USI in the News
USI Insurance Services (“USI” or the “Company”), a leader in risk management, employee benefits and retirement consulting, today announced that existing shareholder KKR is making a new equity investment of more than $1 billion in the Company.
KKR and CDPQ acquired USI in 2017 in partnership with USI’s management and employees. Over the past six years, USI has successfully executed numerous growth initiatives and transformative acquisitions to extend its leadership position in insurance brokerage and consulting with a broad range of technology-enabled property and casualty, employee benefits, personal risk and retirement solutions. The USI team has more than doubled in size to over 10,000 team members across more than 200 offices. USI’s management and employees will retain their significant ownership in the Company going forward.
Under the terms of the agreement, KKR and USI will purchase shares of USI held by CDPQ and certain other investors; more than 50% of the shares held by CDPQ will be purchased in the transaction. Following the closing of the transaction, KKR will be USI’s largest single shareholder.
“When we embarked on our journey with KKR and CDPQ, we shared a vision about the forces impacting our industry and a plan for USI to be a leading innovator in that transformation, combining world-class sponsorship and investment with our team of experts, differentiated solutions and technology,” said Michael Sicard, Chairman and CEO of USI. “The power of this strategic partnership has exceeded our expectations, and we are thrilled to be continuing our journey with the support of our long-term shareholders.
“Alongside KKR, a tremendous strategic partner in this investment journey, we have supported the growth of USI since 2017 – a unique and resilient company with an outstanding management team committed to offering best-in-class services to its clients,” said Martin Longchamps, Executive Vice-President and Head of Private Equity at CDPQ. “Our dynamic partnership has unlocked multiple opportunities and USI is well positioned to capitalize on its strengths and to continue creating value for all stakeholders.”
“We are enormously proud of everything the USI team has accomplished and we have a high conviction in the opportunity ahead for this winning team and operating model as USI continues to innovate and scale,” said Chris Harrington, Partner at KKR. “Together with CDPQ we have supported significant investments in USI’s platform and technology that position USI for long-term growth. We are pleased to reach this agreement to increase our ownership with a substantial investment of additional long-term capital.”
KKR is making the additional investment commitment of more than $1 billion in USI through its core investments strategy. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of 2023. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
About USI
USI is one of the largest insurance brokerage and consulting firms in the United States, delivering property and casualty, employee benefits, personal risk, program and retirement solutions to its clients nationwide. Headquartered in Valhalla, New York, USI connects over 10,000 industry-leading professionals from more than 200 offices to serve clients’ needs. USI has become a premier insurance brokerage and consulting firm by leveraging the USI ONE Advantage®, an interactive platform that integrates proprietary and innovative client solutions, networked local resources and enterprise-wide collaboration to deliver customized results with positive, bottom-line impact. USI attracts best-in-class industry talent with a long history of deep and continuing investment in our local communities. For more information, visit usi.com or follow us on LinkedIn.
About KKR
KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR’s insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKR’s investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR’s website at www.kkr.com.
About CDPQ
At CDPQ, we invest constructively to generate sustainable returns over the long term. As a global investment group managing funds for public pension and insurance plans, we work alongside our partners to build enterprises that drive performance and progress. We are active in the major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure, real estate and private debt. As at June 30, 2023, CDPQ’s net assets totalled CAD 424 billion. For more information, visit cdpq.com, consult our LinkedIn or Instagram pages, or follow us on X.
CDPQ is a registered trademark owned by Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and licensed for use by its subsidiaries.
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Media Contacts:
USI Insurance Services:
Timothy Denton
+1 914-747-6339
timothy.denton@usi.com
KKR:
Miles Radcliffe-Trenner
+1 212-750-8300
media@kkr.com
CDPQ:
Conrad Harrington
+1 514-847-5493
charrington@cdpq.com
USI is proud to be recognized as one of the nation’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. The national Best and Brightest competition identifies and honors organizations displaying a strong commitment to excellence in their HR practices and employee enrichment programs. Companies are assessed based on communications, work-life balance, employee education, diversity, recognition, retention, and more. This honor is reflective of the outstanding work done each day by our more than 10,000 incredible team members across the country. Learn more.
