AOC Aon Corp.

Press Events Today in New York, London and Rotterdam Launch Latest Edition of Risk Map CHICAGO, Jan. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- United States-based companies with business interests abroad will not be trading in a safer world in 2006 -- according to Aon's annual global business risk analysis represented in its 2006 Political & Economic Risk Map. Published today by Aon (NYSE:AOC), a leading insurance broker and risk management consultant, the map shows that critical sourcing partners and important supply-chain stress points still remain a serious threat to the world's global trade economy. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041215/CGW049LOGO ) Each year, Aon Trade Credit evaluates the political and economic risks for multinational corporations in more than 200 countries. This year's analysis was developed in partnership with Oxford Analytica ( http://www.oxan.com/ ), an international, independent consulting firm drawing on more than 1,000 senior faculty members at Oxford and other major universities and research institutions around the world. Of the 23 countries upgraded in Aon's 2006 analysis, many are important in global trading, yet remain dangerous places for businesses to operate. Two examples of the increasingly complex world of international political risk are Indonesia and Colombia. The political and economic risk ratings for both countries have 'improved' from high to medium-high, even though both nations still present a significant risk to corporations doing business there. Significant trends for 2006 Political and Economic Risk Map are: Increased risk in Latin America. The emergence of more left-wing governments in Latin America is causing concern for foreign businesses. Companies doing business in Venezuela and Bolivia are facing higher taxes, revision of contracts and threatened expropriation of assets. In addition to Bolivia, four other Latin American countries, Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Nicaragua, were downgraded on the 2006 map. "Despite upgrades to Colombia and Brazil, political and economic risk in Latin America is on the rise just as the region is becoming a more attractive trade and sourcing partner," said Bryan Squibb, managing director, Aon Trade Credit. "The Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) and other factors have enticed companies to look to Latin America for investment opportunities such as textile manufacturing. However, companies looking to do business in the region must be aware of the potential risks. Failure to implement a risk management strategy can put companies in dire straits should an overseas asset or investment become compromised." Supply Chain Risk Index: The Supply Chain Risk Index rates countries that pose the greatest threat to U.S. companies' supply chains. Country scores, ranging from one (best) to five (worst), are based on how risky a country is for sourcing and how prominently the country figures into U.S. supply chains. The 2006 Supply Chain Risk Index compares 2006 findings with those from 2000. "Understanding the nature of supply chain risk exposures, and where they occur most frequently, is now a board-level priority," Squibb says. "According to recent studies, companies' share prices decline by about 10 percent on average following announcements of supply chain disruptions." Added Sam Wilkin, senior consultant, Oxford Analytica: "By evaluating Supply Chain Risk Index scores from 2000 and 2006, companies can identify trends and develop a risk strategy to limit exposure. Looking at the five-year comparison, three trends stand out: First and foremost is the increasing risk of doing business in Venezuela, which because of its oil reserves has become an important trading partner; secondly, the 2000/2006 comparison vividly demonstrates the growing importance of India, Brazil and Nigeria in U.S. supply chains; and thirdly, China, which continues to be a crucial sourcing partner, but one that also presents significant risk." About Aon Aon Corporation ( http://www.aon.com/ ) is a leading provider of risk management services, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, human capital and management consulting, and specialty insurance underwriting. There are 47,000 employees working in Aon's 500 offices in more than 120 countries. Backed by broad resources, industry knowledge and technical expertise, Aon professionals help a wide range of clients develop effective risk management and workforce productivity solutions. About Oxford Analytica Oxford Analytica ( http://www.oxan.com/ ) provides timely and authoritative analysis on a daily basis of world developments to some 45 governments and over 150 major corporations and financial institutions. For more information, or to request a copy of the 2006 Political and Economic Risk Map, contact: Thaddeus Woosley, Aon Corporation, 312.381.2446, Al Orendorff, Aon Corporation, 312.381.9153, This press release 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. 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 that could impact results include: general economic conditions in different countries in which we do business around the world, changes in global equity and fixed income markets that could affect the return on invested assets, fluctuations in exchange and interest rates that could influence revenue and expense, rating agency actions that could affect our ability to borrow funds, funding of our various pension plans, changes in the competitive environment, our ability to implement restructuring initiatives and other initiatives intended to yield cost savings, our ability to implement the stock repurchase program, changes in commercial property and casualty markets and commercial premium rates that could impact revenues, changes in revenues and earnings due to the elimination of contingent commissions, other uncertainties surrounding a new compensation model, the impact of investigations brought by state attorneys general, state insurance regulators, federal prosecutors, and federal regulators, the impact of class actions and individual lawsuits including client class actions, securities class actions, derivative actions, and ERISA class actions, the cost of resolution of other contingent liabilities and loss contingencies, and the difference in ultimate paid claims in our underwriting companies from actuarial estimates. Further information concerning the Company and its business, including factors that potentially could materially affect the Company's financial results, is contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041215/CGW049LOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Aon Corporation CONTACT: Thaddeus Woosley, +1-312-381-2446, , or Al Orendorff, +1-312-381-9153, , both of Aon Corporation Web site: http://www.aon.com/ http://www.oxan.com/

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