英国保险经纪公司怡安集团(AON，股票代码AON.N)周一表示：
将以近300亿美元的价格收购韦莱韬悦(Willis Towers Watson，股票代码WLTW.O)。本次收购将以全股票交易的方式进行。在保险业利润率不断下滑的情况下，怡安将成为全球最大的保险经纪公司。
在冠状病毒爆发与气候变化影响等一系列挑战来临之际，本次交易将使得行业目前的第二与第三大领先组织强强联手，超越当前的行业领先者威达信集团(Marsh & McLennan, MMC，股票代码MMC.N)。怡安去年证实，曾与韦莱韬悦进行初步谈判，但很快就放弃了计划并且未阐明理由。该收购提案一年前首次提出时，怡安正是刚刚经历一段保费下降而索赔额持续上升的激烈竞争期。
与此同时，威达信集团去年4月以57亿美元收购了其英国竞争对手怡和集团(Jardine Lloyd Thompson)，巩固了其全球最大基金公司的地位。
截至怡安上周五收盘，韦莱韬悦的股东每股可以获得1.08股怡安股票，约合每股232美元，总股本价值298.6亿美元。该报价较韦莱韬悦上周五的收盘价溢价16%。在盘前交易中，怡安股价下跌2.7％，而韦莱韬悦股价仅上涨1.42％。交易完成后，怡安现有股东将持有合并后公司约63%的股份，韦莱韬悦现有投资者将持有合并后公司约37%的股份。预计该交易将增加怡安在交易首年调整后的每股收益，节省达2.67亿美元，第二年达到6亿美元，在第三年后将达到8亿美元。
两家公司在周一发表声明中表示：该交易“将两家高度互补的业务合并成一个更相关、更能满足客户需求的以技术为基础的全球平台”。
怡安将合并后新公司的运营总部设在伦敦，并由怡安首席执行官格雷格·凯斯(Greg Case)领导合并后的公司。
Aon to buy Willis for nearly $30 billion in insurance mega-deal
(UK-based insurance broker Aon Plc (AON.N) said on Monday it would buy Willis Towers Watson (WLTW.O) for nearly $30 billion in an all-stock deal that creates the world’s largest insurance broker in an industry struggling with falling margins.
The deal unifies the sector’s current second and third largest players, overtaking current leader Marsh & McLennan (MMC.N), as they face challenges ranging from the coronavirus outbreak to the fallout of climate change. Aon confirmed last year that it was in early stage talks with Willis Towers before quickly scrapping the plans, without giving a reason. First mooted a year ago, it also comes after a period of brutal competition which has seen insurance premiums fall while claims continue to grow.
Marsh inthe meantime sealed its purchase of British rival Jardine Lloyd Thompson for $5.7 billion last April, cementing its position as the biggest global player.
Willis shareholders will receive 1.08 Aon shares, or about $232 per share as of Aon’s Friday close, representing a total equity value of $29.86 billion. The offer is at a premium of 16% to Willis’s closing price on Friday. Shares in Aon were down 2.7%, while Willis’ shares rose just 1.42% in premarket trade. When the deal closes, existing Aon shareholders will own about 63% and existing Willis investors will own about 37% of the combined company on a fully diluted basis. The deal is expected to add to Aon’s adjusted earnings per share in the first full year of the deal, with savings of $267 million, reaching $600 million in the second year, with the full $800 million achieved in the third year.
The deal “combines two highly complementary businesses into a technology-enabled global platform that is more relevant and responsive to client needs,” the companies said Monday in a statement.
Aon will keep its operating headquarters in London, with the combined firm led by Greg Case, Aon’s chief executive officer.
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