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Exhibt 10.27  

 
 

SIXTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT    
    

        THIS SIXTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (this "Amendment") is made and entered into as of March 11, 2005, by and among SUPERIOR
ESSEX COMMUNICATIONS L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("Superior"), ESSEX GROUP, INC., a Michigan corporation
("Essex") (Superior and Essex being referred to collectively as "Borrowers," and individually as a "Borrower"); various financial institutions ("Lenders"); FLEET CAPITAL
CORPORATION, a Rhode Island corporation with an office at 300 Galleria Parkway, Suite 800, Atlanta, Georgia 30339, in its capacity as collateral and administrative agent for
the Lenders (together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, "Administrative Agent"); and GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, a Delaware
corporation, in its capacity as syndication agent for the Lenders (together with its successors in such capacity, "Syndication Agent"; Administrative Agent and Syndication Agent are each hereafter
referred to from time to time individually as an "Agent" and collectively as "Agents"). 

Recitals:  

        Borrowers, Lenders and Agents are parties to a certain Credit Agreement, dated November 10, 2003, as amended by that certain First Amendment to Credit
Agreement dated February 20, 2004, that certain Second Amendment to Credit Agreement dated March 18, 2004, that certain Third Amendment to Credit Agreement and Consent to Specific
Transactions dated as of April 2, 2004, that certain Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement dated April 30, 2004 and that certain Fifth Amendment to Credit Agreement dated June 16,
2004 (as at any time amended, restated or otherwise modified, the "Credit Agreement"), pursuant to which Lenders have made certain revolving credit loans and other extensions of credit to Borrowers. 

        Borrowers
have requested that Agents and Lenders amend the definitions of "Permitted Consigned Inventory" and "Value" under the Credit Agreement as set forth herein. Agents and Lenders
are willing to amend such definitions and consent to certain other amendments contained herein, subject to the terms and conditions contained herein. 

        NOW,
THEREFORE, for TEN DOLLARS ($10.00) in hand paid and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby severally acknowledged, the parties
hereto, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as follows: 

        1.    Definitions.    All capitalized terms used in this Amendment, unless otherwise defined
herein, shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms in the Credit Agreement. 

        2.    Amendments to Credit Agreement.    The Credit Agreement is hereby amended as follows: 

        (a)   By
deleting the definition of "Inventory Formula Amount" in its entirety and substituting the following in lieu thereof: 

        Inventory Formula Amount—on any date of determination thereof, an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $70,000,000 or
(b) the lesser of (A) 65% of the Value of Eligible Inventory on such date consisting of raw materials, work in process and finished goods and (B) the product of 85% multiplied by
the Net Orderly Liquidation Value Percentage multiplied by the Value of Eligible Inventory on such date consisting of raw materials, work in process and finished goods;  provided, that in no event shall
the aggregate outstanding amount of Revolver Loans measured at any time by the Value of Eligible Inventory that is
Consigned Inventory located within the United States or Canada and that satisfies the Consigned Inventory Conditions exceed the lesser of (Y) $30,000,000 and (Z) 20% of the Inventory
Formula Amount at any date of determination. Administrative Agent shall have the right at any time to decrease the advance rate percentage in its reasonable credit judgment;  provided, that any such
decrease in the advance rate percentages shall not be effective until 3 Business Days after written notice thereof is provided
to Borrowers by Administrative Agent. 

 

        (b)   By
deleting the definition of "Permitted Consigned Inventory" in its entirety and substituting the following in lieu thereof: 

        Permitted Consigned Inventory—Consigned Inventory, (i) the Value of which shall not exceed $30,000,000 in the aggregate
at any time, and (ii) which is the subject of a properly filed UCC financing statement in favor of a Borrower with respect to such Consigned Inventory;  provided, that
Borrowers may maintain Consigned Inventory, the Value of which shall not exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate at any time, which does not satisfy the requirement specified in clause (ii) hereof. 

        (c)   By
deleting the definition of "Value" in its entirety and substituting the following in lieu thereof: 

        Value—with reference to the value of Eligible Inventory, value determined by Administrative Agent in its reasonable credit
judgment in accordance with GAAP; provided that the Value of Eligible Inventory shall not include the portion of the value of the Eligible Inventory
equal to the profit earned by any Affiliate on the sale thereof to a Borrower. 

