Tribune staff report | Chicago insurance broker Aon said it swung to a fourth-quarter profit of $198 million, or 69 cents a share, as revenue rose 9 percent to $2.1 billion. Aon lost $6 million in the same period a year ago.

An industrywide price war has weighed on the bottom line. In addition, Aon has been overhauling its operations for more than a year.

Excluding restructuring impacts and the prior-year loss from disposing its property- and casualty-insurance operations, earnings from continuing operations rose to 96 cents from 80 cents.

Revenue increased 9 percent to $2.1 billion, but fell 2 percent percent excluding currency effects, acquisitions and divestitures.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters most recently forecast earnings of 81 cents on revenue of $1.96 billion.

At Aon’s largest unit, risk and insurance brokerage services, profit fell 8 percent on rising compensation and benefits costs. Revenue rose 8 percent, aiding by currency change and its Benfield Group acquisition in 2008.

Consulting-business earnings rose 11 percent as revenue rose 2 percent, mostly owing to currency effects and acquisitions.

Meanwhile, Aon raised its estimate for annualized savings from its restructuring program by $9 million, and now pegs it at $536 million.

Shares closed Thursday at $38.81 and didn’t trade premarket. The stock is up just 6.5 percent the past year.