Aon close to acquiring USI Insurance from KKR in $17 billion deal, WSJ reports

Aon Plc is reportedly nearing a deal to acquire insurance brokerage USI Insurance Services from private equity firm KKR for approximately $17 billion, including debt, according to the Wall Street Journal. The acquisition could be announced as early as Monday if negotiations are successful. The deal would represent a significant exit for KKR, which has recently sold off several business units, including its data-center cooling business CoolIT and the commercial and defense aerospace unit of Circor.

KKR's involvement in the purchase of USI from Onex Corporation in 2017 for $4.3 billion, along with an additional investment of over $1 billion, has made it the largest shareholder. Following the acquisition, USI's capabilities in assisting midsize businesses are expected to expand, potentially increasing earnings per share as early as 2028.