        3.    Ratification and Reaffirmation.    Each Borrower hereby ratifies and reaffirms the
Obligations, each of the Loan Documents and all of such Borrower's covenants, duties, indebtedness and liabilities under the Loan Documents. 

        4.    Acknowledgments and Stipulations.    Each Borrower acknowledges and stipulates that the
Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents executed by Borrowers are legal, valid and binding obligations of Borrowers that are enforceable against Borrowers in accordance with the terms thereof;
all of the Obligations are owing and payable without defense, offset or counterclaim (and to the extent there exists any such defense, offset or counterclaim on the date hereof, the same is hereby
waived by each Borrower); the security interests and liens granted by Borrowers in favor of Administrative Agent, for the benefit of itself and Lenders, are duly perfected, first priority security
interests and liens; and the unpaid principal amount of the Loans and LC Outstandings on and as of March 10, 2005, totaled $42,117,817.21. 

        5.    Representations and Warranties.    Each Borrower represents and warrants to Agents and
Lenders, to induce Agents and Lenders to enter into this Amendment, that no Default or Event of Default exists on the date hereof; the execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment have been
duly authorized by all requisite company action on the part of each Borrower and this Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by each Borrower; and all of the representations and warranties
made by Borrowers in the Credit Agreement are true and correct, in all material respects, on and as of the date hereof, except those representations and warranties made as of a specific date in which
such case such representations and warranties were true and correct as of such date. 

        6.    Reference to Credit Agreement.    Upon the effectiveness of this Amendment, each
reference in the Credit Agreement to "this Agreement," "hereunder," or words of like import shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement, as amended by this Amendment. 

        7.    Breach of Amendment.    This Amendment shall be part of the Credit Agreement and a
breach of any representation, warranty or covenant herein shall constitute an Event of Default. 

        8.    Conditions Precedent.    The effectiveness of the amendments contained in
Section 2 hereof are subject to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions precedent, in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent, unless satisfaction thereof is
specifically waived in writing by Administrative Agent: 

        (a)   Administrative
Agent shall have received a duly executed counterpart of this Amendment, together with (i) a Consent and Reaffirmation duly signed by the
Guarantors, (ii) a certificate of 

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resolutions
from each Borrower authorizing this Amendment and the other documents referenced herein and (iii) such additional documents, instruments and certificates as Agents and Lenders shall
require in connection herewith; and 

        (b)   Administrative
Agent shall have received from the Borrowers an amended Schedule 7.1.1 that reflects each of the business locations where tangible items of
Collateral, other than Inventory in transit, of the Borrowers is or may be kept as of the date hereof. 

        9.    Effective Date.    Notwithstanding the effective date of any other provision of this
Amendment, the provisions set forth in Section 2 of this Amendment shall be deemed to have been effective as of January 31, 2005. 

        10.    Expenses of Agents.    Borrowers agree to pay, on
demand, all costs and expenses incurred by Agents in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Amendment and any other Loan Documents executed pursuant
hereto and any and all amendments, modifications, and supplements thereto, including, without limitation, the reasonable costs and fees of Agents' legal counsel and any taxes or expenses associated
with or incurred in connection with any instrument or agreement referred to herein or contemplated hereby. 

        11.    Miscellaneous.    This Amendment shall be effective upon acceptance by Agents and
Lenders, whereupon the same shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Georgia. This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties to this Amendment on separate counterparts, each of
which, when so executed, shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall constitute one and the same agreement. Any signature delivered by a party by facsimile transmission shall be
deemed to be an original signature hereto. Section titles and references used in this Amendment shall be without substantive meaning or content of any kind whatsoever and are not a part of the
agreements among the parties hereto. 

        12.    No Novation, etc.    Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Amendment, nothing
herein shall be deemed to amend or modify any provision of the Credit Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, each of which shall remain in full force and effect. This Amendment is not intended
to be, nor shall it be construed to create, a novation or accord and satisfaction, and the Credit Agreement as herein modified shall continue in full force and effect. 

        13.    Further Assurances.    Each Borrower agrees to take such further actions as Agents and
Lenders shall reasonably request from time to time in connection herewith to evidence or give effect to the amendments set forth herein or any of the transactions contemplated hereby. 

