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Freshfields advises Aon on the sale of WTW assets to Gallagher for approximately $3.57bn

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) is advising Aon plc (‘Aon’) on the sale of Willis Re and a set of Willis Towers Watson (‘WTW’) corporate risk and broking and health and benefits services to Arthur J. Gallagher & Co (‘Gallagher’).
 
These businesses will be divested for a total consideration of US$3.57bn. The agreement resolves questions raised by the European Commission and is intended to address certain questions raised by regulators in certain other jurisdictions. Aon and Willis Towers Watson continue to work toward obtaining additional regulatory approval in all relevant jurisdictions, including the United States, where regulators are conducting an independent review of the Aon and WTW combination. 
 
“This agreement demonstrates strong momentum on the path to close our proposed combination with Willis Towers Watson,” said Greg Case, Aon’s CEO. “We’ve used this time to align our future leadership team around a one-firm culture that will create new opportunities for colleagues, accelerate innovation on behalf of clients and deliver shareholders the long-term value creation they have come to expect from our team.”
 
The Freshfields team working with Aon General Counsel Darren Zeidel, VP & Global Chief Counsel Julie Cho and Chief Antitrust Counsel Elise Kirban and their team was led by: global transactions partners Julian Long, James Smethurst and George Swan; people and reward partner Andrew Murphy; and antitrust partners Martin McElwee, Laurent Garzaniti and Jennifer Mellott. 
 
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About Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
 
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a global law firm with a long track record of successfully advising the world's leading national and multinational corporations and financial institutions on ground-breaking and business-critical challenges. Our team of more than 2,800 lawyers and other legal professionals delivers global results from our 28 offices worldwide. Our commitment, local and multinational expertise and business know-how means our clients can rely on us when it matters most.