M&A Deal Summary

Aon Acquires Townsend Group

On September 1, 2017, Aon acquired business services company Townsend Group from NorthStar Asset Management Group for 475M USD

Acquisition Highlights
  • This is Aon’s 5th transaction in the Business Services sector.
  • This is Aon’s 5th largest (disclosed) transaction.
  • This is Aon’s 10th transaction in the United States.
  • This is Aon’s 1st transaction in Ohio.
Investment Fate
  • Townsend Group was divested to a consortium of buyers in 2024.

M&A Deal Summary

Date 2017-09-01
Target Townsend Group
Sector Business Services
Buyer(s) Aon
Sellers(s) NorthStar Asset Management Group
Deal Type Divestiture
Deal Value 475M USD

Target

Townsend Group

Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Townsend Group provides global real estate and real asset investment advisory services. The company offers complementary asset management, advisory, and capital solutions to LPs and GPs via funds, secondaries, co-investments, and direct investments. It advises global public and private pension plans, insurers, sovereign wealth funds, endowments, and foundations. Townsend Group was established in 1983 and is based in Cleveland, Ohio.

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Buyer(S) 1

Buyer

Aon

Dublin , Ireland

Category Company
Founded 1919
Sector Insurance
Employees50,000
Revenue 13.4B USD (2023)
DESCRIPTION
Aon's offices in downtown Sydney, Australia.
Aon's offices in downtown Sydney, Australia.

Aon is a provider of risk management services, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, and human resource consulting and outsourcing. Aon serves clients through two segments, Risk Solutions and HR Solutions. Risk Solutions acts as an advisor and insurance and reinsurance broker, helping clients manage their risks via consultation, as well as negotiation and placement of insurance risk with insurance carriers through our global distribution network. HR Solutions partners with organizations to solve their most complex benefits, talent and related financial challenges, and improve business performance by designing, implementing, communicating and administering a wide range of human capital, retirement, investment consulting, health care, compensation and talent management strategies. Aon was founded in 1919 and is based in Dublin, Ireland.


DEAL STATS #
Overall 24 of 36
Sector (Business Services) 5 of 7
Type (Divestiture) 4 of 6
State (Ohio) 1 of 1
Country (United States) 10 of 13
Year (2017) 4 of 6
Size (of disclosed) 5 of 6
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2017-08-08 Unirobe Meeùs Groep B.V.

The Hague, Netherlands

Unirobe Meeùs Groep B.V. (UMG) is a provider of independent advice and insurance products to approximately 580,000 retail and 75,000 wholesale customers. Unirobe Meeùs Groep B.V. is based in The Hague, Netherlands.

Buy €295M
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2017-10-30 Henderson Insurance Broking Group

Leeds, United Kingdom

Henderson Insurance Broking Group is an insurance broking firm that specializes in general insurance, health and benefits and trade credit insurance. Henderson Insurance Broking Group was established in 1986 and is based in Leeds, UK.

Buy -

Seller(S) 1

SELLER

NorthStar Asset Management Group

New York, New York, United States

Category Company
Sector Real Estate
Employees202
DESCRIPTION

NorthStar Asset Management Group, Inc. is a global asset management firm focused on strategically managing real estate and other investment platforms in the United States and internationally.


DEAL STATS #
Overall 1 of 1
Sector (Business Services) 1 of 1
Type (Divestiture) 1 of 1
State (Ohio) 1 of 1
Country (United States) 1 of 1
Year (2017) 1 of 1
Size (of disclosed) 1 of 1
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2015-10-15 Townsend Group

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Townsend Group provides global real estate and real asset investment advisory services. The company offers complementary asset management, advisory, and capital solutions to LPs and GPs via funds, secondaries, co-investments, and direct investments. It advises global public and private pension plans, insurers, sovereign wealth funds, endowments, and foundations. Townsend Group was established in 1983 and is based in Cleveland, Ohio.

Buy -