        14.    Release of Claims.    To induce Agents and Lenders to enter into this Amendment, each
Borrower hereby releases, acquits and forever discharges Agents and Lenders, and all officers, directors, agents, employees, successors and assigns of Agents and Lenders, from any and all liabilities,
claims, demands, actions or causes of action of any kind or nature (if there be any), whether absolute or contingent, disputed or undisputed, at law or in equity, or known or unknown, that any
Borrower now has or ever had against Agents or Lenders arising under or in connection with any of the Loan Documents or otherwise. Each Borrower represents and warrants to Agents and Lenders that such
Borrower has not transferred or assigned to any Person any claim that such Borrower ever had or claimed to have against Agents or Lenders. 

        15.    Waiver of Jury Trial.    To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the parties
hereto each hereby waives the right to trial by jury in any action, suit, counterclaim or proceeding arising out of or related to this Amendment. 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signatures on the following page]

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        IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed under seal and delivered by their respective duly authorized officers on the date first written
above. 

	 	 	BORROWERS:
	

 	
 	
SUPERIOR ESSEX COMMUNICATIONS L.P.
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

/s/  DAVID S. ALDRIDGE      

	 	 	 	 	Name: David S. Aldridge

Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
	
 	
 	
ESSEX GROUP, INC.
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

/s/  DAVID S. ALDRIDGE      

	 	 	 	 	Name: David S. Aldridge

Title: Vice President and Treasurer

[Signatures continued on following page]  

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	 	 	LENDERS:
	

Revolver Commitment: $60,000,000.00	
 	
FLEET CAPITAL CORPORATION
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

/s/  GLENN LITTLE      

	 	 	 	 	Title:	 	Senior Vice President

	

Revolver Commitment: $60,000,000.00	
 	
GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

/s/  CURTIS J. CORREA      

	 	 	 	 	Title:	 	Duly Authorized Signatory

	

Revolver Commitment: $55,000,000.00	
 	
WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

/s/  DANIEL L. DENTON      

	 	 	 	 	Title:	 	Director

[Signatures continued on the following page]  

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	 	 	ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:
	

 	
 	
FLEET CAPITAL CORPORATION,
 as Administrative Agent
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

/s/  GLENN LITTLE      

	 	 	 	 	Title:	 	Senior Vice President

	

 	
 	
SYNDICATION AGENT:
	

 	
 	
GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL

CORPORATION, as Syndication Agent
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

/s/  CURTIS J. CORREA      

	 	 	 	 	Title:	 	Duly Authorized Signatory

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CONSENT AND REAFFIRMATION    
    

        Each of the undersigned guarantors of the Obligations of Borrowers at any time owing to Agents and Lenders hereby (i) acknowledges receipt of a copy of the
foregoing Sixth Amendment to Credit Agreement; (ii) consents to Borrowers' execution and delivery thereof; (iii) agrees to be bound thereby; and (iv) affirms that nothing
contained therein shall modify in any respect whatsoever its guaranty of the Obligations and reaffirms that such guaranty is and shall remain in full force and effect. 

        IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Consent and Reaffirmation as of the date of such Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement. 

	 	 	SUPERIOR ESSEX INC.
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

/s/  DAVID S. ALDRIDGE      

	 	 	 	 	David S. Aldridge, Vice President, Treasurer and CFO
	

 	
 	
SUPERIOR ESSEX HOLDING CORP.
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

/s/  DAVID S. ALDRIDGE      

	 	 	 	 	David S. Aldridge, Vice President and Treasurer
	

 	
 	
ESSEX INTERNATIONAL INC.
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

/s/  DAVID S. ALDRIDGE      

	 	 	 	 	David S. Aldridge, Vice President, Treasurer, Assistant Secretary and CFO
	

 	
 	
ESSEX GROUP, INC.
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

/s/  DAVID S. ALDRIDGE      

	 	 	 	 	David S. Aldridge, Vice President, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary

[Signatures continued on the following page]

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	 	 	ESSEX TECHNOLOGY, INC.
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

/s/  DAVID S. ALDRIDGE      

	 	 	 	 	David S. Aldridge, Vice President, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary
	

 	
 	
ESSEX MEXICO HOLDINGS, L.L.C.
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

/s/  DAVID S. ALDRIDGE      

	 	 	 	 	David S. Aldridge, Vice President, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary
	

 	
 	
ESSEX WIRE CORPORATION
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

/s/  DAVID S. ALDRIDGE      

	 	 	 	 	David S. Aldridge, Vice President, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary
	

