquired as either tradenames, customer-related and contract-based, or technology and other.
Goodwill is not amortized, but rather tested for impairment at least annually in the fourth quarter. We test more frequently if there are indicators of impairment or whenever business circumstances suggest that the carrying value of goodwill may not be recoverable. These indicators may include a sustained significant decline in our share price and market capitalization, a decline in our expected future cash flows, or a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate, among others.
We perform impairment reviews at the reporting unit level. A reporting unit is an operating segment or one level below an operating segment (referred to as a “component”). A component of an operating segment is a reporting unit if the component
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constitutes a business for which discrete financial information is available and segment management regularly reviews the operating results of that component. An operating segment shall be deemed to be a reporting unit if all of its components are similar, if none of its components are a reporting unit, or if the segment comprises only a single component.
When evaluating these assets for impairment, we may first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that a reporting unit is impaired. If we do not perform a qualitative assessment, or if we determine that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, then the goodwill impairment test becomes a quantitative analysis. If the fair value of a reporting unit is determined to be greater than the carrying value of the reporting unit, goodwill is deemed not to be impaired and no further testing is necessary. If the fair value of a reporting unit is less than the carrying value, a goodwill impairment loss is recognized for the amount that the carrying amount of a reporting unit, including goodwill, exceeds its fair value limited to the total amount of the goodwill allocated to the reporting unit.
In determining the fair value of our reporting units, we use a DCF model based on our most current forecasts. We discount the related cash flow forecasts using the weighted average cost of capital method at the date of evaluation. Preparation of forecasts and selection of the discount rate for use in the DCF model involve significant judgments, and changes in these estimates could affect the estimated fair value of one or more of our reporting units and could result in a goodwill impairment charge in a future period. We also use market multiples which are obtained from quoted prices of comparable companies to corroborate our DCF model results. The combined estimated fair value of our reporting units from our DCF model often results in a premium over our market capitalization, commonly referred to as a control premium. We believe the implied control premium determined by our impairment analysis is reasonable based upon historic data of premiums paid on actual transactions within our industry.
We review intangible assets that are being amortized for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstance indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable. If we are required to record impairment charges in the future, they could materially impact our results of operations.
Contingencies
We define a contingency as an existing condition that involves a degree of uncertainty as to a possible gain or loss that will ultimately be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. Under U.S. GAAP, we are required to establish reserves for loss contingencies when the loss is probable and we can reasonably estimate its financial impact. We are required to assess the likelihood of material adverse judgments or outcomes, as well as potential ranges or probability of losses. We determine the amount of reserves required, if any, for contingencies after carefully analyzing each individual item. The required reserves may change due to new developments in each issue. We do not recognize gain contingencies until the contingency is resolved and amounts due are probable of collection.
Share-Based Payments
Share-based compensation expense is measured based on the grant date fair value and recognized over the requisite service period for awards that we ultimately expect to vest. For purposes of measuring share-based compensation expense, we consider whether an adjustment to the observable market price is necessary to reflect material nonpublic information that is known to us at the time the award is granted. No adjustments were necessary for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, or 2019. We also estimate forfeitures at the time of grant based on our actual experience to date and revise our estimates, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates.
Restricted Share Units
RSUs are service-based awards for which we recognize the associated compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. We estimate the fair value of the awards based on the market price of the underlying share on the date of grant, reduced by the present value of estimated dividends foregone during the vesting period where applicable.
Performance Share Awards
PSAs are performance-based awards for which vesting is dependent on the achievement of certain objectives. Such objectives may be made on a personal, group or company level. We estimate the fair value of the awards based on the market price of the underlying share on the date of grant, reduced by the present value of estimated dividends foregone during the vesting period.
Compensation expense is recognized over the performance period. The number of shares issued on the vesting date will vary depending on the actual performance objectives achieved, which are based on a fixed number of potential outcomes. We make assessments of future performance using subjective estimates, such as long-term plans. As a result, changes in the underlying assumptions could have a material impact on the compensation expense recognized.
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The largest plan is the LPP, which has a three-year performance period. As the percent of expected performance increases or decreases, the potential change in expense can go from 0% to 200% of the targeted total expense. The 2019 to 2021 performance period ended on December 31, 2021, the 2018 to 2020 performance period ended on December 31, 2020, and the 2017 to 2019 performance period ended on December 31, 2019. The LPP currently has two open performance periods: 2020 to 2022 and 2021 to 2023. A 10% upward adjustment in our estimated performance achievement percentage for both open performance periods would not have increased our 2021 expense, while a 10% downward adjustment would have decreased our expense by approximately $7.6 million.
Income Taxes
We earn income in numerous countries and this income is subject to the laws of taxing jurisdictions within those countries.
The carrying values of deferred income tax assets and liabilities reflect the application of our income tax accounting policies and are based on management’s assumptions and estimates about future operating results and levels of taxable income, and judgments regarding the interpretation of the provisions of current accounting principles.
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. Considerations with respect to the realizability of deferred tax assets include the period of expiration of the deferred tax asset, historical earnings and projected future taxable income by jurisdiction as well as tax liabilities for the tax jurisdiction to which the tax asset relates. Significant management judgment is required in determining the assumptions and estimates related to the amount and timing of future taxable income. Valuation allowances are evaluated periodically and will be subject to change in each future reporting period as a result of changes in various factors.
We assess carryforwards and tax credits for realization as a reduction of future taxable income by using a “more likely than not” determination.
We base the carrying values of liabilities and assets for income taxes currently payable and receivable on management’s interpretation of applicable tax laws and incorporate management’s assumptions and judgments about using tax planning strategies in various taxing jurisdictions. Using different estimates, assumptions, and judgments in accounting for income taxes, especially those that deploy tax planning strategies, may result in materially different carrying values of income tax assets and liabilities and changes in our results of operations.
NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
Note 2 “Summary of Significant Accounting Principles and Practices” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report contains a summary of our significant accounting policies, including a discussion of recently issued accounting pronouncements and their impact or future potential impact on our financial results, if determinable.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
We are exposed to potential fluctuations in earnings, cash flows, and the fair values of certain of our assets and liabilities due to changes in interest rates and foreign exchange rates. To manage the risk from these exposures, we enter into a variety of derivative instruments. We do not enter into derivatives or financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.
The following discussion describes our specific exposures and the strategies we use to manage these risks. Refer to Note 2 “Summary of Significant Accounting Principles and Practices” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report for a discussion of our accounting policies for financial instruments and derivatives.
Foreign Exchange Risk
We are subject to foreign exchange rate risk. Our primary exposures include exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the euro, the British pound, the Canadian dollar, the Australian dollar, the Indian rupee, and the Japanese yen. We use over-the-counter options and forward contracts to reduce the impact of foreign currency risk to our financial statements.
Additionally, some of our non-U.S. brokerage subsidiaries receive revenue in currencies that differ from their functional currencies. Our U.K. subsidiaries earn a portion of their revenue in U.S. dollars, euro, and Japanese yen, but most of their expenses are incurred in British pounds. At December 31, 2021, we have hedged approximately 45% of our U.K. subsidiaries’ expected exposures to the U.S. dollar, euro, and Japanese yen transactions for the years ending December 31, 2022 and 2023. We generally do not hedge exposures beyond three years.
We also use forward and option contracts to economically hedge foreign exchange risk associated with monetary balance sheet exposures, such as intercompany notes and current assets and liabilities that are denominated in a non-functional currency and are subject to remeasurement.
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The potential loss in future earnings from foreign exchange derivative instruments resulting from a hypothetical 10% adverse change in year-end exchange rates would be $48 million and $10 million at December 31, 2022 and 2023, respectively.
The translated value of revenues and expenses from our international brokerage operations are subject to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. If we were to translate prior year results at current year exchange rates, diluted earnings per share would have a favorable $0.17 impact during the year ended December 31, 2021. Further, adjusted diluted earnings per share, a non-GAAP measure as defined and reconciled under the caption “Review of Consolidated Results — Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share,” would have a favorable $0.23 impact during the year ended December 31, 2021 if we were to translate prior year results at current quarter exchange rates.
Interest Rate Risk
Our fiduciary investment income is affected by changes in international and domestic short-term interest rates. We monitor our net exposure to short-term interest rates and, as appropriate, hedge our exposure with various derivative financial instruments. This activity primarily relates to brokerage funds held on behalf of clients in the U.S. and in continental Europe. A hypothetical, instantaneous parallel decrease in the year-end yield curve of 100 BPS would cause a decrease, net of derivative positions, of $64 million to each of 2022 and 2023 pretax income. A corresponding increase in the year-end yield curve of 100 BPS would cause an increase, net of derivative positions, of $64 million to each of 2022 and 2023 pre-tax income.
We have long-term debt outstanding, excluding the current portion, with a fair market value of $9.2 billion and $8.8 billion as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The fair value was greater than the carrying value by $0.9 billion at December 31, 2021, and $1.4 billion greater than the carrying value at December 31, 2020. A hypothetical 1% increase or decrease in interest rates would change the fair value by a decrease of 8% or an increase of 9%, respectively, at December 31, 2021.
We have selected hypothetical changes in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates, and equity market prices to illustrate the possible impact of these changes; we are not predicting market events.
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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Aon plc
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statement of financial position of Aon plc (the Company) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework), and our report dated February 18, 2022, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the account or disclosure to which it relates.
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| Realizability of Deferred Tax Assets | ||||||||||||||
| Description of the Matter | As discussed in Note 10 “Income Taxes” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company had net deferred tax assets of $365 million at December 31, 2021. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of all available evidence, in management’s judgment it is more likely than not that some portion, or all, of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Conclusions on the realizability of certain net deferred tax assets involve significant management judgement including assumptions and estimates related to the amount and timing of future taxable income. Auditing the deferred tax asset calculation and the related forecast of future taxable income was especially challenging as it involved a high degree of auditor judgement around management’s assumptions and estimates. | |||||||||||||
| How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit | We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design and operating effectiveness of internal controls that address the risks of material misstatement relating to the realizability of deferred tax assets, including controls over management’s projections of future taxable income and the related assumptions. Among other audit procedures performed, we evaluated the assumptions used by the Company to develop projections of future taxable income by income tax jurisdiction and tested the completeness and accuracy of the underlying data used in the projections. For example, we inspected the growth rate used in the calculation, the estimates of the reversal of cumulative temporary differences by year and the capital and debt requirements by jurisdiction. We compared the projections of future taxable income with the actual results of prior periods, as well as management’s considerations of current industry and economic trends. Further, we involved tax subject matter professionals in the review of the information identified. | |||||||||||||
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1986.
Chicago, Illinois
February 18, 2022
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Aon plc
Consolidated Statements of Income
| Years Ended December 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (millions, except per share data) | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||||
| Revenue | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenue | $ | 12,193 | $ | 11,066 | $ | 11,013 | ||||||||||||||
| Expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Compensation and benefits | 6,738 | 5,905 | 6,054 | |||||||||||||||||
| Information technology | 477 | 444 | 494 | |||||||||||||||||
| Premises | 327 | 291 | 339 | |||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation of fixed assets | 179 | 167 | 172 | |||||||||||||||||
| Amortization and impairment of intangible assets | 147 | 246 | 392 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other general expense | 2,235 | 1,232 | 1,393 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 10,103 | 8,285 | 8,844 | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | 2,090 | 2,781 | 2,169 | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest income | 11 | 6 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | (322) | (334) | (307) | |||||||||||||||||
| Other income | 152 | 13 | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 1,931 | 2,466 | 1,870 | |||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | 623 | 448 | 297 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income | 1,308 | 2,018 | 1,573 | |||||||||||||||||
| Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | 53 | 49 | 41 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Aon shareholders | $ | 1,255 | $ | 1,969 | $ | 1,532 | ||||||||||||||
| Basic net income per share attributable to Aon shareholders | $ | 5.59 | $ | 8.49 | $ | 6.42 | ||||||||||||||
| Diluted net income per share attributable to Aon shareholders | $ | 5.55 | $ | 8.45 | $ | 6.37 | ||||||||||||||
| Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding - basic | 224.7 | 231.9 | 238.6 | |||||||||||||||||
| Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding - diluted | 226.1 | 233.1 | 240.6 | |||||||||||||||||
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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Aon plc
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
| Years Ended December 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (millions) | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 1,308 | $ | 2,018 | $ | 1,573 | ||||||||||||||
| Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | 53 | 49 | 41 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Aon shareholders | 1,255 | 1,969 | 1,532 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of financial instruments | 1 | 13 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation adjustments | (289) | 263 | 14 | |||||||||||||||||
| Postretirement benefit obligation | 277 | (101) | (141) | |||||||||||||||||
| Total other comprehensive income (loss) | (11) | 175 | (124) | |||||||||||||||||
| Less: Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests | (1) | 3 | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Total other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Aon shareholders | (10) | 172 | (124) | |||||||||||||||||
| Comprehensive income attributable to Aon shareholders | $ | 1,245 | $ | 2,141 | $ | 1,408 | ||||||||||||||
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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Aon plc
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
| (millions, except per share data) | Shares | Ordinary Shares and Additional Paid-in Capital | Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net of Tax | Non-controlling Interests | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2018 | 240.1 | $ | 5,967 | $ | 2,093 | $ | (3,909) | $ | 68 | $ | 4,219 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | — | 1,532 | — | 41 | 1,573 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares issued — employee stock compensation plans | 2.5 | (130) | (1) | — | — | (131) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares purchased | (10.5) | — | (1,960) | — | — | (1,960) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | — | 317 | — | — | — | 317 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends to shareholders ($1.72 per share) | — | — | (410) | — | — | (410) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net change in fair value of financial instruments | — | — | — | 3 | — | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net foreign currency translation adjustments | — | — | — | 14 | — | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net postretirement benefit obligation | — | — | — | (141) | — | (141) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests on subsidiary common stock | — | — | — | — | (35) | (35) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2019 | 232.1 | 6,154 | 1,254 | (4,033) | 74 | 3,449 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| — | — | (6) | — | — | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at January 1, 2020 | 232.1 | 6,154 | 1,248 | (4,033) | 74 | 3,443 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | — | 1,969 | — | 49 | 2,018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares issued — employee stock compensation plans | 1.9 | (154) | — | — | — | (154) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares purchased | (8.5) | — | (1,763) | — | — | (1,763) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | — | 317 | — | — | — | 317 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends to shareholders ($1.78 per share) | — | — | (412) | — | — | (412) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net change in fair value of financial instruments | — | — | — | 13 | — | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net foreign currency translation adjustments | — | — | — | 260 | 3 | 263 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net postretirement benefit obligation | — | — | — | (101) | — | (101) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net purchases of shares from noncontrolling interests | — | (3) | — | — | (6) | (9) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests on subsidiary common stock | — | — | — | — | (32) | (32) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2020 | 225.5 | 6,314 | 1,042 | (3,861) | 88 | 3,583 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | — | 1,255 | — | 53 | 1,308 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares issued — employee stock compensation plans | 1.7 | (129) | (1) | — | — | (130) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares purchased | (12.4) | — | (3,543) | — | — | (3,543) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | — | 449 | — | — | — | 449 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends to shareholders ($1.99 per share) | — | — | (447) | — | — | (447) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net change in fair value of financial instruments | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net foreign currency translation adjustments | — | — | — | (288) | (1) | (289) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net postretirement benefit obligation | — | — | — | 277 | — | 277 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net purchases of shares from noncontrolling interests | — | (8) | — | — | (5) | (13) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests on subsidiary common stock | — | — | — | — | (38) | (38) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2021 | 214.8 | $ | 6,626 | $ | (1,694) | $ | (3,871) | $ | 97 | $ | 1,158 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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Aon plc
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
| As of December 31 | ||||||||||||||
| (millions, except nominal value) | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||||||||
| Current assets | ||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 544 | $ | 884 | ||||||||||
| Short-term investments | 292 | 308 | ||||||||||||
| Receivables, net | 3,094 | 3,070 | ||||||||||||