USI is proud to be recognized by Business Insurance as a Best Place to Work in Insurance for the fourth year in a row. This annual survey and workplace recognition program is conducted in partnership with Best Companies Group and consists of a two-phased employer and anonymous employee survey focused on workplace policies, practices, demographics, and overall employee experience. This industry recognition is a direct reflection of the outstanding work done each day by our incredible employees. Learn more.
USI Insurance Services (“USI”), a world leader in risk management, employee benefit and retirement consulting, has been recognized as a “Top Insurance Employer” for the sixth consecutive year by Insurance Business America (IBA). Now in its sixth year, IBA’s annual Top Insurance Employer program recognizes leading U.S. insurance organizations based on a series of employee satisfaction metrics, including benefits, compensation, culture, employee development and commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Commenting on the announcement, Michael Sicard, chairman and chief executive officer for USI, stated: “We are honored to once again be recognized among Insurance Business America’s leading insurance industry employers for the sixth consecutive year. I want to congratulate our more than 10,000 team members who make this multi-year industry recognition possible and thank them for the invaluable contributions they bring to our organization and the clients and communities we serve each day.”
Kim Van Orman, senior vice president and chief human resources officer for USI, added: “We are proud to have cultivated a supportive and inclusive culture at USI that rewards and empowers our people to recognize their full potential and grow both personally and professionally. This multi-year industry achievement serves as continued motivation for us to consistently raise the bar when it comes to innovating an exceptional employee experience that drives satisfaction, engagement and superior business results.”
IBA’s Top Insurance Employer program consists of a two-phase qualification process, including an employer form submission and an anonymous employee satisfaction survey. Company results are distributed across four categories based on the number of employees and overall employee satisfaction scores. Learn more about IBA’s Top Insurance Employers program.
About USI
USI is one of the largest insurance brokerage and consulting firms in the world, delivering property and casualty, employee benefits, personal risk, program and retirement solutions to large risk management clients, middle market companies, smaller firms and individuals. Headquartered in Valhalla, New York, USI connects over 10,000 industry-leading professionals from more than 200 offices to serve clients’ local, national and international needs. USI has become a premier insurance brokerage and consulting firm by leveraging the USI ONE Advantage®, an interactive platform that integrates proprietary and innovative client solutions, networked local resources and enterprise-wide collaboration to deliver customized results with positive, bottom-line impact. USI attracts best-in-class industry talent with a long history of deep and continuing investment in our local communities. For more information, visit usi.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter.
Business Insurance’s U.S. Insurance Awards program celebrates exceptional work by insurance professionals working at companies across the commercial insurance industry, honoring teams of professionals across various award categories. The 2023 awards event was held at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City on July 19. This year, USI was honored to be selected as a finalist in the Diversity & Inclusion Initiative of the Year category for our 2022 DEI training initiatives. These initiatives were designed to help recruiters and leaders attract and retain the next generation of diverse industry talent at USI. Learn more.
USI’s National Executive and Professional Risk Solutions Practice Leader, Andrew Doherty, recently caught up with Business Insurance to discuss current D&O liability insurance market trends, where rates continue to decrease. During the interview, Andy shared, “USI is forecasting rate decreases of 15% to 20% for mainstream D&O business, with more of that coming out of excess than the primary.” Read the full article.
The Insurance Marketing & Communications Association (IMCA) recently held its 65th annual IMCA Ignite Conference and Showcase Awards ceremony in Nashville, TN, and USI was proud to place in two categories. Our 2022 I’m With U Monthly Discovery Theme Campaign won gold in the Employee Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Communications Campaign, and our 2023 Commercial P&C Market Outlook Report won silver in the Other Long-Form Written Publication category. These campaigns highlight the important, innovative work being done at USI. IMCA Showcase Awards recognize the highest quality marketing and communications in the insurance industry. Read more.
USI’s Head of Industry Verticals and National Construction Practice Leader, Danette Beck, recently caught up with Insurance Journal to discuss the current state of the construction industry and the latest challenges contractors are facing. As the U.S. construction sector continues to see strong growth in various sectors and geographies, higher interest rates, building costs, and a decades-long shortage of skilled labor are contributing to a “cautiously optimistic” outlook for the rest of 2023 into 2024. Read the full article.
