Aon completes acquisition of Townsend Group

Aon, a leading global professional services firm providing a broad range of risk, retirement and health solutions, has completed its previously reported acquisition of The Townsend Group, majority owned by Colony NorthStar, Inc. Townsend is a leading provider of global investment management and advisory services primarily focused on real estate and real assets.

“We are excited to welcome the Townsend organization into Aon and further enhance our investment solutions in areas that are of increasing importance to our clients,” said Cary Grace, CEO of Global Retirement & Investment Solutions at Aon. “Working together, our combined teams will continue to expand our capabilities and expertise in alternative investments to create sophisticated and transparent offerings that provide our clients with objective advice and solutions.”

Aon is currently one of the top three outsourced chief investment officer providers in the world measured by global assets under management. After the closing, Aon’s investment organization, including Townsend, manages more than $130 billion of worldwide assets under management and has advised on more than $240 billion of real estate assets, confirming Aon’s commitment to the alternative investments space.