| Fiduciary assets | 14,386 | 13,798 | ||||||||||||
| Other current assets | 716 | 624 | ||||||||||||
| Total current assets | 19,032 | 18,684 | ||||||||||||
| Goodwill | 8,434 | 8,666 | ||||||||||||
| Intangible assets, net | 492 | 640 | ||||||||||||
| Fixed assets, net | 529 | 599 | ||||||||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | 786 | 911 | ||||||||||||
| Deferred tax assets | 766 | 724 | ||||||||||||
| Prepaid pension | 1,366 | 1,280 | ||||||||||||
| Other non-current assets | 512 | 610 | ||||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 31,917 | $ | 32,114 | ||||||||||
| Liabilities and equity | ||||||||||||||
| Liabilities | ||||||||||||||
| Current liabilities | ||||||||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | 2,192 | $ | 2,016 | ||||||||||
| Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt | 1,164 | 448 | ||||||||||||
| Fiduciary liabilities | 14,386 | 13,798 | ||||||||||||
| Other current liabilities | 1,331 | 1,171 | ||||||||||||
| Total current liabilities | 19,073 | 17,433 | ||||||||||||
| Long-term debt | 8,228 | 7,281 | ||||||||||||
| Non-current operating lease liabilities | 772 | 897 | ||||||||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities | 401 | 262 | ||||||||||||
| Pension, other postretirement, and postemployment liabilities | 1,375 | 1,763 | ||||||||||||
| Other non-current liabilities | 910 | 895 | ||||||||||||
| Total liabilities | 30,759 | 28,531 | ||||||||||||
| Equity | ||||||||||||||
Ordinary shares - $0.01 nominal value Authorized: 500.0 shares (issued: 2021 - 214.8; 2020 - 225.5) | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 6,624 | 6,312 | ||||||||||||
| Retained earnings (accumulated deficit) | (1,694) | 1,042 | ||||||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (3,871) | (3,861) | ||||||||||||
| Total Aon shareholders' equity | 1,061 | 3,495 | ||||||||||||
| Noncontrolling interests | 97 | 88 | ||||||||||||
| Total equity | 1,158 | 3,583 | ||||||||||||
| Total liabilities and equity | $ | 31,917 | $ | 32,114 | ||||||||||
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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Aon plc
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
| Years Ended December 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (millions) | 2021 | 2020 (As Revised) | 2019 (As Revised) | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 1,308 | $ | 2,018 | $ | 1,573 | ||||||||||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Gain from sales of businesses and investments | (142) | (25) | (13) | |||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation of fixed assets | 179 | 167 | 172 | |||||||||||||||||
| Amortization and impairment of intangible assets | 147 | 246 | 392 | |||||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | 449 | 312 | 317 | |||||||||||||||||
| Deferred income taxes | 11 | 9 | (36) | |||||||||||||||||
| Change in assets and liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Receivables, net | (119) | 108 | (371) | |||||||||||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 264 | 186 | (28) | |||||||||||||||||
| Current income taxes | 200 | (17) | (20) | |||||||||||||||||
| Pension, other postretirement and postemployment liabilities | (119) | (141) | (156) | |||||||||||||||||
| Other assets and liabilities | 4 | (80) | 5 | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash provided by operating activities | 2,182 | 2,783 | 1,835 | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from investing activities | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from investments | 58 | 64 | 61 | |||||||||||||||||
| Payments for investments | (91) | (97) | (113) | |||||||||||||||||
| Net sales (purchases) of short-term investments - non fiduciary | 15 | (167) | 35 | |||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition of businesses, net of cash and funds held on behalf of clients | (14) | (368) | (39) | |||||||||||||||||
| Sale of businesses, net of cash and funds held on behalf of clients | 218 | 30 | 52 | |||||||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | (137) | (141) | (225) | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash provided by (used for) investing activities | 49 | (679) | (229) | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from financing activities | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Share repurchase | (3,543) | (1,763) | (1,960) | |||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of shares for employee benefit plans | (130) | (149) | (131) | |||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of debt | 5,973 | 4,153 | 6,052 | |||||||||||||||||
| Repayment of debt | (4,220) | (3,882) | (4,941) | |||||||||||||||||
| Increase in fiduciary liabilities, net of fiduciary receivables | 568 | 316 | 1,246 | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash dividends to shareholders | (447) | (412) | (410) | |||||||||||||||||
| Noncontrolling interests and other financing activities | (125) | (35) | (103) | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash used for financing activities | (1,924) | (1,772) | (247) | |||||||||||||||||
| Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents and funds held on behalf of clients | (235) | 297 | 63 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net increase in cash and cash equivalents and funds held on behalf of clients | 72 | 629 | 1,422 | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents and funds held on behalf of clients at beginning of year | 6,573 | 5,944 | 4,522 | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents and funds held on behalf of clients at end of year | $ | 6,645 | $ | 6,573 | $ | 5,944 | ||||||||||||||
| Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and funds held on behalf of clients: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 544 | $ | 884 | $ | 790 | ||||||||||||||
| Funds held on behalf of clients | 6,101 | 5,689 | 5,154 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total cash and cash equivalents and funds held on behalf of clients | $ | 6,645 | $ | 6,573 | $ | 5,944 | ||||||||||||||
| Supplemental disclosures: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest paid | $ | 328 | $ | 326 | $ | 289 | ||||||||||||||
| Income taxes paid, net of refunds | $ | 412 | $ | 455 | $ | 353 | ||||||||||||||
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
1. Basis of Presentation
The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements 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.
References in this report to “Aon,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our” for time periods prior to April 1, 2020 refer to Aon Global Limited. References in the Financial Statements to “Aon,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our” for time periods on or after April 1, 2020, refer to Aon plc.
Reclassification
Certain amounts in the prior year's Consolidated Financial Statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, there was $1 million of income and $1 million of loss, respectively, including the related tax effect, from discontinued operations recognized in Net Income from discontinued operations in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. These amounts are now included in Other income in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Other assets and liabilities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019. There was no impact to the effective tax rate on Net income or earnings per share in either period.
Additionally, for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, a cash outflow of $127 million and a cash inflow of $3 million, respectively, was classified as an adjustment to Net income from Restructuring reserves in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. These amounts are now included in Other assets and liabilities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019. There was no impact on Cash provided by operating activities.
Disaggregation of Revenue
In 2021, the Company announced steps to further accelerate its Aon United strategy, which now includes four solution lines: Commercial Risk Solutions, Reinsurance Solutions, Health Solutions, and Wealth Solutions. Disaggregation of revenue by the new solution line’s structure is reflected in Note 3 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”, where prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current periods’ presentation. The changes in the solution line structure affect only the manner in which the Company's revenue results for the Company’s principal service lines were previously reported and have no impact on the Company's previously reported Consolidated Financial Statements, results of operations, or total organic revenue growth. Refer to Part II, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for more information about the changes in the presentation of our principal service line reporting. The Company continues to operate as one segment that includes all of the Company’s operations, refer to Note 16 “Segment Information” for further information.
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, foreign currency exchange rate movements, and the COVID-19 pandemic 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.
Revision of Previously Issued Financial Statements
During the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company identified and corrected an immaterial presentation error related to funds held on behalf of clients in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
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Based on an analysis of quantitative and qualitative factors in accordance with SEC Staff Accounting Bulletins 99 “Materiality” and 108 “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements”, the Company concluded that these errors were immaterial, individually and in the aggregate, to the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as presented in the Company’s quarterly and annual financial statements previously filed in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Reports on Form 10-K. There was no impact to the Consolidated Statements of Income, Statements of Comprehensive Income, Statements of Financial Position, or Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for any period presented.
In preparing the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company made appropriate revisions to its Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for historical periods. Such changes are reflected for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, included in these financial statements, and will also be reflected in the historical periods included in the Company’s subsequent quarterly and annual consolidated financial statements.
The impact to the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows previously filed in Annual Reports on Form 10-K is as follows (in millions):
| Year Ended December 31, 2020 | Year Ended December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| As Reported | Effect of Change | As Revised | As Reported | Effect of Change | As Revised | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cash provided by operating activities | $ | 2,783 | $ | — | $ | 2,783 | $ | 1,835 | $ | — | $ | 1,835 | |||||||||||
| Cash used for investing activities | (679) | — | (679) | (229) | — | (229) | |||||||||||||||||
Cash provided by (used for) financing activities | (2,088) | 316 | (1,772) | (1,493) | 1,246 | (247) | |||||||||||||||||
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents and funds held on behalf of clients | 78 | 219 | 297 | 21 | 42 | 63 | |||||||||||||||||
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents and funds held on behalf of clients | 94 | 535 | 629 | 134 | 1,288 | 1,422 | |||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents and funds held on behalf of clients at beginning of year | 790 | 5,154 | 5,944 | 656 | 3,866 | 4,522 | |||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents and funds held on behalf of clients at end of year | $ | 884 | $ | 5,689 | $ | 6,573 | $ | 790 | $ | 5,154 | $ | 5,944 | |||||||||||
The impact to the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows previously filed in unaudited Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q is as follows (in millions):
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 | Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As Reported | Effect of Change | As Revised | As Reported | Effect of Change | As Revised | As Reported | Effect of Change | As Revised | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash provided by operating activities | $ | 561 | $ | — | $ | 561 | $ | 1,345 | $ | — | $ | 1,345 | $ | 1,251 | $ | — | $ | 1,251 | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash provided by (used for) investing activities | 102 | — | 102 | (27) | — | (27) | (116) | — | (116) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash provided by (used for) financing activities | (709) | 28 | (681) | (1,122) | 386 | (736) | (1,380) | 786 | (594) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents and funds held on behalf of clients | (16) | (18) | (34) | 11 | 18 | 29 | (30) | (63) | (93) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and funds held on behalf of clients | (62) | 10 | (52) | 207 | 404 | 611 | (275) | 723 | 448 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents and funds held on behalf of clients at beginning of year | 884 | 5,689 | 6,573 | 884 | 5,689 | 6,573 | 884 | 5,689 | 6,573 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents and funds held on behalf of clients at end of year | $ | 822 | $ | 5,699 | $ | 6,521 | $ | 1,091 | $ | 6,093 | $ | 7,184 | $ | 609 | $ | 6,412 | $ | 7,021 | |||||||||||||||||
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Principles and Practices
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
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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, specialty solutions, global risk consulting and captives management, and Affinity programs. 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 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 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 reinsurance, facultative reinsurance, 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.
Health Solutions includes consulting and brokerage, Human Capital, and voluntary benefits and enrollment solutions. Revenue primarily includes insurance commissions and fees for services rendered. For brokerage commissions, 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 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 is typically recognized upon successful enrollment
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of participants. 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.
Wealth Solutions includes retirement consulting and pension administration, as well as investments. 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 generally recorded as a component of revenue. Payment terms vary but are typically over the contract term in installments.
Share-based Compensation Expense
Share-based payments to employees, including grants of RSUs and PSAs, are measured based on grant date fair value. For purposes of measuring share-based compensation expense, the Company considered whether an adjustment to the observable market price is necessary to reflect material nonpublic information that is known to us at the time the award is granted. No adjustments were necessary for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, or 2019. 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 as reflected in Other income within the Consolidated Statements of Income. 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.
Earnings per Share
Basic earnings 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 earnings 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 earnings 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, 2021, Cash and cash equivalents and Short-term investments totaled $836 million compared to $1,192 million at December 31, 2020, a decrease of $356 million. Of the total balance, $160 million and $102 million was restricted as to its use at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Included within Short-term investments as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 balances, respectively, were £84.3 million ($112.8 million at December 31, 2021 exchanges rates) and £44.4 million ($60.2
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million at December 31, 2020 exchange rates) of operating funds required to be held by the Company in the U.K. by the FCA, a U.K.-based regulator. During 2021, following discussions with the FCA, and to take into consideration the potential future effects from market volatility due to COVID-19, the Company changed the basis of calculating its liquidity requirement and increased the amount of funds held by £34.3 million ($45.9 million at December 31, 2021 exchange rates).
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 Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.
Funds held on behalf of clients represent fiduciary assets held by Aon 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 $6.1 billion and $5.7 billion at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Fiduciary receivables were $8.3 billion and $8.1 billion at December 31, 2021 and 2020, 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 estimate for allowance for credit losses with respect to receivables is based on a combination of factors, including evaluation of forward-looking information, historical write-offs, aging of balances, and other qualitative and quantitative analyses. Receivables, net included an allowance for doubtful accounts of $90 million and $98 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Fixed Assets
Fixed assets are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Included in this category are certain capitalized costs incurred during the application development stage related to directly obtaining, developing, or enhancing internal use software. 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 | Estimated Useful 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 acquired in the acquisition of a business. Goodwill is allocated to applicable 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 quantitative analysis. If the fair value of a reporting unit is determined to be greater than the carrying value of the reporting unit, goodwill is deemed not to be impaired and no further testing is necessary. If the fair value of a reporting unit is less than the carrying value, a goodwill impairment loss is recognized for the amount that the carrying amount of a reporting unit, including goodwill, exceeds its fair value limited to the total amount of the goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. 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.
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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 | Estimated Useful Life | ||||||||||||
| Customer-related and contract-based | In line with underlying cash flows | 7 to 20 years | ||||||||||||
| Technology and other | Straight-line | 5 to 7 years | ||||||||||||
| Tradenames | Straight-line | 1 to 3 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, and the method for assessing the effectiveness of the hedge. 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 quarterly 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 change in fair value of a hedging instrument is recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income and subsequently reclassified to earnings in the same period the hedged item impacts earnings. For a net investment hedge, the change in fair value of the hedging instrument is recognized in Accumulate Other Comprehensive Income as part of the cumulative translation adjustment.
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 in the Consolidated Statements of Income in the period of change.
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, 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 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. 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,
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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.
Leases
The Company leases office facilities, equipment, and automobiles under operating and finance leases. The Company’s lease obligations are primarily for the use of office facilities. The Company evaluates if a leasing arrangement exists upon inception of a contract. A contract contains a lease if the contract conveys the right to control the use of identified tangible assets for a period of time in exchange for consideration. Identified property, plant, or equipment may include a physically distinct portion of a larger asset, or a portion of an asset that represents substantially all of the capacity of the asset but is not physically distinct. The Company assesses whether a contract implicitly contains the right to control the use of a tangible asset that is not already owned. In addition, the Company subleases certain real estate properties to third parties, which are classified as operating leases.
The Company’s leases expire at various dates and may contain renewal, expansion or termination options. The exercise of lease renewal and expansion options are typically at the Company’s sole discretion and are only included in the determination of the lease term if the Company is reasonably certain to exercise the option. In addition, the Company’s lease agreements typically do not contain any material residual value guarantees or restrictive covenants.
ROU assets and lease liabilities are based on the present value of the minimum lease payments over the lease term. The Company has elected 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 components from lease components and instead account for consideration received in a contract as a single lease component.
The Company made a policy election to not recognize ROU assets and lease liabilities that arise from leases with an initial term of twelve months or less in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. However, the Company recognized these lease payments in the Consolidated Statements of Income on a straight-line basis over the lease term and variable lease payments in the period in which the expense was incurred. The Company chose to apply this accounting policy across all classes of underlying assets.
A portion of the Company’s lease agreements include variable lease payments that are not recorded in the initial measurement of the lease liability and ROU asset balances. For real estate arrangements, base rental payments may be escalated according to annual changes in the CPI or other indices. The escalated rental payments based on the estimated CPI at the lease commencement date are included within minimum rental payments; however, changes in CPI are considered variable in nature and are recognized as variable lease costs in the period in which the obligation is incurred. Additionally, real estate lease agreements may include other variable payments related to operating expenses charged by the landlord based on actual expenditures. Information technology equipment agreements may include variable payments based on usage of the equipment. These expenses are also recognized as variable lease costs in the period in which the expense is incurred.
The Company utilizes discount rates to determine the present value of the lease payments based on information available at the commencement date of the lease. As the rate implicit in each lease is not typically readily available, the Company uses an incremental borrowing rate based on factors such as the lease term and the economic environment where the lease exists to determine the appropriate present value of future lease payments. When determining the incremental borrowing rate, the Company considers the rate of interest it would pay on a secured borrowing in an amount equal to the lease payments for the underlying asset under similar terms.
