Articles by Chad Hemenway

Chad is National News Editor at Insurance Journal. He has been covering the insurance industry since 2007, reporting on trends and coverage in most lines of insurance as well as natural catastrophes, modeling, regulation, legislation, and litigation. Chad can be reached at chemenway@wellsmedia.com

OPTIS: Insurance Agency M&A Reaches 4-Year, First-Half Low

The total of insurance agency mergers and acquisitions during the first six months of 2024 was the lowest over the first half since 2020, according to investment banking and financial firm OPTIS Partners. OPTIS Partners’ M&A database counted 300 announced …

Progressive Q2 Net Income Skyrockets Over 320%

Progressive Corp. today reported second quarter 2024 results of about $1.5 billion and a combined ratio of 91.9. Results for the Mayfield Village, Ohio-based insurer are in comparison to second quarter 2023 net income of $345.4 million and a combined …

AIG Files Amended Suit Against Former Execs, Dellwood Insurance

American International Group and a group of its companies have filed a new, amended complaint against Dellwood Insurance Group, started earlier this year by a group of former AIG executives. The lawsuit filed July 10 in U.S. District Court for …

Cyber Insurance Market ‘Stable’ With Potential for Growth, Says AM Best

According to industry rating agency AM Best, there are enough positive factors to give the cyber insurance market a “stable” outlook despite a stall in premium growth. Analysts at AM Best issued a segment outlook and report in late June, …

Big ‘I’ Report: Independent Agency Channel Placed 62% of Premiums in 2023

Independent agents placed more than 62% of all property/casualty insurance written in the U.S., according to the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”). The association’s 2024 Market Share Report said independent agents have high penetration rates …

CSU Research Team Increases Atlantic Hurricane Forecast

Hurricane Beryl got the respected team of researchers at Colorado State University to rethink its forecast for the Atlantic hurricane season, which has already seen three named storms. CSU’s Department of Atmospheric Science now calls for an “extremely active” total …

Insurance Industry Impact From Hurricane Beryl Expected to Be ‘Manageable’

Hurricane Beryl made its U.S. landfall at Matagorda, Texas early Monday as a Category 1 hurricane. The storm has reportedly knocked out power to 1 million homes and businesses, but the storm’s overall impact to the insurance industry is expected …

State Farm Seeking Large Rate Increases in Wildfire-Prone California

State Farm has applied for large rate increases in California, a year after the carrier got rate approvals of 7% and 20%—adding fuel to a burning homeowners crisis in a state that’s seen an increasing number of carriers pullback or …

US P/C Underwriting Results: Two Years in a Row Over $20 Billion in the Red

For the second year in a row, the U.S. property/casualty industry booked an underwriting loss of more than $20 billion primarily due to the lackluster performance of personal auto and home insurance lines. The total U.S. P/C underwriting loss in …

Big ‘I’ Report: Independent Agency Channel Placed 62% of Premiums in 2023

Independent agents placed more than 62% of all property/casualty insurance written in the U.S., according to the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”). The association’s 2024 Market Share Report said independent agents have high penetration rates …