Aon’s Benefits TPA Unit Is For Sale
According to a December 2016 Reuters report, Aon is in the process of selling its employee benefits TPA business unit for $5 billion. Aon had in 2010 acquired most of this unit as Hewitt Associates for $4.9 billion.
The negotiations with potential buyers, who are understood to include several private-equity firms, are expected to take more time. The unit’s EBITDA is estimated at close to $500 million, implying a multiple of 10. Most deals close at a multiple of 6 to 8 times EBITDA, which would value Aon’s TPA business at $3 to $4 billion and imply a significant gap with Aon’s asking price. However, private-equity firms have been attracted by the steady and predictable cash flows that TPAs can generate, and may be prepared to pay a premium in return for lower risk.