Operating leases are included in Operating lease ROU assets, Other current liabilities, and Non-current operating lease liabilities in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. Finance leases are included in Other non-current assets, Other current liabilities, and Other non-current liabilities in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.
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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 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. The Company does not consolidate the VIEs and Aon’s interest in VIEs as of December 31, 2021 was insignificant. 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.
New Accounting Pronouncements
Adoption of New Accounting Standards
Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities Acquired in a Business Combination
In October 2021, FASB issued new accounting guidance related to the accounting for contract assets and contract liabilities from contracts with customers acquired in a business combination. The new guidance improves the accounting for acquired revenue contracts with customers in a business combination by addressing diversity in practice and inconsistency. The new guidance requires an entity to recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination in accordance with the current accounting standard on revenue from contracts with customers, ASC 606. The new guidance is effective for Aon in the first quarter of 2023, with early adoption permitted. The Company elected to early adopt this guidance in the fourth quarter of 2021. The Company adopted the new guidance on a prospective basis while applying the amendments to all business combinations that occurred during 2021 as required by the new guidance. The early adoption of the new guidance did not have a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements.
3. Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Disaggregation of Revenue
The following table summarizes revenue from contracts with customers by principal service line (in millions). Prior year amounts from the Consolidated Financial Statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation. Refer to Note 1 “Basis of Presentation” for further information regarding the changes to the Company’s principal service lines.
| Years Ended December 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Commercial Risk Solutions | $ | 6,635 | $ | 5,861 | $ | 5,857 | ||||||||||||||
| Reinsurance Solutions | 1,997 | 1,814 | 1,686 | |||||||||||||||||
| Health Solutions | 2,154 | 2,067 | 2,104 | |||||||||||||||||
| Wealth Solutions | 1,426 | 1,341 | 1,380 | |||||||||||||||||
| Elimination | (19) | (17) | (14) | |||||||||||||||||
| Total revenue | $ | 12,193 | $ | 11,066 | $ | 11,013 | ||||||||||||||
Consolidated revenue from contracts with customers by geographic area, which is attributed on the basis of where the services are performed, is as follows (in millions):
| Years Ended December 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. | $ | 5,459 | $ | 5,032 | $ | 5,016 | ||||||||||||||
| Americas other than U.S. | 1,027 | 911 | 919 | |||||||||||||||||
| U.K. | 1,681 | 1,579 | 1,502 | |||||||||||||||||
| Ireland | 127 | 84 | 75 | |||||||||||||||||
| Europe, Middle East, & Africa other than U.K. and Ireland | 2,565 | 2,236 | 2,263 | |||||||||||||||||
| Asia Pacific | 1,334 | 1,224 | 1,238 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total revenue | $ | 12,193 | $ | 11,066 | $ | 11,013 | ||||||||||||||
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Contract Costs
Changes in the net carrying amount of costs to fulfill contracts with customers are as follows (in millions):
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||
| Balance at beginning of period | $ | 339 | $ | 335 | ||||||||||
| Additions | 1,504 | 1,360 | ||||||||||||
| Amortization | (1,478) | (1,360) | ||||||||||||
| Impairment | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation and other | (4) | 4 | ||||||||||||
| Balance at end of period | $ | 361 | $ | 339 | ||||||||||
Changes in the net carrying amount of costs to obtain contracts with customers are as follows (in millions):
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||
| Balance at beginning of period | $ | 184 | $ | 171 | ||||||||||
| Additions | 59 | 61 | ||||||||||||
| Amortization | (48) | (47) | ||||||||||||
| Impairment | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation and other | (16) | (1) | ||||||||||||
| Balance at end of period | $ | 179 | $ | 184 | ||||||||||
4. Other Financial Data
Consolidated Statements of Income Information
Other Income
The components of Other income are as follows (in millions):
| Years Ended December 31 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency remeasurement | $ | 26 | $ | (12) | $ | 9 | |||||||||||
| Gain from disposals of business | 142 | 25 | 13 | ||||||||||||||
| Pension and other postretirement | 21 | 13 | 9 | ||||||||||||||
| Equity earnings | 8 | 4 | 4 | ||||||||||||||
| Extinguishment of debt | — | (7) | — | ||||||||||||||
| Financial instruments | (45) | (10) | (35) | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 152 | $ | 13 | $ | — | |||||||||||
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Consolidated Statements of Financial Position Information
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Changes in the net carrying amount of allowance for doubtful accounts are as follows (in millions):
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Balance at beginning of period | $ | 98 | $ | 70 | $ | 62 | |||||||||||
Adoption of new accounting guidance (1) | — | 7 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Adjusted balance at beginning of period | 98 | 77 | 62 | ||||||||||||||
| Provision | 26 | 29 | 27 | ||||||||||||||
| Accounts written off, net of recoveries | (37) | (6) | (19) | ||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation and other | 3 | (2) | — | ||||||||||||||
| Balance at end of period | $ | 90 | $ | 98 | $ | 70 | |||||||||||
(1) The adoption of the new accounting standard on the measurement of credit losses on January 1, 2020 resulted in addition to the Allowance for doubtful accounts of $7 million. After tax impacts, this resulted in a $6 million decrease to Retained earnings. Refer to Note 2 “Summary of Significant Accounting Principles and Practices” for further information.
Other Current Assets
The components of Other current assets are as follows (in millions):
| As of December 31 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||
Costs to fulfill contracts with customers(1) | $ | 361 | $ | 339 | |||||||
| Taxes receivable | 53 | 95 | |||||||||
| Prepaid expenses | 137 | 111 | |||||||||
| Other | 165 | 79 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 716 | $ | 624 | |||||||
(1)Refer to Note 3 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” for further information.
Fixed Assets, net
The components of Fixed assets, net are as follows (in millions):
| As of December 31 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||
| Software | $ | 797 | $ | 808 | |||||||
| Leasehold improvements | 425 | 375 | |||||||||
| Computer equipment | 268 | 249 | |||||||||
| Furniture, fixtures and equipment | 279 | 246 | |||||||||
| Construction in progress | 45 | 155 | |||||||||
| Other | 33 | 34 | |||||||||
Fixed assets, gross | 1,847 | 1,867 | |||||||||
| Less: Accumulated depreciation | 1,318 | 1,268 | |||||||||
Fixed assets, net | $ | 529 | $ | 599 | |||||||
Depreciation expense, which includes software amortization, was $179 million, $167 million, and $172 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.
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Other Non-current Assets
The components of Other non-current assets are as follows (in millions):
| As of December 31 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||
Costs to obtain contracts with customers (1) | $ | 179 | $ | 184 | |||||||
| Investments | 64 | 74 | |||||||||
Leases (2) | 63 | 89 | |||||||||
| Taxes receivable | 95 | 125 | |||||||||
| Other | 111 | 138 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 512 | $ | 610 | |||||||
(1) Refer to Note 3 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” for further information.
(2) Refer to Note 8 “Lease Commitments” for further information.
Other Current Liabilities
The components of Other current liabilities are as follows (in millions):
| As of December 31 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||
Deferred revenue (1) | $ | 321 | $ | 296 | |||||||
| Taxes payable | 149 | 80 | |||||||||
Leases (2) | 213 | 234 | |||||||||
| Other | 648 | 561 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 1,331 | $ | 1,171 | |||||||
(1)$553 million and $454 million was recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income during the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.
(2)Refer to Note 8 “Lease Commitments” for further information.
Other Non-current Liabilities
The components of Other non-current liabilities are as follows (in millions):
| As of December 31 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||
Taxes payable (1) | $ | 609 | $ | 561 | |||||||
Leases (2) | 46 | 65 | |||||||||
| Compensation and benefits | 58 | 53 | |||||||||
| Deferred revenue | 70 | 76 | |||||||||
| Other | 127 | 140 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 910 | $ | 895 | |||||||
(1)Includes $145 million for the non-current portion of the transition tax as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. Refer to Note 9 “Income Taxes” for further information on the transition tax.
(2)Refer to Note 8 “Lease Commitments” for further information.
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5. Acquisitions and Dispositions of Businesses
Completed Acquisitions
The Company completed two acquisitions during the year ended December 31, 2021 and six acquisitions during the year ended December 31, 2020. The following table includes the preliminary fair values of consideration transferred, assets acquired, and liabilities assumed as a result of the Company’s acquisitions (in millions):
| Year Ended December 31, 2021 | |||||
| Consideration transferred | |||||
| Cash | $ | 27 | |||
| Deferred, contingent, and other consideration | 17 | ||||
| Aggregate consideration transferred | $ | 44 | |||
| Assets acquired | |||||
| Goodwill | 17 | ||||
| Other intangible assets | 13 | ||||
Other assets (1) | 26 | ||||
| Total assets acquired | 56 | ||||
| Liabilities assumed | |||||
| Total liabilities assumed | 12 | ||||
| Net assets acquired | $ | 44 | |||
(1) In the year ended December 31, 2021, cash and cash equivalents of $12 million and funds held on behalf of client of $1 million were acquired.
Intangible assets acquired include customer-related and contract-based assets. The intangible assets acquired as part of business acquisitions in 2021 had a weighted average useful economic life of 9 years. Acquisition related costs for completed acquisitions incurred and recognized within Other general expense for the year ended December 31, 2021 were insignificant.
The results of operations of these acquisitions are included in the Consolidated Financial Statements as of the respective acquisition dates. The Company’s results of operations would not have been materially different if these acquisitions had been reported from the beginning of the period in which they were acquired.
2021 Acquisitions
On December 22, 2021, the Company completed the transaction to acquire 100% share capital of For Welfare S.r.l, a company focused on bancassurance programs in Italy.
On September 1, 2021, the Company completed the transaction to acquire 51% of Aon India Insurance Brokers Limited (formerly known as Anviti Insurance Brokers Private Limited). Prior to the acquisition date, the Company accounted for its 49% interest in Anviti as an equity-method investment. The acquisition-date fair value of the previous equity interest was $15 million and is included in the measurement of consideration transferred. There was no significant impact as a result of remeasuring the carrying value of the Company’s prior equity interest in Anviti held before the business combination.
2020 Acquisitions
On April 6, 2020, the Company completed the acquisition of 100% share capital of Farmington Administrative Services LLC, a U.S.-based national provider of enrollment solutions and voluntary benefits, and certain assets of other Farmington companies.
On January 31, 2020, the Company completed the acquisition of 100% share capital of Cytelligence Inc., a Canadian-based cyber security firm that provides incident response advisory, digital forensic expertise, security consulting services, and cyber security training for employees to help organizations respond to cyber security threats and strengthen their security position.
On January 3, 2020, the Company completed the acquisition of 100% share capital of CoverWallet, Inc., a U.S.-based digital insurance platform for small- and medium-sized businesses.
On January 1, 2020, the Company completed the acquisition of 100% share capital of TRIUM GmbH Insurance Broker, an insurance broker based in Germany.
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On January 1, 2020, the Company completed the acquisition of 100% share capital of Assimedia SA, an insurance broker based in Switzerland.
On January 1, 2020, the Company completed the acquisition of 100% share capital of Apollo Conseil et Courtage, an insurance broker based in France.
Completed Dispositions
The Company completed six dispositions during the year ended December 31, 2021, including the sale of Aon’s Retiree Health ExchangeTM business. The Company completed one disposition during the year ended December 31, 2020 and eight dispositions during the year ended December 31, 2019.
The pretax gains recognized related to dispositions were $142 million, $25 million, and $13 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. Gains recognized as a result of a disposition are included in Other income in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The pretax losses recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income related to these dispositions were insignificant for the years ended December 31, 2021, December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.
Other Significant Activity
On March 9, 2020, Aon and WTW, an Irish public limited company, entered into a business combination agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”) with respect to a combination of the parties (the “Combination”). On July 26, 2021, Aon and WTW mutually agreed to terminate the Business Combination Agreement, (the “Termination Agreement”). Aon Corporation paid a $1 billion termination fee pursuant to the Termination Agreement. Refer to “Termination of Business Combination Agreement” within Part II, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for further information.
6. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
The changes in the net carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, are as follows (in millions):
| Balance as of January 1, 2020 | $ | 8,165 | |||
| Goodwill related to current year acquisitions | 314 | ||||
| Goodwill related to disposals | (3) | ||||
| Foreign currency translation and other | 190 | ||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2020 | $ | 8,666 | |||
| Goodwill related to current year acquisitions | 17 | ||||
| Goodwill related to disposals | (37) | ||||
| Foreign currency translation and other | (212) | ||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2021 | $ | 8,434 | |||
Other intangible assets by asset class are as follows (in millions):
| As of December 31 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross Carrying Amount | Accumulated Amortization and Impairment | Net Carrying Amount | Gross Carrying Amount | Accumulated Amortization and Impairment | Net Carrying Amount | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Customer-related and contract-based | $ | 2,289 | $ | 1,848 | $ | 441 | $ | 2,337 | $ | 1,775 | $ | 562 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technology and other | 407 | 357 | 50 | 435 | 358 | 77 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tradenames (1) | 14 | 13 | 1 | 14 | 13 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 2,710 | $ | 2,218 | $ | 492 | $ | 2,786 | $ | 2,146 | $ | 640 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)In 2020, Aon wrote off $1.0 billion of fully amortized tradenames, including the Hewitt and Benfield tradenames. The company no longer expects to receive economic benefits from these tradenames.
Amortization expense and impairment charges from finite lived intangible assets were $147 million, $246 million, and $392 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.
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The estimated future amortization for finite-lived intangible assets as of December 31, 2021 is as follows (in millions):
| Estimated Future Amortization | ||||||||
| For the years ended | ||||||||
| 2022 | $ | 100 | ||||||
| 2023 | 89 | |||||||
| 2024 | 72 | |||||||
| 2025 | 59 | |||||||
| 2026 | 37 | |||||||
| Thereafter | 135 | |||||||
| Total | $ | 492 | ||||||
7. Debt
The following is a summary of outstanding debt (in millions):
| As of December 31 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||
| Commercial paper | $ | 665 | $ | — | |||||||
2.80% Senior Notes due March 2021 (1) | — | 400 | |||||||||
2.20% Senior Notes due November 2022 (2) | 499 | 498 | |||||||||
4.00% Senior Notes due November 2023 | 349 | 349 | |||||||||
3.50% Senior Notes due June 2024 | 598 | 597 | |||||||||
3.875% Senior Notes due December 2025 | 748 | 747 | |||||||||
2.875% Senior Notes due May 2026 (EUR 500M) | 563 | 606 | |||||||||
8.205% Junior Subordinated Notes due January 2027 | 521 | 521 | |||||||||
4.50% Senior Notes due December 2028 | 347 | 347 | |||||||||
3.75% Senior Notes due May 2029 | 745 | 744 | |||||||||
2.80% Senior Notes due May 2030 | 993 | 992 | |||||||||
2.05% Senior Notes due August 2031 | 396 | — | |||||||||
2.60% Senior Notes due December 2031 | 496 | — | |||||||||
6.25% Senior Notes due September 2040 | 296 | 296 | |||||||||
4.25% Senior Notes due December 2042 | 201 | 200 | |||||||||
4.45% Senior Notes due May 2043 | 247 | 247 | |||||||||
4.60% Senior Notes due June 2044 | 544 | 544 | |||||||||
4.75% Senior Notes due May 2045 | 593 | 593 | |||||||||
2.90% Senior Notes due August 2051 | 591 | — | |||||||||
| Other | — | 48 | |||||||||
| Total debt | 9,392 | 7,729 | |||||||||
| Less: Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt | 1,164 | 448 | |||||||||
| Total long-term debt | $ | 8,228 | $ | 7,281 | |||||||
(1)The 2.80% Senior Notes due March 2021 were repaid in full on February 16, 2021.
(2)The 2.20% Senior Notes due November 2021 were reclassified as Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position as of December 31, 2021.