For the second year in a row, USI has been recognized as a ‘Best of the Best’ insurance employer for Hispanics by Hispanic Network Magazine (HNM), a leading publication dedicated to supporting the advancement of Hispanics in all aspects of business and employment. Each year, HNM polls hundreds of Fortune 1000 companies for its ‘Best of the Best’ evaluations, providing unbiased results that are valuable resources for job-seekers, business owners, students, consumers, senior management, business associations, employment agencies, and consumer groups. Read more.
A number of events over the last several years have had a significant impact on the police liability insurance market. Recently, Business Insurance shared an update on the market and the impact of those events, and USI’s National Public Entity and Education Practice Leader, Anthony DiBernadino, was invited to share his perspective on the latest market conditions. Read more.
USI’s National Construction Practice Leader and Head of Industry Verticals, Danette Beck, was recently interviewed by Business Insurance on current challenges the construction industry faces, from supply chain integrity to broader, nationwide issues like inflation and labor shortages. Building in cost escalation clauses in builders’ risk policies and maintaining inventory control are a few cost mitigation solutions. “You have to be able to get ahead of some of these challenges,” said Beck. Read the full article.
In the ever-growing impact cyber has on our daily lives, the reality of preventing and living with a cyberattack is one every business and organization must consider and strategize against. Recently, USI’s National Executive and Professional Risk Solutions Claims Practice Leader, Joni Mason, was interviewed by Business Insurance to discuss the steps clients should take after a cyberattack occurs and the impact prompt notification can have on mitigating the effects of such attacks. Read more.
USI Consulting Group (“USICG”), a national industry-leading, full-service retirement plan consulting and benefits administration firm, today announced the acquisition of Bloomfield, Connecticut-based Hooker & Holcombe, Inc. (“H&H”). Founded in 1956, H&H is a regional provider of comprehensive and integrated actuarial, investment advisory and retirement plan consulting services. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Commenting on the announcement, H&H President, Richard Sych, stated: “For more than 67 years, through the expertise of our dedicated and knowledgeable professionals, H&H has built a strong reputation for delivering effective retirement plan solutions that exceed client expectations. We look forward to advancing this longstanding tradition of service excellence through our partnership with USI Consulting Group.”
USI Consulting Group President and CEO, Bill Tremko, added: “We are thrilled to welcome the talented professionals from H&H to the USI family and look forward to strengthening USI’s retirement consulting expertise throughout the country.”
About USI Consulting Group
USI Consulting Group is a national industry-leading, full-service retirement plan consulting and benefits administration firm that has been helping employers enable their workforce to successfully plan and invest for retirement for over 45 years. USICG’s integrated team of highly skilled professionals provides specialized expertise in delivering independent, comprehensive guidance and innovative, flexible retirement plan solutions to meet the changing needs of employers and their employees. USICG is an affiliate of both USI Securities, Inc. (a broker-dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC) and USI Advisors, Inc. (a federally registered investment adviser) and a wholly-owned subsidiary of USI Insurance Services (“USI”). To learn more, visit usicg.com or follow us on LinkedIn.
USI is proud to be named a finalist in two separate award categories as part of Zywave’s 10th annual Cyber Risk Awards. USI’s cyber team has been nominated as a finalist for the Cyber Retail Broking Team of the Year award, and USI’s National Cyber Practice Leader, Nadia Hoyte, was named a finalist for the Cyber Risk Industry Person of the Year award. Please be sure to support USI for both of these outstanding industry recognitions by casting your vote before Friday, May 26. Vote now!
USI’s Justin Austin, regional select practice leader, will join over 1,700 other brokerage-based logistics professionals at the upcoming Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) 2023 Capital Ideas Conference in Orlando, FL, April 19-22. During the conference, Justin will take part in an expert panel session on Friday, April 21, from 4-5 p.m. (ET) to discuss increasing litigation in the freight brokerage industry. Learn more.
USI’s James Reed, regional cyber advisor, will take part in this year’s Cyber Risk and Insurance Innovation USA Conference in Chicago, May 16-17. James will host an informative discussion on the interrelatedness of errors and omission (E&O) and cyber exposures. The conversation will explore coverage gaps and offer practical solutions to provide certainty to insureds. Read more.
