AOC Aon Corp.

CHICAGO, April 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aon Corporation today announced the creation of Aon Cornerstone Innovative Solutions, an entrepreneurial growth strategy designed to deliver distinctive value to clients by developing relationships with minority-owned partners across the firm's three main business units: Aon Risk Services, Aon Benfield and Aon Consulting. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041215/CGW049LOGO) "Companies and their leaders who publicly embrace the concept of working closely with minority-owned businesses view this strategy as a key factor in generating tangible results," said Greg Case, president and chief executive officer of Aon Corp. "We have made the commitment to create Aon Cornerstone, the only initiative in the risk management industry that focuses on a true partnership with minority business enterprises designed to jointly develop opportunities in Aon's core lines of business." "The strategic approach for Aon Cornerstone is a proprietary, product-based solution that complements clients' current supplier diversity goals," added Leonard McLaughlin, president of Aon Cornerstone Innovative Solutions. "More than simply meeting diversity goals, we will deliver added value to our clients through partnerships with highly qualified certified minority-based risk management and consulting companies. Our unique value proposition will also include products and services from minority-owned insurance companies and minority brokers in our offerings to clients. The Members of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), including many Fortune 500 companies, have a goal to increase utilization of minority-owned enterprises up from the $100B spent in 2007. Currently, less than one percent of the goal is realized through the purchase of risk management products and services. Specific initiatives like Aon Cornerstone complement supply chain requirements, industry and regulatory mandates, and a desire for broadened market appeal, fueling the growing trend by major corporations to expand business relationships with minority business enterprises. Case noted, "I am proud Aon's Cornerstone initiative is leading the way not only in risk management and human capital consulting, but in the broader global business community. Embracing the needs of our clients and the talent imperatives of the communities we serve and cascading our strategy throughout our global organization is another example of Aon's focus on "hiring the best, building the best, and being the best." About Aon Aon Corporation (NYSE:AOC) is the leading global provider of risk management services, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, and human capital consulting. Through its more than 37,000 colleagues worldwide, Aon readily delivers distinctive client value via innovative and effective risk management and workforce productivity solutions. Aon's industry-leading global resources and technical expertise are delivered locally through more than 500 offices in more than 120 countries. Named the world's best broker by Euromoney magazine's 2008 Insurance Survey, Aon also ranked highest on Business Insurance's listing of the world's largest insurance brokers based on commercial retail, wholesale, reinsurance and personal lines brokerage revenues in 2008. A.M. Best deemed Aon the number one insurance broker based on brokerage revenues in 2007 and 2008, and Aon was voted best insurance intermediary, best reinsurance intermediary and best employee benefits consulting firm in 2007 and 2008 by the readers of Business Insurance. For more information on Aon, log onto http://www.aon.com/. Investor Contact: Media Contact: Scott Malchow David Prosperi Vice President, Investor Relations Vice President, 312-381-3983 Global Public Relations 312-381-2485 http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041215/CGW049LOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Aon Corporation CONTACT: Investors, Scott Malchow, Vice President, Investor Relations, +1-312-381-3983, or Media, David Prosperi, Vice President, Global Public Relations, +1-312-381-2485, both of Aon Corporation Web Site: http://www.aon.com/

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