 	
 	
ESSEX CANADA INC.
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

/s/  DAVID S. ALDRIDGE      

	 	 	 	 	David S. Aldridge, Vice President, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary
	

 	
 	
ESSEX GROUP MEXICO INC.
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

/s/  DAVID S. ALDRIDGE      

	 	 	 	 	David S. Aldridge, Vice President, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary

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SIXTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

CONSENT AND REAFFIRMATIONQuickLinks
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Exhibit 10(l)  

 
 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT    
    

        This Employment Agreement (this "Agreement") is effective as of January 1, 2001, among Aon Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and
Michael D. O'Halleran (the "Executive"), and amended as of September 29, 2004. 

        WHEREAS,
the Executive is currently employed as Senior Executive Vice President of the Company and pursuant to an Employment Agreement dated as of June 1, 1993 (the "Prior
Employment Agreement") serves as a senior executive officer of one or more subsidiaries of the Company; and 

        WHEREAS,
the Company desires to continue the employment of the Executive, and the Executive desires to continue to be employed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set for the
herein. 

        NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements contained herein, the parties hereby agree as follows: 

        1.    Employment.    The Company hereby agrees to employ the Executive and the Executive
hereby agrees to be employed upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained in this Agreement. The term of employment of the Executive pursuant to this Agreement (the "Employment Period")
shall commence effective as of January 1, 2001 (the "Effective Date") and shall end on the seventh annual anniversary of the Effective Date, unless earlier terminated pursuant to
Section 4 hereof. 

        2.    Position and Duties; Responsibilities.    (a) Position
and Duties.    The Executive shall be employed as the President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company and shall, during the Employment Period, be employed in
such position or in such other position or positions with the Company or subsidiaries of the Company, as from
time to time determined by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the "Chairman and CEO") and the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") and shall report directly to the
Chairman and CEO. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall perform faithfully and loyally and to the best of his abilities the duties assigned to him hereunder and shall devote his full
business time, attention and effort to the affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries and shall use his best efforts to promote the interests of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Executive may
engage in charitable, civic or community activities and,with the prior approval of the Board, may serve as a director of any other business corporation, provided that (i) such activities or
service do not interfere with his duties hereunder or violate the terms of any of the covenants contained in Sections 6, 7 or 8 hereof and (ii) such other business corporation provides the
Executive with director an officer insurance coverage which, in the opinion of the Board, is adequate under the circumstances. 

        (b)    Responsibilities.    The Executive shall perform such duties on behalf of the Company and its subsidiaries as
may from time to time be authorized or directed by the CEO. 

        3.    Compensation.    (a) Base
Salary.    During the Employment Period, the Company shall pay to the Executive a base salary at the rate of $1,000,000 per annum ("Base Salary"), payable in
accordance with the Company's executive payroll policy. Such Base Salary shall be subject to adjustment at the discretion of the Chairman and CEO and the Board; provided, however, that the Base Salary
shall in no event be less than $750,000 per annum. 

        (b)    Annual Bonus.    During the Employment Period, the Executive shall participate in the annual incentive bonus
plan for Senior Executives (the "Senior Executive Plan"). Each such annual incentive bonus shall be determined pursuant to the terms of the Senior Executive Plan, as in effect from time to time;
provided, however, that no such annual incentive bonus shall exceed 180% of the Executive's Base Salary, as in effect at the end of the fiscal year to which such annual incentive bonus relates. 

        (c)    Stock Awards.    The Executive shall be entitled during each fiscal year of the Company during the Employment
Period to receive an award of 22,500 shares of common stock ("Common Stock") of the Company (adjusted for future stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations or similar events) pursuant to the
terms of the Aon Stock Award Plan. Each such award shall vest in accordance with the terms of such plan and current practices; provided, however, that each such award, to the extent unvested at the
date of termination of employment for any reason, other than Cause as defined in Section 4(c)(ii)(B), (C), (D) or (E), shall continue to vest in accordance with its original vesting
schedule and the committee administering 

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such
plan shall take such action as shall be necessary pursuant to the terms of such plan to effect such continued vesting; provided further that in the event of termination of employment without
Cause pursuant to Section 4(d) hereof, all annual stock awards which remain unvested at the date of such termination of employment shall become immediately vested to the extent permitted by the
Aon Stock Award Plan and the committee administering such plan shall take such action as shall be necessary pursuant to the terms of such plan to effect such vesting. 