USI’s Robin Kelliher, environmental solutions group counsel, and Andy Doherty, national executive and professional risk solutions practice leader, will participate in two separate panel discussions at this year’s Environmental & Emerging Claim Manager Association Conference in Philadelphia, April 20-21. Robin Kelliher’s panel discussion will review mold, stormwater, and sediment runoff claims during construction, and Andy Doherty’s panel discussion will examine D&O liability and related risks associated with the increased focus on environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG). Learn more.
The American Heart Association’s (AHA) 2022 Workforce Well-being Scorecard results were recently announced, and USI once again achieved Gold level recognition for the fifth year in a row! Working in partnership with leading science and workforce well-being volunteers, the AHA has defined best practices for employers to use to build a culture of health equity and comprehensive organizational well-being programs for their workforces. This annual scorecard measures the extent to which a company has implemented those best practices. Read more.
The commercial insurance market for strike, riot and civil commotion coverage has undergone a lot of change in recent years due to rising protests and political violence, creating increased interest among policyholders. USI’s National Property Practice Leader, Jeff Buyze, recently caught up with Business Insurance to discuss the latest trends in civil disorder insurance coverage. During the interview, Buyze shared that insureds are asking more about strike, riot and civil commotion coverage, in some cases because they’ve had instances of potential gaps or shortfalls in coverage. Read the full article.
For the fifth consecutive year, USI has been named a ‘Best of the Best’ employer for women in the insurance industry by Professional WOMAN’s Magazine (PWM). PWM’s annual ‘Best of the Best’ program is designed to recognize leading U.S. organizations actively engaged in the advancement of multicultural women in all aspects of business and employment to ensure equal opportunity. Read more.
USI Affinity today announced that its travel insurance division, USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services, has been named to Forbes Advisor’s annual list of the Best Travel Insurance Companies for the fourth year in a row. USI Affinity received a top ranking on this year’s list based on policy benefits and available coverage options most important to travelers. In its evaluation, Forbes Advisor scored 53 policies to identify the best travel insurance plans using data provided by Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison provider.
The 2023 rankings were based on each plan’s score for benefits and average prices for various trips and traveler profiles. The benefits that were scored included medical expenses, medical evacuation, Covid-related medical coverage, “Cancel For Any Reason” upgrade, baggage delay required waiting time, baggage reimbursement, hurricane and weather coverage requirements, “Interruption For Any Reason” upgrade, pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver, travel delay required waiting time and trip interruption.
“USI Affinity is proud to once again be recognized by Forbes Advisor for the fourth year in a row, especially this year as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Travel Insurance Services,” stated USI Affinity’s Travel Insurance Division Leader Daria Porreca. “Over the last three years, we have worked diligently to adapt and respond to changing regulations while meeting the evolving needs of travelers. In addition, our longstanding relationships with our carrier partners have allowed us to develop a suite of products that can benefit a variety of traveler profiles. Whether we’re serving travel suppliers, business accounts or individual travelers, we strive to provide travel insurance solutions that enable our customers to travel with greater protection and peace of mind. We look forward to continued growth, strong partnerships and opportunities to serve our current and future customers in 2023 and beyond.”
USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services also had a plan featured on Forbes Advisor’s list of Best Covid-19 Travel Insurance for 2023.
Forbes Advisor is a trusted destination for unbiased money and business advice, news and reviews, dedicated to helping consumers make smart decisions and choose the right products with ease. To view Forbes Advisor’s complete list of the Best Travel Insurance Companies of 2023, visit their rankings page.
About USI Affinity
For over 75 years, USI Affinity has developed, marketed and administered programs to deliver unique advantages in insurance coverage, price and service. USI Affinity markets and administers insurance programs for over 440 organizations nationwide, representing more than 22 million association, union and alumni members. USI Affinity is a division of USI Insurance Services. For more information about USI Affinity, please visit www.usiaffinity.com.
USI’s National Aviation Practice Leader, James Van Meter, will join an expert panel to discuss the state of the aviation insurance market at this year’s Alaska Air Carriers Association annual conference taking place March 1-3 in Anchorage. During the session, panelists will explore topics such as aircraft accident trends in Alaska, market capacity, global events impacting the marketplace, trends in the litigation environment, and how to strategically plan for renewals. Learn more.
