Aon nears $17 billion USI acquisition from KKR

Aon is nearing a deal to buy insurance brokerage USI from KKR in a transaction valued at roughly $17 billion including debt, The Wall Street Journal reported. A formal announcement could come as soon as Monday, the report said.

A larger push in insurance broking

USI is a Valhalla, New York-based brokerage and consulting firm focused on risk management, employee benefits and retirement consulting. Its website says the company generates about $3 billion in annual revenue, making it a meaningful addition to Aon’s business mix.

The move would give Aon a deeper presence among midsize customers, while also broadening its consulting and brokerage footprint. The Journal reported that the acquisition could support earnings per share as early as 2028, reflecting the scale of the deal and the expected integration benefits.

KKR continues to monetize assets

For KKR, a sale would add to a recent run of exits after disposals including the sale of CoolIT and Circor’s commercial and defense aerospace unit earlier this year. KKR said it posted a record $1.29 billion in asset sales in the quarter ended in June.

Aon is one of the largest insurance brokers and consultancy groups, with a market value of about $75 billion. The company reported adjusted second-quarter earnings of $3.81 per share on July 29, above Wall Street expectations, although the stock has since slipped 5.6% and closed Friday at $355.40.

If completed, the deal would be one of the biggest insurance brokerage transactions in recent years. It would also mark another step in the consolidation of a sector where scale, client reach and advisory capabilities increasingly matter.

This article is not investment advice and recommends no asset, level or direction; a single session's move is not evidence of a trend. For background see Stocks, Bear Market, BIST 100, and for terms the finance glossary.