insurance

Protective Life Acquires NY-Based Obsidian Specialty Insurance Carrier

May 1, 2026

1 source

Insurance Journal

Protective Life Acquires NY-Based Obsidian Specialty Insurance Carrier

Story Summary

On May 1, 2026, Alabama's Protective Life announced plans to acquire New York-based Obsidian Insurance Holdings to enter property/casualty insurance. The deal includes Obsidian's subsidiaries and aims to provide capital support while expanding Protective's business lines. Expected to close between late 2026 and early 2027, the transaction marks Protective's 62nd acquisition since joining Daiichi Life in 2015.

Inszone Insurance Services acquired Mena Insurance Agency, Inc., a century-old Arkansas institution founded in 1911, to expand its regional footprint. The transaction integrates the agency's experienced team under Inszone's organization, with current leadership now including P.T. Plunkett. This merger represents a significant business move within the state's insurance sector.

Insurance Journal·May 1, 2026

gaming

Imax Calls Disney Infinity Vision Marketing Tactic Amid Avengers: Doomsday Release Date Clash

Imax dismisses Disney's new Infinity Vision format as a marketing strategy designed to mask the absence of an Imax platform for Avengers: Doomsday. Both films launch simultaneously on December 18, creating a direct box office competition where Disney locks out Imax screens while promoting its alternative premium experience starting with a September re-release.

IGN·May 1, 2026

gaming

Creative Assembly Reveals Massive Battle Maps and Planet Scales for Total War: Warhammer 40,000

During a livestream on May 1, 2026, developers from Creative Assembly showcased the immense scale of upcoming battle maps and planetary biomes for Total War: Warhammer 40,000. They highlighted diverse terrains ranging from dense hive worlds to desolate wastelands, emphasizing player ability to destroy structures and alter battlefield layouts. While specific release dates remain unconfirmed, further details are expected by late June.

IGN·May 1, 2026

insurance

Former Tennessee Sheriff's Detective Charged With Setting Fire To Own Vehicle And Filing Fraudulent Insurance Claim

Daniel Lee Garrett, a former Scott County Sheriff's detective, was indicted in April after a 16-month investigation revealed he intentionally set fire to his car in December 2024 and filed a false insurance claim. Garrett posted a $25,000 bond while his court arraignment was postponed. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation confirmed the arson occurred in Scott County near Knoxville.