Notes
On December 2, 2021, Aon Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and Aon Global Holdings plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales, both wholly owned subsidiaries of the company, co-issued $500 million aggregate principal amount of 2.60% Senior Notes set to mature on December 2, 2031. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the offering for general corporate purposes.
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On August 23, 2021, Aon Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and Aon Global Holdings plc, a public limited company formed under the laws of England and Wales, both wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company, co-issued $400 million 2.05% Senior Notes due August 2031 and $600 million of 2.90% Senior Notes due August 2051. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the offering for general corporate purposes.
On January 13, 2021, Aon Global Limited, a limited company organized under the laws of England and Wales and a wholly owned subsidiary of Aon plc, issued an irrevocable notice of redemption to holders of its 2.80% Senior Notes for the redemption of all $400 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of the notes, which were set to mature in March 2021 and classified as Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt as of December 31, 2020. The redemption date was on February 16, 2021 and resulted in an insignificant loss due to extinguishment.
On May 29, 2020, Aon Corporation, a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Aon Corporation, issued an irrevocable notice of redemption to holders of its 5.00% Senior Notes, which were set to mature on September 30, 2020, for the redemption of all $600 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of the notes. The redemption date was on June 30, 2020 and resulted in a loss of $7 million due to extinguishment.
On May 12, 2020, Aon Corporation issued $1 billion 2.80% Senior Notes due May 2030. Aon Corporation used a portion of the net proceeds on June 30, 2020 to repay its outstanding 5.00% Senior Notes, which were set to mature on September 30, 2020. The Company used the remainder to repay other borrowings and for general corporate purposes.
Each of the notes issued by Aon Corporation is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Aon Global Limited, Aon plc, and Aon Global Holding plc. Each of the notes issued by Aon Global Limited is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Aon plc, Aon Global Holdings plc, and Aon Corporation. All guarantees of Aon plc and Aon Global Limited of the Co-Issued Notes are joint and several as well as full and unconditional. Senior Notes rank pari passu in right of payment with all other present and future unsecured debt which is not expressed to be subordinate or junior in rank to any other unsecured debt of the Co-Issuers. Refer to “Guarantee of Registered Securities” within Part II Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for further information regarding guarantees of outstanding debt securities. Each of the notes described and identified in the table above contains customary representations, warranties, and covenants, and the Company was in compliance with all such covenants as of December 31, 2021.
Repayments of total debt as of December 31, 2021 are as follows (in millions):
| 2022 | $ | 1,165 | |||
| 2023 | 350 | ||||
| 2024 | 600 | ||||
| 2025 | 750 | ||||
| 2026 | 566 | ||||
| Thereafter | 6,077 | ||||
| Total Repayments | 9,508 | ||||
| Unamortized discounts, premiums, and debt issuance costs | (116) | ||||
| Total Debt | $ | 9,392 | |||
Revolving Credit Facilities
As of December 31, 2021, Aon plc had two primary committed credit facilities outstanding: its $1.0 billion multi-currency U.S. credit facility expiring in September 2026 and its $750 million multi-currency U.S. credit facility expiring in October 2023. In aggregate, these two facilities provide $1.75 billion in available credit. The $1.0 billion credit facility was entered into on September 28, 2021 and replaced the $900 million credit facility, which was scheduled to mature on February 2, 2022.
Each of these primary committed credit facilities includes customary representations, warranties, and covenants, including financial covenants that require Aon to maintain specified ratios of adjusted consolidated EBITDA to consolidated interest expense and consolidated debt to adjusted consolidated EBITDA, in each case, tested quarterly. At December 31, 2021, Aon did not have borrowings under either of these primary committed credit facilities, and was in compliance with the financial covenants and all other covenants contained therein during the rolling year ended December 31, 2021.
Commercial Paper
Aon Corporation has established a U.S. commercial paper program (the “U.S. Program”) and Aon Global Holdings plc has established a European multi-currency commercial paper program (the “European Program” and, together with the U.S. Program, the “Commercial Paper Programs”). Commercial paper may be issued in aggregate principal amounts of up to
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$1 billion under the U.S. Program and €625 million under the European Program, not to exceed the amount of the Company’s committed credit facilities, which was $1.75 billion at December 31, 2021. The aggregate capacity of the U.S. Program was increased in the fourth quarter of 2021 from $900 million to $1 billion. The aggregate capacity of the Commercial Paper Program remains fully backed by the Company’s committed credit facilities. The U.S. Program was fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Aon plc, Aon Global Limited, and Aon Global Holdings plc and the European Program was fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Aon plc, Aon Global Limited, and Aon Corporation.
Approximately $400 million of the Termination Fee (as defined in Part II, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations) was paid on July 27, 2021 using proceeds of commercial paper issued by Aon Corporation under the U.S. Program, where the aggregate principal was raised on July 26, 2021.
Commercial paper outstanding, which is included in Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Position, is as follows (in millions):
| As of December 31 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||||
| Commercial paper outstanding | $ | 665 | $ | — | ||||||||||
The weighted average commercial paper outstanding and its related interest rates are as follows (in millions, except percentages):
| Years Ended December 31 | ||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||
| Weighted average commercial paper outstanding | $ | 273 | $ | 343 | ||||||||||
| Weighted average interest rate of commercial paper outstanding | 0.01 | % | 1.47 | % | ||||||||||
8. Lease Commitments
The classification of operating and finance lease asset and liability balances within the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position are as follows (in millions):
| As of December 31 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||
| Assets | |||||||||||
| Operating lease assets | Operating lease right-of-use assets | $ | 786 | $ | 911 | ||||||
| Finance lease assets | 63 | 89 | |||||||||
| Total lease assets | $ | 849 | $ | 1,000 | |||||||
| Liabilities | |||||||||||
| Current lease liabilities | |||||||||||
| Operating | $ | 194 | $ | 204 | |||||||
| Finance | 19 | 30 | |||||||||
| Non-current lease liabilities | |||||||||||
| Operating | Non-current operating lease liabilities | 772 | 897 | ||||||||
| Finance | 46 | 65 | |||||||||
| Total lease liabilities | $ | 1,031 | $ | 1,196 | |||||||
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The components of lease costs are as follows (in millions):
| Years Ended December 31 | ||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
| Operating lease cost | $ | 217 | $ | 221 | ||||
| Finance lease costs | ||||||||
| Amortization of leased assets | 26 | 25 | ||||||
| Interest on lease liabilities | 1 | 3 | ||||||
| Variable lease cost | 49 | 48 | ||||||
Short-term lease cost (1) | 11 | 10 | ||||||
| Sublease income | (31) | (32) | ||||||
| Net lease cost | $ | 273 | $ | 275 | ||||
(1) Short-term lease cost does not include expenses related to leases with a lease term of one month or less.
Weighted average remaining lease term and discount rate related to operating and finance leases are as follows:
| As of December 31 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||
| Weighted average remaining lease term (years) | ||||||||
| Operating leases | 6.9 | 7.4 | ||||||
| Finance leases | 3.6 | 4.2 | ||||||
| Weighted average discount rate | ||||||||
| Operating leases | 2.8 | % | 2.9 | % | ||||
| Finance leases | 1.0 | % | 1.0 | % | ||||
Other cash and non-cash related activities are as follows (in millions):
| Years Ended December 31 | ||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
| Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities | ||||||||
| Operating cash flows for operating leases | $ | 244 | $ | 236 | ||||
| Financing cash flows for finance leases | $ | 23 | $ | 12 | ||||
| Non-cash related activities | ||||||||
| ROU assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities | $ | 44 | $ | 146 | ||||
| ROU assets obtained in exchange for new finance lease liabilities | $ | — | $ | 13 | ||||
Operating lease ROU asset expense (1) | $ | 142 | $ | 178 | ||||
Changes in Non-current operating lease liabilities (1) | $ | (125) | $ | (47) | ||||
(1)The Company has recorded non-cash changes in Operating lease ROU assets and Non-current operating lease liabilities through Other assets and liabilities in Cash flows from operations within the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Maturity analysis of operating and finance leases as of December 31, 2021 are as follows (in millions):
| Operating Leases | Finance Leases | Total | |||||||||||||||
| 2022 | $ | 207 | $ | 26 | $ | 233 | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 175 | 20 | 195 | ||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 144 | 18 | 162 | ||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 121 | 10 | 131 | ||||||||||||||
| 2026 | 110 | — | 110 | ||||||||||||||
| Thereafter | 299 | — | 299 | ||||||||||||||
| Total undiscounted future minimum lease payments | 1,056 | 74 | 1,130 | ||||||||||||||
| Less: Imputed interest | (90) | (9) | (99) | ||||||||||||||
| Present value of lease liabilities | $ | 966 | $ | 65 | $ | 1,031 | |||||||||||
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9. Income Taxes
Income before income tax and the provision for income tax consist of the following (in millions):
| Years Ended December 31 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Income (loss) before income taxes: | |||||||||||||||||
| Ireland | $ | 15 | $ | (86) | $ | 200 | |||||||||||
| U.K. | 549 | 634 | 228 | ||||||||||||||
| U.S. | (818) | (28) | (220) | ||||||||||||||
| Other | 2,185 | 1,946 | 1,662 | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 1,931 | $ | 2,466 | $ | 1,870 | |||||||||||
| Income tax expense: | |||||||||||||||||
| Current: | |||||||||||||||||
| Ireland | $ | 2 | $ | 2 | $ | 1 | |||||||||||
| U.K. | 50 | 30 | 20 | ||||||||||||||
| U.S. federal | 197 | 126 | 22 | ||||||||||||||
| U.S. state and local | 72 | 22 | 41 | ||||||||||||||
| Other | 291 | 259 | 249 | ||||||||||||||
| Total current tax expense | $ | 612 | $ | 439 | $ | 333 | |||||||||||
| Deferred tax expense (benefit): | |||||||||||||||||
| Ireland | $ | (1) | $ | (1) | $ | (1) | |||||||||||
| U.K. | 131 | 39 | 35 | ||||||||||||||
| U.S. federal | (83) | (72) | (20) | ||||||||||||||
| U.S. state and local | (30) | (4) | (27) | ||||||||||||||
| Other | (6) | 47 | (23) | ||||||||||||||
| Total deferred tax expense (benefit) | $ | 11 | $ | 9 | $ | (36) | |||||||||||
| Total income tax expense | $ | 623 | $ | 448 | $ | 297 | |||||||||||
Income before income taxes shown above is based on the location of the business unit to which such earnings are attributable for tax purposes. In addition, because the earnings shown above may, in some cases, be subject to taxation in more than one country, the income tax provision shown above as Ireland, U.K., U.S. or Other may not correspond to the geographic attribution of the earnings.
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The Company performs a reconciliation of the income tax provisions based on its domicile and statutory rate at each reporting period. Due to the Reorganization, the 2021 and 2020 reconciliations are based on the Irish statutory corporate tax rate of 25.0%, while the 2019 reconciliation is based on the U.K. statutory corporate tax rate of 19.0%. The reconciliation to the provisions reflected in the Consolidated Financial Statements is as follows:
| Years Ended December 31 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Statutory tax rate | 25.0% | 25.0% | 19.0% | ||||||||||||||
| U.S. state income taxes, net of U.S. federal benefit | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | ||||||||||||||
Taxes on international operations (1) (4) | (15.4) | (9.8) | (6.0) | ||||||||||||||
| Nondeductible expenses | 3.3 | 2.1 | 1.6 | ||||||||||||||
| Adjustments to prior year tax requirements | (0.2) | — | 0.1 | ||||||||||||||
| Deferred tax adjustments, including statutory rate changes | 3.2 | 0.7 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Deferred tax adjustments, international earnings | 1.8 | 0.7 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Adjustments to valuation allowances | (0.2) | — | 1.8 | ||||||||||||||
| Change in uncertain tax positions | 2.1 | 1.5 | 2.2 | ||||||||||||||
Excess tax benefits related to shared based compensation (2) | (2.4) | (2.2) | (2.8) | ||||||||||||||
U.S. Tax Reform impact (3) | — | — | (0.3) | ||||||||||||||
| Capital Losses | — | (1.8) | — | ||||||||||||||
| Non-deductible transaction costs | 1.1 | 1.3 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Non-deductible termination fee | 12.9 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Other — net | (0.4) | (0.3) | (0.2) | ||||||||||||||
| Effective tax rate | 32.3% | 18.2% | 15.9% | ||||||||||||||
(1)The Company determines the adjustment for taxes on international operations based on the difference between the statutory tax rate applicable to earnings in each foreign jurisdiction and the enacted rate of 25.0%, 25.0% and 19.0% at December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. The benefit to the Company’s effective income tax rate from taxes on international operations relates to benefits from lower-taxed global operations, primarily due to the use of global funding structures and the tax holiday in Singapore.
(2)Excess tax benefits and deficiencies from share-based payment transactions are recognized as income tax expense or benefit in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income.
(3)The impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act including adjustments to the Transition Tax.
(4)In July 2020, final U.S. tax regulations were issued regarding the GILTI high tax election, allowing taxpayers to exclude from GILTI the income of a Controlled Foreign Corporation that incurs a foreign tax rate more than 90% of the top U.S. corporate tax rate. A GILTI high tax election may be made on an annual basis, and taxpayers may choose to apply the election to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017. The Company expects to make the GILTI high-tax election for 2021 and therefore recorded the impact of making the election.
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The Company has elected to account for GILTI in the period in which it is incurred, and therefore has not provided deferred tax impacts of GILTI in its Consolidated Financial Statements.
The components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in millions):
| As of December 31 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||
| Deferred tax assets: | |||||||||||
| Net operating loss, capital loss, interest, and tax credit carryforwards | $ | 581 | $ | 653 | |||||||
| Lease liabilities | 207 | 248 | |||||||||
| Employee benefit plans | 160 | 312 | |||||||||
| Other accrued expenses | 132 | 103 | |||||||||
| Accrued interest | 97 | — | |||||||||
Federal and state benefit of interest from uncertain tax positions (1) | 45 | 37 | |||||||||
| Deferred revenue | 36 | 36 | |||||||||
| Investment basis differences | 25 | 28 | |||||||||
| Lease and service guarantees | 1 | 2 | |||||||||
| Other | 25 | 17 | |||||||||
| Total | 1,309 | 1,436 | |||||||||
| Valuation allowance on deferred tax assets | (230) | (205) | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 1,079 | $ | 1,231 | |||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities: | |||||||||||
| Intangibles and property, plant and equipment | $ | (243) | $ | (291) | |||||||
| Lease right-of-use asset | (173) | (211) | |||||||||
| Deferred costs | (159) | (141) | |||||||||
| Unremitted earnings | (58) | (37) | |||||||||
| Other accrued expenses | (27) | (22) | |||||||||
| Unrealized foreign exchange gains | (22) | (26) | |||||||||
| Other | (32) | (41) | |||||||||
| Total | $ | (714) | $ | (769) | |||||||
| Net deferred tax asset | $ | 365 | $ | 462 | |||||||
(1)The $37 million of Federal and state benefit of interest from uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2020 was previously classified as Other.
Deferred income taxes (assets and liabilities have been netted by jurisdiction) have been classified in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as follows (in millions):
| As of December 31 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||
| Deferred tax assets — non-current | 766 | 724 | |||||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities — non-current | (401) | (262) | |||||||||
| Net deferred tax asset | $ | 365 | $ | 462 | |||||||
In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, the Company considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized and adjusts the valuation allowance accordingly. Considerations with respect to the realizability of deferred tax assets include the period of expiration of the deferred tax asset, historical earnings and projected future taxable income by jurisdiction as well as tax liabilities for the tax jurisdiction to which the tax asset relates. Significant management judgment is required in determining the assumptions and estimates related to the amount and timing of future taxable income. Valuation allowances have been established primarily with regard to the tax benefits of certain net operating loss, capital loss, and interest carryforwards. Valuation allowances increased by $25 million as of December 31, 2021, when compared to December 31, 2020. The change is primarily attributable to the increase in the UK tax rate offset by the release of valuation allowances related to certain net operating and capital loss carryforwards.
