Aon Launches Industry's First Insurance Policy for Space Investors

NEW YORK and LONDON, May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aon's International Space Brokers, the largest specialist risk adviser in the sector, today announced the launch of Investment Protection Insurance, a game-changing policy for space investors. IPI is the first policy strictly for investors, and is designed to cover the loss of an investment in a space satellite, launch failure and satellite assets.

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Previously, investors could not protect their financial interest due to lack of insurance capacity and first-party rights to the spacecraft. For start-up companies, which rely on the revenue generated by the early launches, the ability for the satellite to be successful is crucial. IPI is the solution, enhancing the satellite operator's initial credit rating by relieving investors of the biggest risk – failure to launch.

"Aon used its leverage with the insurance markets to introduce new capital, supporting both investors and operators by protecting their investments," said Clive Smith, space business unit leader for Aon's International Space Brokers. "As developments continue to increase for areas such as delivering broadband as well as pollution and disaster monitoring, lack of liquidity in the financial markets has delayed industry growth. IPI will restore that growth."

A claim will be triggered by any damage to or total loss of the satellite. The policy will react to fluctuations in bond yield and the share price before and after the launch or orbit. It pays an amount that recoups the loss of the publicly or privately traded securities of the satellite operating company in which the insured has invested. In the event of a loss paid, the insurers will receive the securities as salvage.

"IPI will benefit companies beyond the space industry. Aon is already looking into applications in industries with similar needs that have a technical and financial trigger, which will help avoid the product slipping into the area of financial guarantees," said Michael Hewins, chief commercial officer of Aon's International Space Brokers.

About Aon

Aon Corporation (NYSE: AON) is the leading global provider of risk management services, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, and human capital consulting. Through its more than 36,000 colleagues worldwide, Aon 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 and 2009 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 and 2009. A.M. Best deemed Aon the number one insurance broker based on brokerage revenues in 2007, 2008 and 2009 and Aon was voted best insurance intermediary, best reinsurance intermediary and best employee benefits consulting firm in 2007, 2008 and 2009 by the readers of Business Insurance. For more information on Aon, log onto http://www.aon.com.

SOURCE Aon Corporation

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