| News from the Board Room Aon's Numbers: What the Flux?
Don't look for Patrick Ryan's name on any Northwestern landmarks anytime soon. It seems that his insurance behemoth Aon Corporation fell on some tough times at the end of 1999. The first sentence of the company's annual report gives stockholders a taste of the bad news found inside its pages. "Usually I open this letter by talking about the strength of our financial performance, the success of our strategies and the strides we are making to align Aon's businesses with the demands and opportunities of our marketplace. Although 1999 was a year of significant progress in most of our operations, a number of fourth quarter difficulties require some discussion," the introductory letter reads. Much of the financial malaise resulted from a fall-off in brokerage business, a decline in income from equity investments and higher spending on information technology to integrate the computer systems of recently purchased firms into a single network. Moreover, Aon was forced to settle a $150 million lawsuit in the United Kingdom. The result of these events lowered fourth quarter earnings per share to $.05 compared with $.53 in the fourth quarter of 1998. For the year, Aon's net income fell 35 percent from $541 million to $352 million, and its net income per share dropped to $1.33 from $2.07, a decline of 36 percent. But don't feel too bad for Ryan or for Aon. The NU patriarch still counts his wealth in the billions and financial analysts say that despite Aon's recent hard times, its investments and acquisitions should pay off in the company's stock price in the not too distant future. – John Balz Now Boarding
Tuesday's United Airlines' $4.3 billion acquisition of US Airways, which created the world's largest carrier, likely will mean an end to the career of US Airways Chairman and Board of Trustee member Stephen Wolf, who began his career at American Airlines 34 years ago. The new super-airline will be headed up by current UAL Corp. – parent company of United Airlines – Chairman and CEO James Goodwin. The new airline will employ more than 146,000 employees and have revenues of $26.7 billion. The sale of US Airways will mean a significant boon for Wolf's financial portfolio. In 1994 as chairman of United Airlines and negotiated the sale of the carrier to its employees creating the largest employee stock ownership plan in the world. Known as a savior of faltering airlines, Wolf improved US Airways service dramatically. Fewer bags were lost and on-time performance rose to close to the top of the airline industry. – JB The Way We Live Online
Mozart and You Don't Know Jack
Amazon.com's purchase circle program, which enables customers to see what products are popular among different groups, has been criticized heavily by internet privacy groups for an invasion of personal information. But for net surfers it makes for interesting tidbits of information. Here are the three most popular books, videos, albums, electronics and toys purchased in Evanston. BOOKS
1. Chile by Arturo Valenzuela
2. Eloquence in the Electronic Age: The Transformation of Political Speechmaking by Kathleen Jamiseon
3. Appel is Forever: A Child's Memoir by Suzanne Mehler Whiteley VIDEOS
1. The Third Man – Collector's Edition
2. The Seven Samurai
3. Rushmore MUSIC
1. Symphonies No. 38, 29, and 30 composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
2. As in a Mirror by Steve Rashard
3. London Symphonies 102, 99, and 100 "Military" composed by Joseph Hayden ELECTRONICS
1. Palm V Connected Organizer
2. Palm V Slim Leather Carrying Case
3. Sesame Street: Baby and Me software TOYS
1. You Don't Know Jack computer game
2. Taboo
3. Cranium | 