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The Company generally intends to limit distributions from foreign subsidiaries in excess of U.S. tax earnings and profits (except where distributions would be limited by available cash) and to limit repatriations from certain other jurisdictions that would otherwise generate a U.S. tax liability. As of December 31, 2021, the Company has accrued $58 million for local country income taxes, withholding taxes and state income taxes on those undistributed earnings that are not indefinitely reinvested. The Company has not provided for deferred taxes on outside basis differences in our investments in our foreign subsidiaries that are unrelated to these accumulated undistributed earnings, as these outside basis differences are indefinitely reinvested. A determination of the unrecognized deferred taxes related to these other components of our outside basis differences is not practicable.
The Company had the following carryforwards (in millions):
| As of December 31 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||
| U.K. | |||||||||||
| Operating loss carryforwards | $ | 41 | $ | 266 | |||||||
| Capital loss carryforwards | $ | 573 | $ | 577 | |||||||
| Interest carryforwards | $ | — | $ | 121 | |||||||
| U.S. | |||||||||||
| Federal operating loss carryforwards | $ | 25 | $ | 49 | |||||||
| Federal capital loss carryforwards | $ | 112 | $ | 112 | |||||||
| Federal interest carryforwards | $ | 1,140 | $ | 1,220 | |||||||
| State operating loss carryforwards | $ | 398 | $ | 378 | |||||||
| State capital loss carryforwards | $ | 123 | $ | 123 | |||||||
| State interest carryforwards | $ | 551 | $ | 573 | |||||||
| Other Non-U.S. | |||||||||||
| Operating loss carryforwards | $ | 301 | $ | 400 | |||||||
| Capital loss carryforwards | $ | 35 | $ | 42 | |||||||
| Interest carryforwards | $ | 26 | $ | 34 | |||||||
| Other carryforwards | $ | 5 | $ | — | |||||||
The U.K. operating losses, capital losses, and interest carryforward each have an indefinite carryforward period. The federal operating loss carryforwards generated through December 31, 2017 expire at various dates between 2034 and 2036 while federal operating loss carryforwards generated after this date have indefinite carryforward periods. State net operating losses as of December 31, 2021 have various carryforward periods and will begin to expire in 2022. Federal and state capital losses can be carried forward until 2023. Federal and state interest carryforwards have indefinite carryforward periods. Operating, capital losses, and other carryforwards in other non-U.S. jurisdictions have various carryforward periods and will begin to expire in 2022. The interest carryforwards in other non-U.S. jurisdictions have an indefinite carryforward period.
During 2012, the Company was granted a tax holiday for the period from October 1, 2012 through September 30, 2022, with respect to withholding taxes and certain income derived from services in Singapore. This tax holiday and reduced withholding tax rate may be extended when certain conditions are met or may be terminated early if certain conditions are not met. The benefit realized was approximately $104 million, $97 million, and $90 million during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. The impact of this tax holiday on diluted earnings per share was $0.46, $0.42, and $0.37 during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.
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Uncertain Tax Positions
The following is a reconciliation of the Company’s beginning and ending amount of uncertain tax positions (in millions):
| 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||
| Balance at January 1 | $ | 321 | $ | 299 | |||||||
| Additions based on tax positions related to the current year | 33 | 25 | |||||||||
| Additions for tax positions of prior years | 7 | 7 | |||||||||
| Reductions for tax positions of prior years | (4) | (3) | |||||||||
| Settlements | — | — | |||||||||
| Business combinations | — | — | |||||||||
| Lapse of statute of limitations | (10) | (7) | |||||||||
| Foreign currency translation | — | — | |||||||||
| Balance at December 31 | $ | 347 | $ | 321 | |||||||
The Company’s liability for uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, includes $295 million, $270 million, and $248 million, respectively, related to amounts that would impact the effective tax rate if recognized. It is possible that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits may change in the next twelve months; however, the Company does not expect the change to have a significant impact on its consolidated statements of income or consolidated balance sheets. These changes may be the result of settlements of ongoing audits. At this time, an estimate of the range of the reasonably possible outcomes within the next twelve months cannot be made.
The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in its provision for income taxes. The Company accrued potential interest and penalties of $22 million, $21 million, and $24 million in 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. The Company recorded a liability for interest and penalties of $142 million, $120 million, and $99 million as of December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.
The Company and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in their respective jurisdictions. The Company has substantially concluded all U.S. federal income tax matters for years through 2007. Material U.S. state and local income tax jurisdiction examinations have been concluded for years through 2012. The Company has concluded income tax examinations in its primary non-U.S. jurisdictions through 2008.
10. Shareholders’ Equity
Distributable Profits
The Company is required under Irish law to have available “distributable profits” to make share repurchases or pay dividends to shareholders. Distributable profits are created through the earnings of the Irish parent company and, among other methods, through intercompany dividends or a reduction in share capital approved by the High Court of Ireland. Distributable profits are not linked to a U.S. GAAP reported amount (e.g., retained earnings). On July 26, 2021, we received approval from the High Court of Ireland to complete a reduction in share premium to create distributable profits of $34.0 billion to support the payment of possible future dividends or future share repurchases, if and to the extent declared by the directors in compliance with their duties under Irish law. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had distributable profits in excess of $32.7 billion and $0.2 billion, respectively. We believe that we have the ability to create sufficient distributable profits for the foreseeable future.
Ordinary Shares
Aon has a share repurchase program authorized by the Company’s Board of Directors. The Repurchase Program was established in April 2012 with $5.0 billion in authorized repurchases and was increased by $5.0 billion in authorized repurchases in each of November 2014, June 2017, and November 2020, and by $7.5 billion in authorized repurchases in February 2022 for a total of $27.5 billion in repurchase authorizations.
Under the Repurchase Program, the Company’s class A ordinary shares may be repurchased through the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, from time to time, based on prevailing market conditions and will be funded from available capital.
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The following table summarizes the Company’s share repurchase activity (in millions, except per share data):
| Years Ended December 31 | ||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||
| Shares repurchased | 12.4 | 8.5 | ||||||||||||
| Average price per share | $ | 286.82 | $ | 206.28 | ||||||||||
| Costs recorded to retained earnings | ||||||||||||||
| Total repurchase cost | $ | 3,543 | $ | 1,761 | ||||||||||
| Additional associated costs | — | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Total costs recorded to retained earnings | $ | 3,543 | $ | 1,763 | ||||||||||
At December 31, 2021, the remaining authorized amount for share repurchases under the Repurchase Program was approximately $1.7 billion. Under the Repurchase Program, the Company has repurchased a total of 149.6 million shares for an aggregate cost of approximately $18.3 billion.
Weighted Average Ordinary Shares
Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding are as follows (in millions):
| Years Ended December 31 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Basic weighted average ordinary shares outstanding | 224.7 | 231.9 | 238.6 | ||||||||||||||
| Dilutive effect of potentially issuable shares | 1.4 | 1.2 | 2.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Diluted weighted average ordinary shares outstanding | 226.1 | 233.1 | 240.6 | ||||||||||||||
Potentially issuable shares are not included in the computation of Diluted net income per share attributable to Aon shareholders if their inclusion would be antidilutive. There were 0.3 million shares excluded from the calculation in 2021 and no shares excluded from the calculation in 2020 and 2019.
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Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Changes in Accumulated other comprehensive loss by component, net of related tax, are as follows (in millions):
Change in Fair Value of Financial Instruments (1) | Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments | Postretirement Benefit Obligation (2) | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2018 | (15) | (1,319) | (2,575) | (3,909) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications | (10) | 15 | (287) | (282) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tax benefit (expense) | 1 | (1) | 58 | 58 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net | (9) | 14 | (229) | (224) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss): | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income | 14 | — | 109 | 123 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tax expense | (2) | — | (21) | (23) | |||||||||||||||||||
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net (3) | 12 | — | 88 | 100 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) | 3 | 14 | (141) | (124) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2019 | (12) | (1,305) | (2,716) | (4,033) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications | 1 | 258 | (255) | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tax benefit | — | 2 | 60 | 62 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net | 1 | 260 | (195) | 66 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss): | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income | 15 | — | 125 | 140 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tax expense | (3) | — | (31) | (34) | |||||||||||||||||||
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net (3) | 12 | — | 94 | 106 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) | 13 | 260 | (101) | 172 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2020 | $ | 1 | $ | (1,045) | $ | (2,817) | $ | (3,861) | |||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications | — | (290) | 227 | (63) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tax benefit (expense) | — | 2 | (58) | (56) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net | — | (288) | 169 | (119) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss): | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income | 2 | — | 142 | 144 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tax expense | (1) | — | (34) | (35) | |||||||||||||||||||
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net (3) | 1 | — | 108 | 109 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) | 1 | (288) | 277 | (10) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2021 | $ | 2 | $ | (1,333) | $ | (2,540) | $ | (3,871) | |||||||||||||||
(1)Reclassifications from this category included in Accumulated other comprehensive loss are recorded in Total revenue, Interest expense, and Compensation and benefits in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Refer to Note 13 “Derivatives and Hedging” for further information regarding the Company’s derivative and hedging activity.
(2)Reclassifications from this category included in Accumulated other comprehensive loss are recorded in Other income (expense) in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
(3)It is the Company’s policy to release income tax effects from Accumulated other comprehensive loss using the portfolio approach.
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11. Employee Benefits
Defined Contribution Savings Plans
Aon maintains defined contribution savings plans for the benefit of its employees. The expense recognized for these plans is included in Compensation and benefits in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The expense for the significant plans in the U.S., U.K., Netherlands, and Canada is as follows (in millions):
| Years Ended December 31 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| U.S. | $ | 103 | $ | 87 | $ | 98 | |||||||||||
| U.K. | 46 | 42 | 41 | ||||||||||||||
| Netherlands and Canada | 35 | 26 | 25 | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 184 | $ | 155 | $ | 164 | |||||||||||
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
The Company sponsors defined benefit pension and postretirement health and welfare plans that provide retirement, medical, and life insurance benefits. The postretirement health care plans are contributory, with retiree contributions adjusted annually, and the life insurance and pension plans are generally noncontributory. The significant U.S., U.K., Netherlands, and Canada pension plans are closed to new entrants.
83
Pension Plans
The following tables provide a reconciliation of the changes in the projected benefit obligations and fair value of assets for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, and a statement of the funded status as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, for Aon’s significant U.K., U.S., and other major pension plans, which are located in the Netherlands and Canada. These plans represent approximately 90% of the Company’s projected benefit obligations.
| U.K. | U.S. | Other | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (millions) | 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in projected benefit obligation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| At January 1 | $ | 5,406 | $ | 4,779 | $ | 3,380 | $ | 3,192 | $ | 1,625 | $ | 1,425 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service cost | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest cost | 65 | 88 | 57 | 85 | 12 | 19 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Plan amendment | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Settlements | (14) | (7) | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Actuarial (gain) loss | (292) | 520 | (103) | 274 | 24 | 112 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Benefit payments | (189) | (209) | (170) | (171) | (47) | (44) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency impact | (58) | 232 | — | — | (83) | 113 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As of December 31 | $ | 4,919 | $ | 5,406 | $ | 3,164 | $ | 3,380 | $ | 1,531 | $ | 1,625 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accumulated benefit obligation at end of year | $ | 4,919 | $ | 5,406 | $ | 3,164 | $ | 3,380 | $ | 1,504 | $ | 1,592 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of plan assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| At January 1 | $ | 6,652 | $ | 5,959 | $ | 2,276 | $ | 2,066 | $ | 1,497 | $ | 1,303 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Actual return on plan assets | (136) | 618 | 211 | 289 | 46 | 109 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Employer contributions | 9 | 8 | 61 | 92 | 17 | 20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Settlements | (14) | (7) | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Benefit payments | (189) | (209) | (170) | (171) | (47) | (44) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency impact | (76) | 283 | — | — | (83) | 109 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As of December 31 | $ | 6,246 | $ | 6,652 | $ | 2,378 | $ | 2,276 | $ | 1,430 | $ | 1,497 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Market related value at end of year | $ | 6,246 | $ | 6,652 | $ | 2,174 | $ | 2,076 | $ | 1,430 | $ | 1,497 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount recognized in Statement of Financial Position as of December 31 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Funded status | $ | 1,327 | $ | 1,246 | $ | (786) | $ | (1,104) | $ | (101) | $ | (128) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrecognized prior-service cost | 40 | 43 | — | — | (6) | (7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrecognized loss | 1,215 | 1,286 | 1,551 | 1,812 | 489 | 521 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net amount recognized | $ | 2,582 | $ | 2,575 | $ | 765 | $ | 708 | $ | 382 | $ | 386 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net actuarial gains decreased the benefit obligation in 2021 primarily due to the increase in the discount rates. During 2020, the net actuarial losses increased the benefit obligation primarily due to the decrease in discount rates.
In November 2020, the Company entered into an insurance contract that covers a portion of the assets within a select U.K. pension scheme. The transaction resulted in a decrease in Prepaid pension assets and Accumulated other comprehensive income of $94 million.
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Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position consist of (in millions):
| U.K. | U.S. | Other | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prepaid benefit cost (1) | $ | 1,344 | $ | 1,268 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Accrued benefit liability - current (2) | (1) | (1) | (52) | (52) | (5) | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accrued benefit liability - non-current (3) | (16) | (21) | (734) | (1,052) | (96) | (123) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | 1,255 | 1,329 | 1,551 | 1,812 | 483 | 514 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net amount recognized | $ | 2,582 | $ | 2,575 | $ | 765 | $ | 708 | $ | 382 | $ | 386 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Included in Prepaid pension.
(2)Included in Other current liabilities.
(3)Included in Pension, other postretirement, and postemployment liabilities.
Amounts recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive loss (income) that have not yet been recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost at December 31, 2021 and 2020 consist of (in millions):
| U.K. | U.S. | Other | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | $ | 1,215 | $ | 1,286 | $ | 1,551 | $ | 1,812 | $ | 489 | $ | 521 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prior service cost (income) | 40 | 43 | — | — | (6) | (7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 1,255 | $ | 1,329 | $ | 1,551 | $ | 1,812 | $ | 483 | $ | 514 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
In 2021, U.S. plans with a PBO and an ABO in excess of the fair value of plan assets had a PBO of $3.2 billion, an ABO of $3.2 billion, and plan assets with a fair value of $2.4 billion. U.K. plans with a PBO and an ABO in excess of the fair value of plan assets had a PBO of $17 million, an ABO of $17 million and no plan assets. Other plans with a PBO in excess of the fair value of plan assets had a PBO of $1.5 billion and plan assets with a fair value of $1.4 billion, and other plans with an ABO in excess of the fair value of plan assets had an ABO of $409 million and plan assets with a fair value of $326 million.
In 2020, U.S. plans with a PBO and an ABO in excess of the fair value of plan assets had a PBO of $3.3 billion, an ABO of $3.3 billion, and plan assets with a fair value of $2.2 billion. U.K. plans with a PBO and an ABO in excess of the fair value of plan assets had a PBO of $54 million, an ABO of $54 million and plan assets with a fair value of $32 million. Other plans with a PBO in excess of the fair value of plan assets had a PBO of $1.6 billion and plan assets with a fair value of $1.4 billion, and other plans with an ABO in excess of the fair value of plan assets had an ABO of $443 million and plan assets with a fair value of $342 million.
Service cost is reported in Compensation and benefits and all other components are reported in Other income (expense) as follows (in millions):
| U.K. | U.S. | Other | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service cost | $ | 1 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest cost | 65 | 88 | 109 | 57 | 85 | 108 | 12 | 19 | 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expected return on plan assets, net of administration expenses | (137) | (159) | (191) | (130) | (134) | (136) | (32) | (34) | (40) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of prior-service cost | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of net actuarial loss | 32 | 30 | 29 | 78 | 68 | 53 | 15 | 12 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net periodic benefit (income) cost | (37) | (39) | (52) | 5 | 20 | 27 | (5) | (3) | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Settlement expense | 5 | 2 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total net periodic benefit cost (income) | $ | (32) | $ | (37) | $ | (47) | $ | 5 | $ | 20 | $ | 27 | $ | (5) | $ | (3) | $ | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Company uses a full-yield curve approach in the estimation of the service and interest cost components of net periodic pension and postretirement benefit cost for its major pension and other postretirement benefit plans. This estimation was obtained by applying the specific spot rates along the yield curve used in the determination of the benefit obligation to the relevant projected cash flows.