        (d)    Stock Options.    The Executive may be granted, in the discretion of the committee administering the Aon Stock
Option Plan and the Aon Stock Award Plan and with the advice of the Chairman and CEO, options to purchase shares of Common Stock pursuant to the terms of the Aon Stock Option Plan or the Aon Stock
Award Plan. Each such grant shall vest in accordance with the terms of such plan and current practices;
provided, however, that if permitted by such plan, each such grant, to the extent unvested at the date of termination of employment for any reason, other than Cause as defined in
Section 4(c)(ii)(B), (C), (D) or (E), shall continue to vest in accordance with its original vesting schedule. 

        (e)    Other Benefits.    During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in the
Company's employee benefit plans generally available to executives of the Company (such benefits being hereinafter referred to as the "Employee Benefits"). The Executive shall be entitled to take time
off for vacation or illness in accordance with the Company's policy for executives and to receive all other fringe benefits as are from time to time made generally available to executives of the
Company. In addition, for each fiscal year during the Employment Period, the Company shall make available to the Executive a program for matching charitable donations made by the Executive, provided
that the donations of the Executive pursuant to such program shall not exceed a maximum of $50,000 per year. 

        (f)    Expense Reimbursement.    During the Employment Period, the Company shall reimburse the Executive, in
accordance with the Company's policies and procedures, for all proper expenses incurred by him in the performance of his duties hereunder. 

        4.    Termination.    (a) Death.    Upon
the death of the Executive, this Agreement shall automatically terminate and the Executive's executor, administrator or designated beneficiary shall be entitled to receive the Executive's Base Salary
which shall have accrued to the date of such death. Following the execution of this Agreement, the Company shall, with the cooperation of the Executive, purchase insurance on the life of the Executive
which shall provide coverage, on a declining term basis, sufficient for the payment to the Executive's executor, administrator or designated beneficiary of a lump sum cash amount equal to the
Executive's Base Salary, at the rate in effect at the date of such death, to which the Executive would have been entitled from the date of such death until the eighth annual anniversary of the
Effective Date, reduced by the amount of any benefit payable under any other life insurance policy maintained by the Company for the benefit of the Executive. 

        (b)    Disability.    The Company may, at its option, terminate this Agreement upon written notice to the Executive if
the Executive, because of physical or mental incapacity or disability, fails to perform the essential functions of his position, with reasonable accommodation, if relevant, required of him hereunder
for a continuous period of 120 days or any 180 days within any 12-month period. Upon such termination, the Executive or his legal representative shall be entitled to receive
the Base Salary which shall have accrued to the date of termination, plus continuation of Base Salary, at the rate in effect at the date of such termination of employment, until the eighth annual
anniversary of the Effective Date; provided, however, that the amount of any benefit payable under any disability insurance policy maintained by the Company for the benefit of the Executive shall be
deducted from the payments of such Base Salary, with the benefit received under such policy reducing the installment of Base Salary payable closest to the payment of such benefit. In the event of any
dispute regarding the existence of the Executive's incapacity or disability hereunder, the matter shall be resolved by the determination of an independent physician agreed to between the Executive and
the Board specializing in the claimed area of incapacity or disability. The Executive shall submit to appropriate medical examinations for purposes of such determination. 

        (c)    Cause.    (i) The Company may at any time, at its option, terminate the Executive's employment under
this Agreement for Cause (as hereinafter defined). The Company's decision in this regard shall be taken by the Organization and Compensation Committee of the Board. The Executive 

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shall
be given at least seven days written notice of any meeting at which the Organization and Compensation Committee of the Board proposes to put forward for a vote a decision on whether or not to
terminate the Executive for Cause and the written notice shall describe in reasonable detail the basis on which the Organization and Compensation Committee of the Board may conclude that Cause exists.
The Executive shall have the opportunity to appear in person and to make such written and/or oral presentation to such meeting of the Organization and Compensation Committee of the Board as the
Executive thinks fit. If a majority of the Organization and Compensation Committee of the Board authorizes by affirmative vote a termination for Cause at such meeting (whether or not the Executive
makes any oral or written presentations at such meeting) such determination shall be final and binding upon the Company and the Executive once such decision is confirmed in writing and communicated to
the Executive. 

