LONDON  –  22 July 2005 – Aon, a leading insurance broker and risk management consultant, is re-establishing its competitive force in the yacht market under its new director, Rupert Beckett. 

Mr Beckett will be responsible for strengthening Aon’s yacht team within the Marine division to challenge key players in the market through a new business strategy.  Bringing to the role over 16 years of broking and underwriting experience in the London hull market, Mr Beckett has specialised in Yacht insurance for the last five years and was previously employed by brokers Cameron, Richard and Smith to set up their CRS Yacht account.

Commenting on this developing niche area of insurance in Lloyd’s, Mr Beckett said: “Broking in the Yacht market is not just about hull. Success in this sector is down to having expertise in all elements including crew and guest welfare, liability and war coverage.” He added: “Historically, the sector has been under-manned with specialist yacht insurance brokers and, together with the continuing growth of the yacht population, gives great potential for the future.” 

Speaking about the appointment, Nigel Roberts, Managing Director of Aon Marine, said: “Rupert’s market presence means that Aon can offer its clients greater capacity through access to specialist underwriters in the London market. In turn, Rupert’s contacts in the Yacht community will aid our strategy for growth, fuelled by the support of Aon’s global network.”

Note to Editors:

This press release contains certain statements relating to future results, 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 the general economic conditions in different countries around the world, fluctuations in global equity and fixed income markets, exchange rates, rating agency actions, resolution of pending regulatory investigations and related issues, including those related to compensation arrangements with underwriters, pension funding, ultimate paid claims may be different from actuarial estimates and actuarial estimates may change over time, changes in commercial property and casualty markets and commercial premium rates, the competitive environment, the actual costs of resolution of contingent liabilities and other loss contingencies, and the heightened level of potential errors and omissions liability arising from placements of complex policies and sophisticated reinsurance arrangements in an insurance market in which insurer reserves are under pressure.  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.