85
Transfer payments from certain U.K. pension plans exceeded the plan’s service and interest cost in 2021, 2020, and 2019. This triggered settlement accounting which required immediate recognition of a portion of the accumulated losses associated with the plan. Consequently, the Company recognized a non-cash settlement charge for approximately £3 million in 2021 ($5 million using December 31, 2021 exchange rates), approximately £2 million in 2020 ($2 million using December 31, 2020 exchange rates), and approximately £4 million in 2019 ($5 million using December 31, 2019 exchange rates).
The weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations are as follows:
| U.K. | U.S. (1) | Other | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discount rate | 1.96% | 1.45% | 2.23 - 2.80% | 1.74 - 2.45% | 1.00 - 2.97% | 0.38 - 2.47% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rate of compensation increase | 3.62 - 4.12% | 3.22 - 3.72% | N/A | N/A | 1.00 - 3.00% | 1.00 - 3.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Underlying price inflation | 2.52% | 2.12% | N/A | N/A | 2.00% | 2.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)U.S. pension plans are frozen and therefore not impacted by compensation increases or price inflation.
The weighted-average assumptions used to determine the net periodic benefit cost are as follows:
| U.K. | U.S. | Other | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discount rate | 1.20% | 1.89% | 2.95% | 1.12 - 1.79% | 2.36 - 2.76% | 3.92 - 4.26% | 0.28 - 2.00% | 0.74 - 2.90% | 1.89 - 3.88% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expected return on plan assets, net of administration expenses | 2.04% | 2.74% | 3.64% | 2.65 - 6.56% | 3.30- 7.04% | 7.05% | 1.70 - 2.65% | 2.10 - 3.10% | 2.50 - 4.10% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rate of compensation increase | 3.22 - 3.72% | 3.24 - 3.74% | 3.73 - 4.23% | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1.00 - 3.00% | 1.00 - 3.00% | 1.00 - 3.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Expected Return on Plan Assets
To determine the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, the historical performance, investment community forecasts, and current market conditions are analyzed to develop expected returns for each asset class used by the plans. The expected returns for each asset class are weighted by the target allocations of the plans. The expected return of 6.56% on U.S. plan assets reflects a portfolio that is seeking asset growth through a higher equity allocation while maintaining prudent risk levels. The portfolio contains certain assets that have historically resulted in higher returns, as well as other financial instruments to minimize downside risk.
No plan assets are expected to be returned to the Company during 2022.
Fair value of plan assets
The Company determined the fair value of plan assets through numerous procedures based on the asset class and available information. Refer to Note 14 “Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments” for a description of the procedures performed to determine the fair value of the plan assets.
86
The fair values of the Company’s U.S. pension plan assets at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, by asset category, are as follows (in millions):
| Fair Value Measurements Using | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Category | Balance at December 31, 2021 | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | |||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents (1) | $ | 93 | $ | 93 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
| Equity investments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity securities | 86 | 86 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Equity derivatives | 19 | — | 19 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Pooled funds (2) | 548 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed income investments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate bonds | 249 | — | 249 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Government and agency bonds | 230 | 192 | 38 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Pooled funds (2) | 838 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other investments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Real estate (2) (3) | 156 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Alternative investments (2) (4) | 159 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 2,378 | $ | 371 | $ | 306 | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
| Fair Value Measurements Using | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Category | Balance at December 31, 2020 | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | |||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents (1) | $ | 79 | $ | 79 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
| Equity investments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity securities | 207 | 207 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Equity derivatives | 62 | — | 62 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Pooled funds (2) | 640 | 90 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed income investments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate bonds | 167 | — | 167 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Government and agency bonds | 233 | 200 | 33 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Pooled funds (2) | 543 | 212 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other investments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Real estate (2)(3) | 163 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Alternative investments (2) (4) | 182 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 2,276 | $ | 788 | $ | 262 | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
(1)Consists of cash and institutional short-term investment funds.
(2)Certain investments measured at fair value using the net asset value per share practical expedient have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amounts presented in the above table are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair values to the amounts presented in the plan assets contained in this Note.
(3)Consists of property funds and trusts holding direct real estate investments.
(4)Consists of limited partnerships, private equity, and hedge funds.
87
The fair values of the Company’s major U.K. pension plan assets at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, by asset category, are as follows (in millions):
| Fair Value Measurements Using | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2021 | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents (1) | $ | 872 | $ | 872 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
| Equity investments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Pooled funds (2) | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed income investments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivatives (3) | (1,640) | — | (1,640) | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Government and agency bonds | 2,969 | 2,969 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Annuities | 2,305 | — | — | 2,305 | |||||||||||||||||||
Pooled funds (2) | 463 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other investments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Real estate (2) (4) | 130 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Pooled funds (2) (5) | 1,147 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 6,246 | $ | 3,841 | $ | (1,640) | $ | 2,305 | |||||||||||||||
| Fair Value Measurements Using | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2020 | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents (1) | $ | 182 | $ | 182 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
| Equity investments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Pooled funds (2) | 4 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed income investments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivatives (3) | (1,424) | — | (1,424) | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate bonds | 4 | 4 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Government and agency bonds | 2,872 | 2,872 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Annuities | 2,625 | — | — | 2,625 | |||||||||||||||||||
Pooled funds (2) | 875 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other investments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Real estate (2) (4) | 117 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Pooled funds (2) (5) | 1,397 | 4 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 6,652 | $ | 3,062 | $ | (1,424) | $ | 2,625 | |||||||||||||||
(1)Consists of cash and institutional short-term investment funds.
(2)Certain investments measured at fair value using the net asset value per share practical expedient have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amounts presented in the above table are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair values to the amounts presented in the plan assets contained in this Note.
(3)Consists of equity securities and equity derivatives, including repurchase agreements.
(4)Consists of property funds and trusts holding direct real estate investments.
(5)Consists of multi-strategy limited partnerships, private equity, hedge funds, and collective investment schemes with a diversified portfolio of cash, equities, equity related securities, derivatives, and/or fixed income securities.
88
The following table presents the changes in the Level 3 fair-value category in the Company’s U.K. pension plans for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 (in millions):
| Fair Value Measurements Using Level 3 Inputs | Annuities | ||||
| Balance at January 1, 2020 | $ | 1,849 | |||
| Actual return on plan assets: | |||||
| Relating to assets still held at December 31, 2020 | 13 | ||||
| Purchase, sales and settlements-net | 682 | ||||
| Foreign exchange | 81 | ||||
| Balance at December 31, 2020 | 2,625 | ||||
| Actual return on plan assets: | |||||
| Relating to assets still held at December 31, 2021 | (286) | ||||
| Purchases, sales and settlements-net | — | ||||
| Foreign exchange | (34) | ||||
| Balance at December 31, 2021 | $ | 2,305 | |||
The fair values of the Company’s other major pension plan assets at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, by asset category, are as follows (in millions):
| Fair Value Measurements Using | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2021 | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents (1) | $ | 29 | $ | 29 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
| Equity investments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity securities | 72 | 72 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Pooled funds (2) | 316 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed income investments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Government and agency bonds | 350 | 350 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Pooled funds (2) | 597 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other investments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Alternative investments (2) (3) | 55 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Real estate (2) (4) | 11 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 1,430 | $ | 451 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
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| Fair Value Measurements Using | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2020 | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents (1) | $ | 37 | $ | 37 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
| Equity investments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity securities | 75 | 75 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Pooled funds (2) | 290 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed income investments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Government and agency bonds | 395 | 395 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Pooled funds (2) | 627 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other investments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Alternative investments (2) (3) | 63 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Real estate (2) (4) | 10 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 1,497 | $ | 507 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
(1)Consists of cash and institutional short-term investment funds.
(2)Certain investments measured at fair value using the net asset value per share practical expedient have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amounts presented in the above table are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair values to the amounts presented in the plan assets contained in this Note.
(3)Consists of limited partnerships, private equity, and hedge funds.
(4)Consists of property funds and trusts holding direct real estate investments.
Investment Policy and Strategy
The U.S. investment policy, as established by the RPGIC, seeks reasonable asset growth at prudent risk levels within weighted average target allocations. At December 31, 2021, the weighted average targeted allocation for the U.S. plans was 31% for equity investments, 54% for fixed income investments, and 15% for other investments. Aon believes that plan assets are well-diversified and are of appropriate quality. The investment portfolio asset allocation is reviewed quarterly and re-balanced to be within policy target allocations. The investment policy is reviewed at least annually and revised, as deemed appropriate by the RPGIC. The investment policies for international plans are generally established by the local pension plan trustees and seek to maintain the plans’ ability to meet liabilities and to comply with local minimum funding requirements. Plan assets are invested in diversified portfolios that provide adequate levels of return at an acceptable level of risk. The investment policies are reviewed at least annually and revised, as deemed appropriate to ensure that the objectives are being met. At December 31, 2021, the weighted average targeted allocation for the U.K. and non-U.S. plans was 6% for equity investments, 88% for fixed income investments, and 6% for other investments.
Cash Flows
Contributions
Based on current assumptions, in 2022, the Company expects to contribute approximately $7 million, $52 million, and $15 million to its significant U.K., U.S., and other major pension plans, respectively.
Estimated Future Benefit Payments
Estimated future benefit payments for plans, not including voluntary one-time lump sum payments, are as follows at December 31, 2021 (in millions):
| U.K. | U.S. | Other | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | $ | 164 | $ | 193 | $ | 47 | ||||||||||||||
| 2023 | $ | 171 | $ | 191 | $ | 48 | ||||||||||||||
| 2024 | $ | 177 | $ | 193 | $ | 49 | ||||||||||||||
| 2025 | $ | 183 | $ | 193 | $ | 50 | ||||||||||||||
| 2026 | $ | 188 | $ | 183 | $ | 52 | ||||||||||||||
| 2027 - 2031 | $ | 1,017 | $ | 882 | $ | 275 | ||||||||||||||
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U.S. and Canadian Other Postretirement Benefits
The following table provides an overview of the accumulated PBO, fair value of plan assets, funded status and net amount recognized as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 for the Company’s other significant postretirement benefit plans located in the U.S. and Canada (in millions):
| 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||
| Accumulated projected benefit obligation | $ | 109 | $ | 117 | |||||||
| Fair value of plan assets | 17 | 17 | |||||||||
| Funded status | (92) | (100) | |||||||||
| Unrecognized prior-service credit | (1) | (1) | |||||||||
| Unrecognized loss | 2 | 13 | |||||||||
| Net amount recognized | $ | (91) | $ | (88) | |||||||
Other information related to the Company’s other postretirement benefit plans are as follows:
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Net periodic benefit cost recognized (millions) | $5 | $4 | $3 | ||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average discount rate used to determine future benefit obligations | 2.52 - 3.06% | 2.10 - 2.58% | 2.93 - 3.25% | ||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average discount rate used to determine net periodic benefit costs | 1.45 - 2.68% | 2.93 - 3.25% | 3.91 - 4.26% | ||||||||||||||
Based on current assumptions, the Company expects:
•The amount in Accumulated other comprehensive income expected to be recognized as a component of net periodic benefit cost during 2022 is $0.9 million net gain and $0.2 million of prior-service credit.
•To contribute $5 million to fund significant other postretirement benefit plans during 2022.
•Estimated future benefit payments will be approximately $5 million each year for 2022 through 2026, and $25 million in aggregate for 2027-2031.
12. Share-Based Compensation Plans
The following table summarizes share-based compensation expense recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income in Compensation and benefits (in millions):
| Years Ended December 31 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Restricted share units | $ | 204 | $ | 186 | $ | 198 | |||||||||||
| Performance share awards | 189 | 116 | 110 | ||||||||||||||
Employee share purchase plans and other (1) | 56 | 10 | 9 | ||||||||||||||
| Total share-based compensation expense | 449 | 312 | 317 | ||||||||||||||
| Tax benefit | 87 | 61 | 66 | ||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation expense, net of tax | $ | 362 | $ | 251 | $ | 251 | |||||||||||
Restricted Share Units
RSUs generally vest between and five years. The fair value of RSUs is based upon the market value of the Company’s class A ordinary shares at the date of grant. With certain limited exceptions, any break in continuous employment will cause the forfeiture of all non-vested awards. Compensation expense associated with RSUs is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. Dividend equivalents are paid on certain RSUs, based on the initial grant amount.
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The following table summarizes the status of the Company’s RSUs (shares in thousands, except fair value):
| Years Ended December 31 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Fair Value at Date of Grant (1) | Shares | Fair Value at Date of Grant (1) | Shares | Fair Value at Date of Grant (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-vested at beginning of year | 3,309 | $ | 163 | 3,634 | $ | 143 | 4,208 | $ | 120 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Granted | 1,257 | $ | 253 | 1,329 | $ | 185 | 1,306 | $ | 175 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vested | (1,248) | $ | 151 | (1,426) | $ | 133 | (1,661) | $ | 113 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forfeited | (243) | $ | 184 | (228) | $ | 157 | (219) | $ | 131 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-vested at end of year | 3,075 | $ | 203 | 3,309 | $ | 163 | 3,634 | $ | 143 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Represents per share weighted average fair value of award at date of grant.
The fair value of RSUs that vested during 2021, 2020 and 2019 was $189 million, $190 million, and $187 million, respectively.
Unamortized deferred compensation expense amounted to $447 million as of December 31, 2021, with a remaining weighted average amortization period of approximately 2.1 years.
Performance Share Awards
The vesting of PSAs is contingent upon meeting a cumulative level of earnings per share related performance over a three-year period. The actual issuance of shares may range from 0-200% of the target number of PSAs granted, based on the terms of the plan and level of achievement of the related performance target. The grant date fair value of PSAs is based upon the market price of the Company’s class A ordinary shares at the date of grant. The performance conditions are not considered in the determination of the grant date fair value for these awards. Compensation expense is recognized over the performance period based on management’s estimate of the number of units expected to vest. Management evaluates its estimate of the actual number of shares expected to be issued at the end of the programs on a quarterly basis. The cumulative effect of the change in estimate is recognized in the period of change as an adjustment to Compensation and benefits in the Consolidated Statements of Income, if necessary. Dividend equivalents are not paid on PSAs.
The following table summarizes the Company’s target PSAs granted and shares that would be issued at current performance levels for PSAs granted during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively (shares in thousands and dollars in millions, except fair value):
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Target PSAs granted during period | 382 | 500 | 467 | ||||||||||||||
| Weighted average fair value per share at date of grant | $ | 225 | $ | 163 | $ | 165 | |||||||||||
| Number of shares that would be issued based on current performance levels | 737 | 970 | 888 | ||||||||||||||
| Unamortized expense, based on current performance levels | $ | 122 | $ | 51 | $ | — | |||||||||||
During 2021, the Company issued approximately 0.5 million shares in connection with performance achievements related to the 2018-2020 LPP. During 2020, the Company issued approximately 0.6 million shares in connection with performance achievements related to the 2017-2019 LPP cycle. During 2019, the Company issued approximately 0.7 million shares in connection with performance achievements related to the 2016-2018 LPP cycle.
13. Derivatives and Hedging
The Company is exposed to market risks, including changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. To manage the risk related to these exposures, the Company enters into various derivative instruments that reduce these risks by creating offsetting exposures. The Company does not enter into derivative transactions for trading or speculative purposes.
Foreign Exchange Risk Management
The Company is exposed to foreign exchange risk when it earns revenues, pays expenses, enters into monetary intercompany transfers or other transactions denominated in a currency that differs from its functional currency. The Company uses foreign exchange derivatives, typically forward contracts, options and cross-currency swaps, to reduce its overall exposure to the effects of currency fluctuations on cash flows. These exposures are hedged, on average, for less than two years. These derivatives are accounted for as hedges, and changes in fair value are recorded each period in Other comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.
