Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has expanded its US programs business with the acquisition of McKee Risk Management, a Pennsylvania-based program administrator specializing in underwriting and risk management services for commercial insureds.

Gallagher said McKee Risk Management will join Risk Placement Services, its US wholesale brokerage, binding authority and programs division.

Pennsylvania-based McKee provides underwriting, policy administration, claims co-ordination and risk management services, with established program focuses including construction, public entity and property.

Under the deal, Clyde McKee III, Clyde McKee IV and their team will operate within RPS’s program administration division. Gallagher said the acquisition adds a well-established platform and specialist underwriting capability to its existing programmes business.

“McKee Risk Management brings a well-established platform and underwriting expertise that complement RPS’s programs offerings,” said J. Patrick Gallagher Jr., chairman and chief executive officer. “I am delighted to welcome the McKee team to our growing, global family of professionals.”

McKee Risk Management describes itself as a relationship-driven program administrator that works closely with carriers, agents and brokers to deliver admitted insurance products tailored to commercial insureds. The business said its model is built around strong ties with highly rated insurance carriers and established distribution partners, allowing it to respond quickly to market needs while maintaining underwriting discipline.

Its programs span a range of specialty areas, including active assailant, construction, mergers and acquisitions, middle market, property, public entity, water and sewer, and workers’ compensation.

According to McKee, its underwriting teams focus on industry-specific expertise, while its claims team works through multiple third-party administrator relationships to support claims handling and management. The company also maintains a dedicated actuarial function to monitor rate changes and portfolio performance, as well as loss-control engineers who work with insureds to improve risk-prevention procedures.