USI’s Head of Industry Verticals & National Construction Practice Leader, Danette Beck, will join an expert panel to discuss some of the key areas of concern for the construction industry, such as supply chain concerns, price escalation, market uncertainty, and more, at this year’s National Associated General Contractors of America (AGC)Annual Convention in Las Vegas on Wednesday, March 15, at 11 a.m. (PST). Learn more.
USI’s National Property Practice Leader, Jeff Buyze, and National International Specialty Group Practice Leader, John Scales, recently caught up with Business Insurance to discuss the impact of worldwide events, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the increase in mass shooting events in the U.S., on the political violence and terrorism insurance markets, along with what it means for policyholders. “Policies are highly customizable, and businesses can choose which locations coverage applies to,” Buyze shared. “Businesses need to understand their risks and vulnerabilities and identify appropriate limits.” Read the full article.
In recent interviews with Business Insurance, USI’s National Executive & Professional Risk Solutions Practice Leader, Andy Doherty, discussed the continuing decline in directors and officers (D&O) liability insurance rates despite the growing uncertainty of both the future macro-economic environment – rising inflation, interest rate increases, increased bankruptcies, and the very specific emerging risks of cyber breaches, ESG-related litigation, cryptocurrency volatility and a significant drop off in Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) IPOs. “The concern is about whether we are going to have a rough economic year in 2023,” Doherty emphasized during the interview, adding, “Yet it feels like a period of stability at this point.” Read the full article.
USI’s National Cyber Practice Leader, Nadia Hoyte, will join an expert panel to discuss Cloud Disruption at this year’s NetDiligence® Cyber Risk Summit, taking place in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, February 20-21. During the session, panelists will explore topics such as business interruption cloud losses, negotiating proactively on coverage, strategies to contain losses, and much more. Learn more.
For the fourth year in a row, USI is proud to be recognized as a Best of the Best employer by Black EOE Journal, a leading African American business and career publication. The Best of the Best program recognizes leading insurance companies and their efforts to promote the advancement of African Americans in all aspects of business and employment to ensure equal opportunity. Each year, Black EOE Journal polls hundreds of Fortune 1000 companies for its Best of the Best evaluations, providing non-biased results that are valuable resources for job-seekers, business owners, students, consumers, senior management, business associations, employment agencies and consumer groups. Read more.
Each year, Insurance Business America (IBA)’s “5-Star DE&I Awards” recognize leading U.S.-based insurance companies for their work to foster impactful, forward-looking diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) programs. USI was among only 17 insurance organizations to receive this honor for 2023 in recognition of our ongoing efforts to build an increasingly diverse, equitable and inclusive culture at USI through our I’m With U DE&I program. Commenting on the award, USI’s Chief Human Resources Officer & I’m With U Executive Sponsor, Kim Van Orman, shared: “The launch of our I’m With U DE&I program in June 2020 marked a transformational journey for USI and our people. Among many things, I’m With U represents our shared commitment to building our collective understanding, skills and awareness in support of our employees, clients and local communities. I want to congratulate our employees on this outstanding achievement and thank them for their continued contributions to this inspiring program.” Learn more.
Andy Doherty, USI’s national executive & professional risk solutions practice leader, was recently interviewed by Business Insurance to discuss the latest trends in the D&O insurance market. According to the article, D&O liability insurance policyholders continued to see rate decreases during recent January 1, 2023, renewals, fueled by significant capacity increases and increased competition. Read the article.
USI’s National Property Practice Leader, Jeff Buyze, recently met with Business Insurance to discuss the rising property insurance rates and market conditions for 2023. Commenting on the current property insurance market, Buyze shared: “Capacity is the biggest challenge. When an incumbent carrier pulls back in the current line that they're providing – let's say they were providing $100 million the year before, and now they can only provide, say, $5 million or $10 million – that's where we're seeing the largest rate increases, and the most difficult renewals.” Read the article.
Key findings from USI’s 2023 Employee Benefits Market Outlook Report were recently profiled in a new PLANSPONSOR article, which highlights the various challenges employers will be contending with in 2023, including strategies employers can adopt to reduce the impact of rising healthcare costs. Read the article.
Business Insurance recently reported on the key takeaways from USI’s 2023 Commercial Property & Casualty Market Outlook Report. This year’s report once again provided timely insights on the latest market trends impacting P&C insurance buyers and reviewed upcoming challenges and opportunities for buyers in the new year. Read the article.