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The Company also uses foreign exchange derivatives, typically forward contracts and options, to economically hedge the currency exposure of the Company’s global liquidity profile, including monetary assets or liabilities that are denominated in a non-functional currency of an entity, typically on a rolling 90-day basis, but may be for up to one year in the future. These derivatives are not accounted for as hedges, and changes in fair value are recorded each period in Other income in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
The notional and fair values of derivative instruments are as follows (in millions):
| Notional Amount | Net Amount of Derivative Assets Presented in the Statements of Financial Position (1) | Net Amount of Derivative Liabilities Presented in the Statements of Financial Position (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As of December 31 | 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange contracts | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accounted for as hedges | $ | 629 | $ | 633 | $ | 27 | $ | 33 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Not accounted for as hedges (3) | 412 | 367 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 1,041 | $ | 1,000 | $ | 29 | $ | 34 | $ | — | $ | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Included within Other current assets ($21 million in 2021 and $11 million in 2020) or Other non-current assets ($8 million in 2021 and $23 million in 2020).
(2)Included within Other current liabilities ($1 million in 2020).
(3)These contracts typically are for 90-day durations and executed close to the last day of the most recent reporting month, thereby resulting in nominal fair values at the balance sheet date.
The amounts of derivative gains (losses) recognized in the Consolidated Financial Statements are as follows (in millions):
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Gain (loss) recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive loss | $ | — | $ | 1 | $ | (9) | ||||||||||||||
The amounts of derivative gains (losses) reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive loss to the Consolidated Statements of Income are as follows (in millions):
| Years Ended December 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenue | $ | (3) | $ | (14) | $ | (12) | ||||||||||||||
| Compensation and benefits | 1 | — | (1) | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | — | (1) | (1) | |||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | (2) | $ | (15) | $ | (14) | ||||||||||||||
The Company estimates that approximately $5 million of pretax gains currently included within Accumulated other comprehensive loss will be reclassified into earnings in the next twelve months.
The Company recorded a loss of $24 million in 2021, a gain of $1 million in 2020, and a loss of $18 million in 2019 in Other income for foreign exchange derivatives not designated or qualifying as hedges.
Net Investments in Foreign Operations Risk Management
The Company uses non-derivative financial instruments to protect the value of its investments in a number of foreign subsidiaries. The Company has designated a portion of its euro-denominated commercial paper issuances as a non-derivative hedge of the foreign currency exposure of a net investment in its European operations. The change in fair value of the designated portion of the euro-denominated commercial paper due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates is recorded in Foreign currency translation adjustment, a component of Accumulated other comprehensive loss, to the extent it is effective as a hedge. The foreign currency translation adjustment of the hedged net investments is also recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss. Ineffective portions of net investment hedges, if any, are reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings during the period of change.
The Company had no outstanding euro-denominated commercial paper at December 31, 2021 and 2020 designated as a hedge of the foreign currency exposure of its net investment in its European operations. The unrealized gain recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive loss related to the net investment non-derivative hedging instrument was $29 million, as of December 31, 2021 and 2020.
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The Company did not reclassify any deferred gains or losses related to net investment hedges from Accumulated other comprehensive loss to earnings for 2021, 2020, and 2019.
14. Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments
Accounting standards establish a three-tier fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair values as follows:
•Level 1 — observable inputs such as quoted prices for identical assets in active markets;
•Level 2 — inputs other than quoted prices for identical assets in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and
•Level 3 — unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data which requires the use of valuation techniques and the development of assumptions.
The following methods and assumptions are used to estimate the fair values of the Company’s financial instruments, including pension assets (refer to Note 11 “Employee Benefits”):
Money market funds consist of institutional prime, treasury, and government money market funds. The Company reviews treasury and government money market funds to obtain reasonable assurance that the fund net asset value is $1 per share and reviews the floating net asset value of institutional prime money market funds for reasonableness.
Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and institutional short-term investment funds. The Company reviews the short-term investment funds to obtain reasonable assurance that the fund net asset value is $1 per share.
Equity investments consist of equity securities and equity derivatives valued using the closing stock price on a national securities exchange. Over the counter equity derivatives are valued using observable inputs such as underlying prices of the underlying security and volatility. On a sample basis the Company reviews the listing of Level 1 equity securities in the portfolio, agrees the closing stock prices to a national securities exchange, and independently verifies the observable inputs for Level 2 equity derivatives and securities.
Fixed income investments consist of certain categories of bonds and derivatives. Corporate, government, and agency bonds are valued by pricing vendors who estimate fair value using recently executed transactions and proprietary models based on observable inputs, such as interest rate spreads, yield curves, and credit risk. Asset-backed securities are valued by pricing vendors who estimate fair value using DCF models utilizing observable inputs based on trade and quote activity of securities with similar features. Fixed income derivatives are valued by pricing vendors using observable inputs such as interest rates and yield curves. The Company obtains an understanding of the models, inputs, and assumptions used in developing prices provided by its vendors through discussions with the fund managers. The Company independently verifies the observable inputs, as well as assesses assumptions used for reasonableness based on relevant market conditions and internal Company guidelines. If an assumption is deemed unreasonable, based on internal Company guidelines, it is then reviewed by management and the fair value estimate provided by the vendor is adjusted, if deemed appropriate. These adjustments do not occur frequently and historically are not material to the fair value estimates used in the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Pooled funds consist of various equity, fixed income, and real estate mutual fund type investment vehicles. Pooled investment funds fair value is estimated based on the proportionate share ownership in the underlying net assets of the investment, which is based on the fair value of the underlying securities. The underlying securities typically trade on a national securities exchange or may be valued by the fund managers using applicable models, inputs, and assumptions. The Company gains an understanding of the investment guidelines and valuation policies of the fund and discusses fund performance with pooled fund managers. The Company obtains audited fund manager financial statements, when available. If the pooled fund is designed to replicate a publicly traded index, the Company compares the performance of the fund to the index to assess the reasonableness of the fair value measurement.
Alternative investments consist of limited partnerships, private equity, and hedge funds. Alternative investment fair value is generally estimated based on the proportionate share ownership in the underlying net assets of the investment as determined by the general partner or investment manager. The valuations are based on various factors depending on investment strategy, proprietary models, and specific financial data or projections. The Company obtains audited fund manager financial statements, when available. The Company obtains a detailed understanding of the models, inputs, and assumptions used in developing prices provided by the investment managers, or appropriate party, through regular discussions. The Company also obtains the investment manger’s valuation policies and assesses the assumptions used for reasonableness based on relevant market conditions and internal Company guidelines. If an assumption is deemed unreasonable, based on the Company’s guidelines, it is then reviewed by management and the fair value estimate provided by the vendor is adjusted, if deemed appropriate. These
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adjustments do not occur frequently and historically are not material to the fair value estimates in the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Derivatives are carried at fair value, based upon industry standard valuation techniques that use, where possible, current market-based or independently sourced pricing inputs, such as interest rates, currency exchange rates, or implied volatility.
Annuity contracts consist of insurance group annuity contracts purchased to match the pension benefit payment stream owed to certain selected plan participant demographics within a few major U.K. defined benefit plans. Annuity contracts are valued using a DCF model utilizing assumptions such as discount rate, mortality, and inflation.
Real estate and REITs consist of publicly traded REITs and direct real estate investments. Level 1 REITs are valued using the closing stock price on a national securities exchange. Non-Level 1 values are based on the proportionate share of ownership in the underlying net asset value as determined by the investment manager. The Company independently reviews the listing of Level 1 REIT securities in the portfolio and agrees the closing stock prices to a national securities exchange. The Company gains an understanding of the investment guidelines and valuation policies of the non-Level 1 real estate funds and discusses performance with the fund managers. The Company obtains audited fund manager financial statements, when available. See the description of “Alternative investments” for further detail on valuation procedures surrounding non-Level 1 REITs.
Debt is carried at outstanding principal balance, less any unamortized issuance costs, discount or premium. Fair value is based on quoted market prices or estimates using DCF analyses based on current borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements.
The following tables present the categorization of the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 (in millions):
| Fair Value Measurements Using | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2021 | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Money market funds (1) | $ | 2,918 | $ | 2,918 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
| Other investments | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Government bonds | $ | 1 | $ | — | $ | 1 | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
Derivatives (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross foreign exchange contracts | $ | 40 | $ | — | $ | 40 | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
| Liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivatives (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross foreign exchange contracts | $ | 11 | $ | — | $ | 11 | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
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| Fair Value Measurements Using | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2020 | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Money market funds (1) | $ | 2,781 | $ | 2,781 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
| Other investments | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Government bonds | $ | 1 | $ | — | $ | 1 | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
| Equity investments | $ | 3 | $ | — | $ | 3 | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
Derivatives (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross foreign exchange contracts | $ | 38 | $ | — | $ | 38 | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
| Liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivatives (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross foreign exchange contracts | $ | 5 | $ | — | $ | 5 | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
(1)Included within Fiduciary assets or Short-term investments in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position, depending on their nature and initial maturity.
(2)Refer to Note 13 “Derivatives and Hedging” for additional information regarding the Company’s derivatives and hedging activity.
There were no transfers of assets or liabilities between fair value hierarchy levels during 2021 or 2020. The Company recognized no realized or unrealized gains or losses in the Consolidated Statements of Income related to assets and liabilities measured at fair value using unobservable inputs in 2021, 2020, or 2019.
The fair value of debt is classified as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The following table provides the carrying value and fair value for the Company’s term debt (in millions):
| 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| As of December 31 | Carrying Value | Fair Value | Carrying Value | Fair Value | |||||||||||||||||||
| Current portion of long-term debt | $ | 499 | $ | 507 | $ | 400 | $ | 401 | |||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt | $ | 8,228 | $ | 9,204 | $ | 7,281 | $ | 8,752 | |||||||||||||||
15. Claims, Lawsuits, and Other Contingencies
Legal
Aon and its subsidiaries are subject to numerous claims, tax assessments, lawsuits and proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business, which frequently include E&O claims. The damages claimed in these matters are or may be substantial, including, in many instances, claims for punitive, treble, or extraordinary damages. While Aon maintains meaningful E&O insurance and other insurance programs to provide protection against certain losses that arise in such matters, Aon has exhausted or materially depleted its coverage under some of the policies that protect the Company and, consequently, is self-insured or materially self-insured for some claims. Accruals for these exposures, and related insurance receivables, when applicable, are included in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position and have been recognized in Other general expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income to the extent that losses are deemed probable and are reasonably estimable. These amounts are adjusted from time to time as developments warrant. Matters that are not probable and reasonably estimable are not accrued for in the financial statements.
The Company has included in the current matters described below certain matters in which (1) loss (including interest and costs) is probable, (2) loss (including interest and costs) is reasonably possible (that is, more than remote but not probable), or (3) there exists the reasonable possibility of loss (including interest and costs) greater than the accrued amount. In addition, the Company may from time to time disclose matters for which the probability of loss could be remote but the claim amounts associated with such matters are potentially significant. The reasonably possible range of loss (including interest and costs) for the matters described below for which loss is estimable, in excess of amounts that are deemed probable and estimable and therefore already accrued, is estimated to be between $0 and $0.8 billion, exclusive of any insurance coverage. These estimates are based on available information as of the date of this filing. As available information changes, the matters for which Aon is able to estimate, and the estimates themselves, may change. In addition, many estimates involve significant judgment and uncertainty. For example, at the time of making an estimate, Aon may only have limited information about the facts underlying the claim and predictions and assumptions about future court rulings and outcomes may prove to be inaccurate. Although
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management at present believes that the ultimate outcome of all matters described below, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position of Aon, legal proceedings are subject to inherent uncertainties and unfavorable rulings or other events. Unfavorable resolutions could include substantial monetary or punitive damages imposed on Aon or its subsidiaries. If unfavorable outcomes of these matters were to occur, future results of operations or cash flows for any particular quarterly or annual period could be materially adversely affected.
Current Matters
On October 3, 2017, CCC invoked arbitration to pursue a claim that it asserts against Aon New Zealand. Aon provided insurance broking services to CCC in relation to CCC’s 2010-2011 material damage and business interruption program. In December 2015, CCC settled its property and business interruption claim for its losses arising from the 2010-2011 Canterbury earthquakes against the underwriter of its material damage and business interruption program and the reinsurers of that underwriter. CCC contends that acts and omissions by Aon caused CCC to recover less in that settlement than it otherwise would have. CCC claims damages of approximately NZD 320 million ($218 million at December 31, 2021 exchange rates) plus interest and costs. Aon believes that it has meritorious defenses and intends to vigorously defend itself against these claims.
Aon Hewitt Investment Consulting, Inc, now known as Aon Investments USA, Inc. (“Aon Investments”), Lowe’s Companies, Inc. and the Administrative Committee of Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (collectively “Lowe’s”) were sued on April 27, 2018 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina (the “Court”) in a class action lawsuit brought on behalf of participants in the Lowe’s 401(k) Plan (the “Plan”). Aon Investments provided investment consulting services to Lowe’s under the ERISA. The plaintiffs contend that in 2015 Lowe’s imprudently placed the Hewitt Growth Fund in the Plan’s lineup of investments, the Hewitt Growth Fund underperformed its benchmarks, and that Aon had a conflict of interest in recommending the proprietary fund for the Plan. The plaintiffs allege the Plan suffered over $200 million in investment losses when compared to the eight funds it replaced. The plaintiffs allege that Aon Investments breached its duties of loyalty and prudence pursuant to the ERISA statute. The matter was tried to the Court the last week of June 2021, and the Court entered judgment in favor of Aon on all claims on October 12, 2021. Plaintiffs have filed an appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Aon believes it has meritorious defenses and intends to vigorously defend itself against these claims.
A retail insurance brokerage subsidiary of Aon was sued on September 6, 2018 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York by a client, Pilkington North America, Inc., that sustained damage from a tornado to its Ottawa, Illinois property. The lawsuit seeks between $45 million and $85 million in property and business interruption damages from either its insurer or Aon. The insurer contends that insurance proceeds were limited to $15 million in coverage by a windstorm sub-limit purportedly contained in the policy procured by Aon for Pilkington. The insurer therefore has tendered $15 million to Pilkington and denied coverage for the remainder of the loss. Pilkington sued the insurer and Aon seeking full coverage for the loss from the insurer or, in the alternative, seeking the same damages against Aon on various theories of professional liability if the court finds that the $15 million sub-limit applies to the claim. Aon believes it has meritorious defenses and intends to vigorously defend itself against these claims.
Aon faces legal action arising out of a fatal plane crash in November 2016. Aon U.K. Limited placed an aviation civil liability reinsurance policy for the Bolivian insurer of the airline. After the crash, the insurer determined that there was no coverage under the airline’s insurance policy due to the airline’s breach of various policy conditions. In November 2018, the owner of the aircraft filed a claim in Bolivia against Aon, the airline, the insurer and the insurance broker. The claim is for $16 million plus any liability the owner has to third parties. In November 2019, a federal prosecutor in Brazil filed a public civil action naming three Aon entities as defendants, along with the airline, the insurer, and the lead reinsurer. That claim seeks pecuniary damages for families affected by the crash in the sum of $300 million; or, in the alternative, $50 million; or, in the alternative, $25 million; plus “moral damages” of an equivalent sum. Separately, in March 2020, the Brazilian Federal Senate invited Aon to give evidence to a Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry in an investigation into the accident. Aon is cooperating with that inquiry. In August 2020, 43 individuals (surviving passengers and estates of the deceased) filed a motion in the Circuit Court of the 11th Judicial Circuit in and for Miami-Dade County, Florida, seeking permission to commence proceedings against Aon (and the insurer and reinsurers) for claims totaling $844 million. Finally, in April 2021, representatives of 16 passengers issued a claim against Aon in the High Court in England seeking damages under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 in the sum of £29 million ($39 million at December 31, 2021 exchange rates). Aon believes that it has meritorious defenses and intends to vigorously defend itself against these claims.