         (ii)  As
used in this Agreement, the term "Cause" shall mean any one or more of the following: 

        (A)  any
failure or inability (other than by reason of physical or mental disability determined in accordance with Section 4(b)) of the Executive to perform his duties
under this Agreement to the satisfaction of at least a majority of the members of the Organization and Compensation Committee of the Board, including, without limitation, any refusal by the Executive
to perform such duties or to perform such specific directives of the Chairman and CEO or of the Board which are consistent with the scope and nature of the Executive's duties and responsibilities
under this Agreement; 

        (B)  any
intentional act of fraud, embezzlement or theft by the Executive in connection with his duties hereunder or in the course of his employment hereunder or any prior
employment, or the Executive's admission or conviction of, or plea of nolo contendere to, a felony or of any crime involving moral turpitude, fraud, embezzlement, theft or misrepresentation; 

        (C)  any
gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Executive resulting in a loss to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or damage to the reputation of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries; 

        (D)  any
breach by the Executive of any one or more of the covenants contained in Section 6, 7 or 8 hereof; or 

        (E)  any
violation of any statutory or common law duty of loyalty to the Company or any of its subsidiaries. 

        (iii)  The
exercise of the right of the Company to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 4(c) shall not abrogate the rights or remedies of the Company in
respect of the breach giving rise to such termination. 

        (iv)  If
the Company terminates the Executive's employment for Cause, as defined in Section 4(c)(ii)(B),(C),(D) or (E), he shall be entitled to: 

        (A)  accrued
Base Salary through the date of the termination of his employment; and 

        (B)  other
Employee Benefits to which the Executive is entitled upon his termination of employment with the Company, including regular and supplemental retirement and
disability benefits, in accordance with the terms of the plans and programs of the Company. 

         (v)  If
the Company terminates the Executive's employment for Cause, as defined in Section 4(c)(ii)(A), he shall be entitled to: 

        (A)  the
payments specified by Sections 4(c)(iv)(A) and (B); and 

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        (B)  the
continuation of Base Salary, at the rate in effect at the date of such termination of employment, plus annual stock awards in the amount specified in
Section 3(c) hereof, for a period of two years from the date of such termination of employment. Each such annual stock award shall vest in accordance with a vesting schedule having a number of
years equal to the number of years in the original vesting schedule of the annual stock award most recently granted to the Executive prior to such termination of employment. 

        (d)    Termination Without Cause.    If, during the Employment Period, the Company terminates the employment of the
Executive hereunder for any reason other than a reason set forth in Section 4(a), (b) or (c), the Company shall give the Executive 12 months prior written notice of such
termination and: 

          (i)  Concurrent
with such termination, the Executive shall be entitled to receive the payments and benefits specified by Sections 4(c)(iv)(A) and (B); 

         (ii)  The
Company shall continue to pay the Executive, until the eighth annual anniversary of the Effective Date, his Base Salary at the rate in effect at the date of such
termination of employment; 

        (iii)  Concurrent
with such termination, the Company shall grant to the Executive a stock award for the number of shares of Common Stock determined by multiplying the number
of shares of Common Stock specified in Section 3(c) hereof for a stock award for one fiscal year of the Company by the number of fiscal years of the Company from the date of such termination of
employment until the eighth annual anniversary of the Effective Date (including the fiscal year in which such termination of employment shall have occurred
if the Executive shall not have received an annual stock award for such fiscal year), which stock award shall be fully vested on and after the date of such termination of employment; 

        (iv)  Prior
to or promptly following such termination, the Board shall consider whether it should make a single grant of stock options to the Executive which in the judgment
of the Board would be equitable, taking into account the pattern of previous stock option grants to the Executive and the size of such grants, with the options subject to any such grant vesting in
accordance with a vesting schedule having a number of years equal to the number of years in the original vesting schedule of the stock options most recently granted to the Executive prior to such
termination of employment; 

         (v)  The
Company shall continue to pay the Executive, until the eighth annual anniversary of the Effective Date, all fringe benefits as specified in Section 3(e)
hereof, and 

        (vi)  All
annual stock awards which shall have been granted prior to the date of such termination of employment shall become immediately vested to the extent permitted by the
Aon Stock Award Plan in accordance with Section 3(c) hereof and all unvested stock options shall likewise vest immediately. 

