Aon has completed the $13bn acquisition of global consulting firm NFP.
Aon said the acquisition expanded its presence in the large and fast-growing middle-market segment, with more than 7,700 colleagues and capabilities across property and casualty brokerage, benefits consulting, wealth management and retirement plan advisory.
It also said as an Aon company, NFP will operate as an “independent and connected” platform delivering risk capital and human capital capabilities from across Aon and will continue to be led by NFP CEO Doug Hammond, reporting into Aon president Eric Andersen.
Greg Case, CEO of Aon, said: “It is a historic day for our firm as we welcome NFP to Aon and work together to help clients address increasing volatility across risk and people issues.
“With high performing teams and leading content and capability – further enabled by our Aon Business Services operating platform – we will create more value for our clients, while also enhancing long-term shareholder value creation for investors.
“This acquisition is another example of how we are going further, faster with our 3×3 plan to accelerate our Aon United strategy and further enhance our relevance to clients.”
Andersen said: “The idea of being ‘independent and connected’ is key to how we will collaborate and create more options for clients across our risk capital and human capital capabilities.
“Doug and his team have built an exceptional client-centred business and we are focused on using our Aon Business Services platform to scale delivery of new capabilities to small and middle market clients across Aon and NFP.”
Doug Hammond, CEO of NFP, added: “With Aon’s acquisition of NFP now complete, we are starting an exciting new chapter in our company’s history.
“We look forward to the positive impact that our complementary expertise and capabilities will have on all stakeholders. Aon’s diverse resources and global reach enhance our ability to serve the dynamic risk, workforce, wealth management and retirement needs of our clients.
“We remain focused on both advancing a culture colleagues want to be part of and working together to contribute to our collective growth and success.”
Cash and shares deal
The purchase has been finalised from funds affiliated with NFP’s main capital sponsor, Madison Dearborn Partners (MDP), and funds affiliated with HPS Investment Partners for an enterprise value of $13bn, including $7bn cash and assumed liabilities as well as $6bn in equity in the form of 19 million Aon shares.
Aon said the faster-than-anticipated close date contributes to expected accretion and free cash flow benefit realisation a year earlier than modelled at announcement.
Aon will provide further updates on NFP and deal financials, along with the firm’s financial results, guidance, and outlook during its previously scheduled earnings call.
UBS Investment Bank served as the exclusive financial adviser to Aon on the transaction. Citi served as a financial adviser and is advising Aon on the transaction financing. Cravath, Swaine & Moore and McDermott Will & Emery acted as external legal counsel to Aon.
Evercore acted as lead financial adviser with support from Barclays, BofA Securities, Deutsche Bank Securities, Jefferies and TD Securities to NFP.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and Ropes & Gray acted as external legal counsel to NFP, and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison acted as external legal counsel to NFP’s capital sponsors.
