Kemper Corporation has completed the sale of its Newins captive agent and storefront distribution operation to Confie.
Financial terms of the sale were not disclosed.
The deal, announced April 21, covers Newings Insurance Agency Holdings, which trades under the Illinois Vehicle, A-Abana and Access Auto Insurance brands in a limited number of states.
Newins, which writes nonstandard auto through walk-in locations and captive producers, was acquired by Kemper as part of its 2021 purchase of American Access Casualty Company.
Confie said the acquisition adds 72 retail property and casualty locations across Illinois, Texas, Nevada, Arizona and Indiana. Employees associated with the Newins business have transferred to Confie as part of the transaction.
Interim CEO C. Thomas Evans Jr. (pictured) said the divestment is intended to tighten Kemper’s focus on core operations.
“This transaction is consistent with our focus on improving performance in our core operations,” Evans said in a statement. “It allows us to further concentrate on our independent agent distribution channel for specialty auto and direct our resources toward areas where we see the greatest opportunity for long-term value. We have a strong relationship with Confie and believe they are well positioned to support the continued growth of the Newins operations.”
The move follows a series of actions aimed at improving profitability and capital efficiency in Kemper’s personal lines book.
In 2023, the carrier said it would exit the preferred home and auto segment written under the Kemper Personal Insurance brand, placing that business into run‑off while retaining its Kemper Auto specialty operation and Kemper Life segment. The company has also pursued a restructuring program targeted at cutting expenses and simplifying its structure, with regulatory filings outlining planned savings from workforce and real estate reductions.
Kemper reported a net loss of $8 million for the fourth quarter of 2025, compared with net income of $97.4 million a year earlier, as specialty property and casualty results were affected by elevated bodily injury severity and lower personal auto volumes. Management has pointed to rate increases, underwriting changes and the exit of noncore operations as central to restoring target returns.
Against that backdrop, dropping a captive, bricks‑and‑mortar distribution arm that does not align with Kemper’s preferred independent‑agent model fits with a broader simplification strategy.
For Confie, the acquisition extends a roll‑up strategy in nonstandard auto distribution. The Huntington Beach–based group operates a network of brands, including Freeway Insurance and InsureOne, serving higher‑risk and price‑sensitive drivers through storefronts, call centers and digital channels.
The Newins brands similarly focus on nonstandard auto customers, offering minimum‑limits and full‑coverage policies and SR‑22 filings via local offices. Confie said the additional outlets in states where it already operates will expand its reach and support "ongoing growth in key Hispanic and multicultural communities," which form a significant share of its customer base.
Confie has been an active acquirer of retail auto agencies in recent years. In 2023, it bought the retail division of Acceptance Insurance, adding around 80 locations and broadening its penetration in the nonstandard segment.
The Newins deal continues that consolidation pattern, concentrating storefront capacity in a part of the market where many customers still prefer in‑person service and cash or card payments over fully digital purchasing.