Notwithstanding
the foregoing provisions of this Section 4(d), if any payment specified by this Section 4(d) would not be deductible by the Company for federal income tax purposes by
reason of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or any similar or successor statute (excluding Section 280G of the Code), such payment shall be
deferred and the amount thereof (plus earnings thereon in accordance with the terms of such deferral) shall be paid to the Executive at the earliest time that such payment shall be deductible by the
Company. 

        (e)    Voluntary Termination.    The Executive may voluntarily terminate his employment with the Company prior to the
end of the Employment Period for any reason. If the Executive voluntarily terminates his employment pursuant to this Section 4(e), the Executive shall give the Company 12 months prior
written notice and shall be entitled to the payments specified by Sections 4(c)(iv)(A) and (B). 

        5.    Federal and State Withholding.    The Company shall deduct from the amounts payable to
the Executive pursuant to this Agreement the amount of all required federal, state and local withholding taxes in accordance with the Executive's Form W-4 on file with the Company,
and all applicable federal employment taxes. 

        6.    Noncompetition;
Nonsolicitation.    (a) General.    The Executive acknowledges that in the course of his employment
with the Company and Aon Group, Inc., a Maryland corporation ("Aon Group"), he has and 

4

 

will
become familiar with trade secrets and other confidential information concerning the Company and its subsidiaries, including Aon Group, and that his services will be of special, unique and
extraordinary value to the Company and its subsidiaries. 

        (b)    Noncompetition.    The Executive agrees that during the period of his employment with the Company and for a
period of two years thereafter (the "Noncompetition Period") he shall not in any manner, directly or indirectly, through any person, firm or corporation, alone or as a member of a partnership or as an
officer, director, stockholder, investor or employee of or consultant to any other corporation or enterprise or otherwise, engage or be engaged, or assist any other person, firm, corporation or
enterprise in engaging or being engaged, in any business, in which the Executive was involved or had knowledge, being conducted by, or contemplated by, the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
including Aon Group, as of the termination of the Executive's employment in any geographic area in which the Company or any of its subsidiaries, including Aon Group, is then conducting such business. 

        (c)    Nonsolicitation.    The Executive further agrees that during the Noncompetition Period he shall not in any
manner, directly or indirectly, induce or attempt to induce any employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, including Aon Group, to terminate or abandon his or her employment for any purpose
whatsoever. 

        (d)    Exceptions.    Nothing in this Section 6 shall prohibit the Executive from being (i) a
stockholder in a mutual fund or a diversified investment company or (ii) a passive owner of not more than two percent of the outstanding stock of any class of a corporation, any securities of
which are publicly traded, so long as the Executive has no active participation in the business of such corporation. 

        (e)    Reformation.    If, at any time of enforcement of this Section 6, a court holds that the restrictions
stated herein are unreasonable under circumstances then existing, the parties hereto agree that the maximum period, scope or geographical area reasonable under such circumstances shall be substituted
for the stated period, scope or area and that the court shall be allowed to revise the restrictions contained herein to cover the maximum period, scope and area permitted by law. This Agreement shall
not authorize a court to increase or broaden any of the restrictions in this Section 6. 

        (f)    Consideration~ Breach.    The Company and the Executive agree that the payments to be made, and the benefits to
be provided, by the Company to the Executive pursuant to Section 4 hereof shall be made and provided in consideration of the Executive's agreements contained in Section 6 hereof. In the
event that the Executive shall breach any provision of Section 6 hereof, the Company shall be entitled immediately to terminate making all remaining payments and providing all remaining
benefits pursuant to Section 4 hereof and upon such termination the Company shall have no further liability to the Executive under this Agreement. 

        7.    Confidentiality.    The Executive shall not, at any time during the Employment Period or
thereafter, make use of or disclose, directly or indirectly, any (i) trade secret or other confidential or secret information of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries, including Aon Group,
or (ii) other technical, business, proprietary or financial information of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries, including Aon Group, not available to the public generally or to the
competitors of the Company or to the competitors of any of its subsidiaries, including Aon Group, ("Confidential Information"), except to the extent that such Confidential Information
(a) becomes a matter of public record or is published in a newspaper, magazine or other periodical available to the general public, other than as a result of any act or omission of the
Executive, (b) is required to be disclosed by any law, regulation or order of any court or regulatory commission, department or agency, provided that the Executive gives prompt notice of such
requirement to the Company to enable the Company to seek an appropriate protective order, or (c) is necessary to perform properly the Executive's duties under this Agreement. Promptly following
the termination of the Employment Period, the Executive shall surrender to the Company all records, memoranda, notes, plans, reports, computer tapes and software
and other documents and data which constitute Confidential Information which he may then possess or have under his control (together with all copies thereof). 