Aon Investments and AGI were sued on September 16, 2020, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association NEBC. Aon Investments and its predecessors provided investment advisory services to NEBC since 2009. The NEBC contends that it suffered investment losses exceeding $2 billion in several Structured Alpha funds managed by AGI and recommended by Aon. The NEBC is pursuing claims against Aon Investments for breach of fiduciary duty and breach of cofiduciary duty. The NEBC alleges that Aon Investments and AGI are jointly and severally liable for damages, which include the restoration of investment losses, disgorgement of fees and profits, and attorneys’ fees. Aon believes that it has meritorious defenses and intends to vigorously defend itself against these claims.
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In April 2017, the FCA announced an investigation relating to suspected competition law breaches in the aviation and aerospace broking industry, which, for Aon in 2016, represented less than $100 million in global revenue. The European Commission assumed jurisdiction over the investigation in place of the FCA, and the European Commission has now closed its investigation. Other antitrust agencies outside the E.U. are conducting formal or informal investigations regarding these matters. Aon intends to work diligently with all antitrust agencies concerned to ensure they can carry out their work as efficiently as possible. At this time, in light of the uncertainties and many variables involved, Aon cannot estimate the ultimate impact on our company from these investigations or any related private litigation, nor any damages, penalties, or fines related to them.
Guarantees and Indemnifications
The Company provides a variety of guarantees and indemnifications to its customers and others. The maximum potential amount of future payments represents the notional amounts that could become payable under the guarantees and indemnifications if there were a total default by the guaranteed parties, without consideration of possible recoveries under recourse provisions or other methods. These amounts may bear no relationship to the expected future payments, if any, for these guarantees and indemnifications. Any anticipated amounts payable are included in the Financial Statements and are recorded at fair value.
The Company expects that, as prudent business interests dictate, additional guarantees and indemnifications may be issued from time to time.
Guarantee of Registered Securities
In connection with the Reorganization, on April 1, 2020 Aon plc and Aon Global Holdings plc, a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales, entered into various agreements pursuant to which they agreed to guarantee the obligations of Aon Corporation arising under issued and outstanding debt securities, which were previously guaranteed solely by Aon Global Limited and the obligations of Aon Global Limited arising under issued and outstanding debt securities, which were previously guaranteed solely by Aon Corporation. Those agreements include: (1) Second Amended and Restated Indenture, dated April 1, 2020, among Aon Corporation, Aon Global Limited, Aon plc, and Aon Global Holdings plc and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”) (amending and restating the Amended and Restated Indenture, dated April 2, 2012, among Aon Corporation, Aon Global Limited and the Trustee); (2) Amended and Restated Indenture, dated April 1, 2020, among Aon Corporation, Aon Global Limited, Aon plc, Aon Global Holdings plc and the Trustee (amending and restating the Indenture, dated December 12, 2012, among Aon Corporation, Aon Global Limited plc and the Trustee); (3) Second Amended and Restated Indenture, dated April 1, 2020, among Aon Corporation, Aon Global Limited, Aon plc, Aon Global Holdings plc and the Trustee (amending and restating the Amended and Restated Indenture, dated May 20, 2015, among Aon Corporation, Aon Global Limited and the Trustee); (4) Amended and Restated Indenture, dated April 1, 2020, among Aon Corporation, Aon Global Limited, Aon plc, Aon Global Holdings plc and the Trustee (amending and restating the Indenture, dated November 13, 2015, among Aon Corporation, Aon Global Limited and the Trustee); and (5) Amended and Restated Indenture, dated April 1, 2020, among Aon Corporation, Aon Global Limited, Aon plc, Aon Global Holdings plc and the Trustee (amending and restating the Indenture, dated December 3, 2018, among Aon Corporation, Aon Global Limited and the Trustee).
Sale of the Divested Business
In connection with the sale of the Divested Business, the Company guaranteed future operating lease commitments related to certain facilities assumed by the buyer. The Company is obligated to perform under the guarantees if the Divested Business defaults on such leases at any time during the remainder of the lease agreements, which expire on various dates through 2025. As of December 31, 2021, the undiscounted maximum potential future payments under the lease guarantee were $40 million, with an estimated fair value of $5 million. No cash payments were made in connection with the lease commitments during the year ended December 31, 2021.
Additionally, the Company is subject to performance guarantee requirements under certain client arrangements that were assumed by the buyer. Should the Divested Business fail to perform as required by the terms of the arrangements, the Company would be required to fulfill the remaining contract terms, which expire on various dates through 2023. As of December 31, 2021, the undiscounted maximum potential future payments under the performance guarantees were $52 million, with an estimated fair value of less than $1 million. No cash payments were made in connection to the performance guarantees during the year ended December 31, 2021.
98
Letters of Credit
Aon has entered into a number of arrangements whereby the Company’s performance on certain obligations is guaranteed by a third party through the issuance of LOCs. The Company had total LOCs outstanding of approximately $75 million at December 31, 2021, and $79 million at December 31, 2020. These LOCs cover the beneficiaries related to certain of Aon’s U.S. and Canadian non-qualified pension plan schemes and secure deductible retentions for Aon’s own workers compensation program. The Company has also obtained LOCs to cover contingent payments for taxes and other business obligations to third parties, and other guarantees for miscellaneous purposes at its international subsidiaries.
Premium Payments
The Company has certain contractual contingent guarantees for premium payments owed by clients to certain insurance companies. The maximum exposure with respect to such contractual contingent guarantees was approximately $153 million at December 31, 2021 compared to $113 million at December 31, 2020.
16. Segment Information
The Company operates as one segment that includes all of Aon’s operations, which as a global professional services firm provides a broad range of risk, health, and wealth solutions through four solution lines which make up its principal products and services. The CODM assesses the performance of the Company and allocates resources based on one segment: Aon United.
The Company’s reportable operating segment has been determined using a management approach, which is consistent with the basis and manner in which the CODM uses financial information for the purposes of allocating resources and evaluating performance. The CODM assesses performance and allocates resources based on total Aon results against its key four metrics, including organic revenue growth, expense discipline, and collaborative behaviors that maximize value for Aon and its shareholders, regardless of which solution line it benefits.
As Aon operates as one segment, segment profit or loss is consistent with consolidated reporting as disclosed in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Refer to Note 3 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” for further information on revenue by principal service line.
Consolidated long-lived assets, net by geographic area are as follows (in millions):
| As of December 31 | Total | United States | Americas other than U.S. | United Kingdom | Ireland | Other Europe, Middle East, & Africa | Asia Pacific | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | $ | 1,378 | 563 | 121 | 180 | 7 | 293 | 214 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | $ | 1,599 | 681 | 127 | 213 | 11 | 357 | 210 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
99
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We have conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) as of the end of the period covered by this annual report of December 31, 2021. Based on this evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded as of December 31, 2021 that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective such that the information relating to Aon, including our consolidated subsidiaries, required to be disclosed in our SEC reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to Aon’s management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management of Aon plc is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Under the supervision and with the participation of our senior management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021. In making this assessment, we used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in the Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013 Framework). Based on this assessment, management has concluded our internal control over financial reporting is effective as of December 31, 2021.
The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021 has been audited by Ernst & Young, LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report titled “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.”
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
No changes in Aon’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) occurred during 2021 that have materially affected, or that are reasonably likely to materially affect, Aon’s internal control over financial reporting.
100
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Aon plc
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited Aon plc’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 Framework), (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Aon plc (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated statements of financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes and our report dated February 18, 2022 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Chicago, Illinois
February 18, 2022
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Item 9B. Other Information
Not applicable.
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevents Inspections
Not applicable.
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PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Information relating to Aon’s directors is set forth under the heading “Proposal 1 — Resolutions Regarding the Election of Directors” in the Proxy Statement for the 2022 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (the “Proxy Statement”) and is incorporated herein by reference. Information relating to Aon’s executive officers is set forth in Part I of this report and is incorporated herein by reference. The remaining information required by this item is set forth under the headings “Corporate Governance” and “Board of Directors and Committees” in the Proxy Statement, and all such information is incorporated herein by reference.
We have adopted a code of ethics that applies to the Company’s directors, officers, and employees, including the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Controller, and Chief Accounting Officer and other persons performing similar functions. The text of our code of ethics, which we call our Code of Business Conduct, is available on our website as disclosed in Part 1 of this report. We will provide a copy of the code of ethics without charge upon request to the Company Secretary, Metropolitan Building, James Joyce Street, Dublin 1, Ireland. We will disclose on our website any amendment to or waiver from our code of ethics on behalf of any of our executive officers or directors.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
Information relating to director and executive officer compensation is set forth under the headings “Compensation Committee Report,” “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” and “Executive Compensation” in the Proxy Statement, and all such information is incorporated herein by reference.
The material incorporated herein by reference to the information set forth under the heading “Compensation Committee Report” in the Proxy Statement shall be deemed furnished, and not filed, in this Form 10-K and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act as a result of this furnishing, except to the extent that it is specifically incorporated by reference by Aon.
Information relating to compensation committee interlocks and insider participation is set forth under the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis - Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Information relating to equity compensation plans and the security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management of Aon plc’s ordinary shares is set forth under the headings “Equity Compensation Plan Information,” “Principal Holders of Voting Securities,” and “Security Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers” in the Proxy Statement, and all such information is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Information required by this Item is included under the headings “Corporate Governance — Director Independence” and “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Information required by this Item is included under the heading “Auditor Fees” in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
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PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
| (a) | (1) and (2). The following documents have been included in Part II, Item 8. | |||||||
Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 42), on Financial Statements | ||||||||
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position — As of December 31, 2021 and 2020 | ||||||||
Consolidated Statements of Income — Years Ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019 | ||||||||
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income — Years Ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 | ||||||||
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity — Years Ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 | ||||||||
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows — Years Ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 | ||||||||
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | ||||||||
The following document has been included in Part II, Item 9.
| Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, on Internal Control over Financial Reporting | ||||||||
All schedules for the Registrant and consolidated subsidiaries have been omitted because the required information is not present in amounts sufficient to require submission of the schedules or because the information required is included in the respective financial statements or notes thereto.
| (a)(3). List of Exhibits (numbered in accordance with Item 601 of Regulation S-K) | |||||||||||
| Plan of Acquisition, Reorganization, Arrangement, Liquidation or Succession. | |||||||||||
| 2.1* | |||||||||||
| 2.2* | |||||||||||
| 2.3* | |||||||||||
| 2.4* | |||||||||||
| 2.5* | |||||||||||
| Articles of Association. | |||||||||||
| 3.1* | |||||||||||
| Instruments Defining the Rights of Security Holders, Including Indentures. | |||||||||||
| 4.1* | |||||||||||
| 4.2* | Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement dated as of January 13, 1997 between Aon and The Bank of New York, as Guarantee Trustee — incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to Aon’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-21237) filed on February 6, 1997. | ||||||||||
| 4.3* | Capital Securities Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement dated as of January 13, 1997 among Aon, Aon Capital A, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Goldman, Sachs & Co. — incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.10 to Aon’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-21237) filed on February 6, 1997. | ||||||||||
| 4.4* | Debenture Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement dated as of January 13, 1997 among Aon, Aon Capital A, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Goldman, Sachs & Co. — incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.11 to Aon’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-21237) filed on February 6, 1997. | ||||||||||
104
| 4.5* | Guarantee Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement dated as of January 13, 1997 among Aon, Aon Capital A, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Goldman, Sachs & Co. — incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.12 to Aon’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-21237) filed on February 6, 1997. | ||||||||||
| 4.6* | |||||||||||
| 4.7* | |||||||||||
| 4.8* | |||||||||||
| 4.9* | |||||||||||
| 4.10* | |||||||||||
| 4.11* | |||||||||||
| 4.12* | |||||||||||
| 4.13* | |||||||||||
| 4.14* | |||||||||||
| 4.15* | |||||||||||
| 4.16* | |||||||||||
| 4.17* | |||||||||||
| 4.18* | |||||||||||
| 4.19* | |||||||||||
| 4.20* | |||||||||||
| 4.21* | |||||||||||
| 4.22* | |||||||||||
| 4.23* | |||||||||||
105
| 4.24* | |||||||||||
| 4.25* | |||||||||||
| 4.26* | |||||||||||
| 4.27* | |||||||||||
| 4.28* | |||||||||||
| 4.29* | |||||||||||
| 4.30* | |||||||||||
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| 10.11*# | ||||||||
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107
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| 10.51# | ||||||||
108
| 10.52*# | ||||||||
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| 10.72*# | ||||||||
109
| 10.73*# | ||||||||
| 10.74# | ||||||||
| 10.75*# | Aon Corporation Excess Benefit Plan (as amended and restated, effective January 1, 2009) and the following amendments thereto: First Amendment, dated January 1, 2009, Second Amendment, dated December 16, 2009, Third Amendment, dated December 31, 2018, and Fourth Amendment, dated December 27, 2019 - incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.60 to Aon’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. | |||||||
| 10.76*# | ||||||||
| 10.77*# | ||||||||
| 10.78* | ||||||||
| 10.79*# | ||||||||
| 10.80* | ||||||||
| 10.81*# | ||||||||
| Subsidiaries of the Registrant. | ||||||||
| 21.1 | ||||||||
| Subsidiary Guarantors and Issuers of Guaranteed Securities and Affiliates Whose Securities Collateralize Securities of the Registrant | ||||||||
| 22.1 | ||||||||
| Consents of Experts and Counsel. | ||||||||
| 23 | ||||||||
| Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications. | ||||||||
| 31.1. | ||||||||
| 31.2. | ||||||||
110
| Section 1350 Certifications. | |||||||||||
| 32.1. | |||||||||||
| 32.2. | |||||||||||
| XBRL Exhibits. | |||||||||||
| Interactive Data Files. The following materials are filed electronically with this Annual Report on Form 10-K: | |||||||||||
| 101.SCH | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. | ||||||||||
| 101.CAL | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document. | ||||||||||
| 101.DEF | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document. | ||||||||||
| 101.PRE | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document. | ||||||||||
| 101.LAB | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document. | ||||||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)* | ||||||||||
* Document has been previously filed with the SEC and is incorporated herein by reference herein. Unless otherwise indicated, such document was filed under Commission File Number 001-07933.
# Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
The registrant agrees to furnish to the SEC upon request a copy of (1) any long-term debt instruments that have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(iii)(A) of Regulation S-K, and (2) any schedules omitted with respect to any material plan of acquisition, reorganization, arrangement, liquidation or succession set forth above.
Item16. Form 10-K Summary
None.
111
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| Aon plc | |||||||||||||||||
| By: | /s/ GREGORY C. CASE | ||||||||||||||||
| Gregory C. Case, Chief Executive Officer | |||||||||||||||||
| Date: | February 18, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date | ||||||||||||
| /s/ GREGORY C. CASE | Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) | February 18, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Gregory C. Case | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ LESTER B. KNIGHT | Non-Executive Chairman and Director | February 18, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Lester B. Knight | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ JIN-YONG CAI | Director | February 18, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Jin-Yong Cai | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ JEFFREY C. CAMPBELL | Director | February 18, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Jeffrey C. Campbell | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ FULVIO CONTI | Director | February 18, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Fulvio Conti | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ CHERYL A. FRANCIS | Director | February 18, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Cheryl A. Francis | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ J. MICHAEL LOSH | Director | February 18, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| J. Michael Losh | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ RICHARD B. MYERS | Director | February 18, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Richard B. Myers | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ RICHARD C. NOTEBAERT | Director | February 18, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Richard C. Notebaert | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ GLORIA SANTONA | Director | February 18, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Gloria Santona | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ BYRON SPRUELL | Director | February 18, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Byron Spruell | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ CAROLYN Y. WOO | Director | February 18, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Carolyn Y. Woo | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ CHRISTA DAVIES | Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) | February 18, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Christa Davies | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ MICHAEL NELLER | Global Controller (Principal Accounting Officer) | February 18, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Michael Neller | ||||||||||||||
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