        8.    Inventions.    The Executive hereby assigns to the Company his entire right, title and
interest in and to all discoveries and improvements, patentable or otherwise, trade secrets and ideas, writings and copyrightable material, which may be conceived by the Executive or developed or
acquired by him during the Employment Period, which may pertain directly or indirectly to the business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, including Aon Group. The Executive agrees to disclose
fully all such developments to the 

5

 

Company
upon its request, which disclosure shall be made in writing promptly following any such request. The Executive shall, upon the Company's request, execute, acknowledge and deliver to the
Company all instruments and do all other acts which are necessary or desirable to enable the Company or any of its subsidiaries to file and prosecute applications for, and to acquire, maintain and
enforce, all patents, trademarks and copyrights in all countries. 

        9.    Enforcement.    The parties hereto agree that the Company and its subsidiaries would be
damaged irreparably in the event that any provision of Section 6, 7 or 8 of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with its terms or were otherwise breached and that money damages
would be an inadequate remedy for any such nonperformance or breach. Accordingly, the Company and its successors and permitted assigns shall be entitled, in addition to other rights and remedies
existing in their favor, to an injunction or injunctions to prevent any breach or threatened breach of any of such provisions and to enforce such provisions specifically (without posting a bond or
other security). The Executive agrees that he will submit himself to the personal jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Illinois in any action by the Company to enforce any provision of
Section 6, 7 or 8 of this Agreement. 

        10.    Survival.    Sections 6, 7, 8 and 9 of this Agreement shall survive and continue in
full force and effect in accordance with their respective terms, notwithstanding any termination of the Employment Period. 

        11.    Notices.    All notices and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall
be in writing and shall be deemed given when (i) delivered personally or by overnight courier to the following address of the other party hereto (or such other address for such party as shall
be specified by notice given pursuant to this Section 11) or (ii) sent by facsimile to the following facsimile number of the other party hereto (or such other facsimile number for such
party as shall be specified by notice given pursuant to this Section 11), with the confirmatory copy delivered by overnight courier to the address of such party pursuant to this
Section 11: 

If
to the Company, to: 

Aon
Corporation

200 East Randolph Street

Chicago, IL 60601

Attention: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer 

with
copies to: 

Aon
Corporation

200 East Randolph Street

Chicago, IL 60601

Attention: Chairman of the Organization and Compensation Committee 

Aon
Corporation

200 East Randolph Street

Chicago, IL 60601

Attention: Executive Vice President and General Counsel 

Sidley &
Austin

One First National Plaza

Chicago, Illinois 60603

Attention: Thomas A. Cole, Esq. 

If
to the Executive, to: 

Michael
D. O'Halleran

140 Evergreen Lane

Winnetka, Illinois 60093 

        12.    Severability.    Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be
interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under applicable law
or rule in any jurisdiction, such 

6

 

invalidity,
illegality or unenforceability shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement or the validity, legality or enforceability of such
provision in any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained
herein. 

        13.    Entire Agreement.    This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding
between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and preempts any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or between the parties, written or oral, which may
have related in any manner to the subject matter hereof, including the Prior Employment Agreement. Upon the execution of this Agreement, the Prior Employment Agreement shall be terminated and shall be
of no further force or effect whatsoever. 

        14.    Successors and Assigns.    This Agreement shall be enforceable by the Executive and his
heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives, and by the Company and its successors and assigns. 

        15.    Governing Law.    This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in
accordance with the internal laws of the State of Illinois without regard to principles of conflict of laws. 

        16.    Amendment and Waiver.    The provisions of this Agreement may be amended or waived only
by the written agreement of the Company and the Executive, and no course of conduct or failure or delay in enforcing the provisions of this Agreement shall affect the validity, binding effect or
enforceability of this Agreement. 

        17.    Counterparts.    This Agreement may be executed in two counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed to be an original and both of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. 

        IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above. 

	 	 	AON CORPORATION
	

 	
 	

By:	

	

 	
 	

Title	

    

	

 	
 	
EXECUTIVE
	

 	
 	

    
 Michael O'Halleran

7

QuickLinks

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

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