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• Captive Daily Wire™ powered by LexisNexis™ and updated each afternoon by 3:00 p.m.. If a captive/ART related story is out there, you'll find it here!
  
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• Actuary.NET

• March 6, 2009: Cayman Islands Regulatory Announcements. Our thanks to Kerr, Russell & Weber for sharing this important update with captive.com's readers.
• Captive Board Decision-Making Primer
• Captive Industry Accreditation - Public Entity Pools Lead the Way
• Considering E-Signatures?
• Is Your Captive a Value Creator?

Glossaries

• IRMI's "Glossary of Insurance and Risk Management" (See "Free resources" area on left side of page to access this glossary.) This is a Wiki type page to which you can submit your own definitions for approval by IRMI.
• Reinsurance Terms
• Alternative Market and Captive Terms
• Glossary of Captive Insurance Terms (Courtesy of Active Captive Management)
• Captive Insurance Company Glossary in searchable pdf (Courtesy of Towers Perrin)
• Barrons Dictionary of Insurance Terms accessible from Amazon.com

Products and service for the ART industry offered by captive.com sponsoring members:

• August 29, 2011: Sedgwick CMS Alternative Solutions for a Captive Environment

• May 3, 2011: Captive Light is now Artex Light! Learn all about it here.

• January 24, 2011: New Zurich Fleet Intelligence designed to reduce fleet operating costs and improve driver safety. Industry-leading telematics providers sign on to give fleet managers more ways to protect the safety of their drivers and other road users.

• April 2010: SPARTA's vision is to be the premier provider of customized unbundled program solutions. SPARTA operates in two niche property and casualty insurance segments -- Alternative Risk Transfer Programs ("ART") providing program level risk sharing through captive reinsurance; and Specialty Insurance Programs ("Specialty") whereby the risk is fully retained by SPARTA.

  Here are two downloadable documents that we think you will find helpful: SPARTA fact sheet, including financial info, targeted lines of business, and targeted classes of business; and SPARTA success stories -- a compendium of case studies we think you will like

• April 2010: Munich Re Specialty Markets Insurance Programs. Specialty Markets is committed to meeting the needs of managing general agents, managing general underwriters, program administrators, and other market participants (consultants and reinsurance intermediaries) focused on program business. This page supplies the products and available programs offered by Munich Re. We hope you will find this link helpful. {take me there now]
  
  
• September 2009: In order to comply with the new Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reporting requirements as outlined in Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 Section 111, Specialty Insurance Services (SIS) has developed software; Compliance™ Medicare Reporting Systems.
  
  
• November 2008 -- both articles copyright© Captive and ART Review. Reprinted with permission:
  • Technology to Assist Captive Managers. In this article, Nick Teetelli of Maple Technologies tells Captive Review how Maple’s Aspire Information System can offer a flexible end-to-end system that will meet the business needs of captive managers in these increasingly regulatory times.
  • Technologising Captives. The emergent compliance era highlights the need for the captive industry to embrace technology. Nick explains exactly why technology is so relevant to our industry.
    
    
• Stand-alone Terrorism Coverage - Artex Risk Solutions, February 2007

January 26, 2012 Captive Ratings News: A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of Queen City Assurance, Inc.

January 26, 2012 Domicile End-of-Year Recap: Hawai'i Domicile Industry Reaches Record High Number of Captives.

January 26, 2012 Microinsurance Network: 10 Years On.

January 25, 2012 News from IRMI: New Second Edition of Captive Practices and Procedures Book Provides More Insight into Captive Insurance Best Practices.

January 25 Captive.com Member News: Global broker survey finds insurance buyers concerned about cost and availability of suitable coverage as natural hazard and supply chain risks loom.

January 24 Captive.com Member News: "Randall & Quilter Investment Holdings Ltd. (RQIH) is pleased to announce the formation of R&Q Quest Management Services USA, LLC (R&Q Quest USA) as a Captive Consulting and Management Firm to complement the Group’s captive management operations in Bermuda, Gibraltar and Norway.  RQIH’s captive management operations rank in the top ten captive managers worldwide."

January 24 Captive Ratings News: A.M. Best Assigns Ratings to Instituto Nacional de Seguros

January 23 Captive Ratings News: A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of PMG Assurance Ltd.

January 20 End of Year Captive Results from Utah: Utah - a Destination for Captive Insurers.

January 20, 2012 Captive Ratings News: A.M. Best Affirms Ratings to Pathfinder Insurance Company.

January 20, 2012 Captive Domicile News: New Jersey Finishes 2011 with Three Captive Insurance Companies Including a Re-domestication.January 19, 2012

A.M. Best News: A.M. Best Sets Webinar Examining the Increasing Number of Impaired U.S. Insurance Organizations.

January 17, 2012 Domicile News: Guernsey sees 50%+ rise in insurance licenses issued.

A.M. Best Captive Ratings News:

• 1/16: A.M. Best Assigns Ratings to Vine Court Assurance Incorporated. "A.M. Best Co. has assigned a financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a” to Vine Court Assurance Incorporated (Vine Court) (Burlington, VT). The outlook assigned to both ratings is stable..."
• 1/13: A.M. Best Downgrades Ratings of BancInsure Inc. "A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to B (Fair) from B++ (Good) and the issuer credit rating to “bb” from “bbb” of BancInsure Inc. (BancInsure) (Oklahoma City, OK). The outlook for both ratings is negative..."

January 12, 2012 Kentucky Captive Association News:

• Kentucky Captive Growth Continues in 2011. "Kentucky has grown to 137 captives as of December 31, 2011 up from 127 the year before. Kentucky activated 18 new captive licenses and saw 10 licenses go inactive. The inactive licenses were the result of merger - 1, redomestication - 2 and winding up - 5..." [Download full story]
  
  
• Winslow Hale, ARM named Executive Director Kentucky Captive Association. "I am pleased to announce Mr. Winslow Hale is joining the Kentucky Captive Association as Executive Director. With 137 captives domiciled in KY as of December 31, 2012, the Association continues to evolve to serve its constituency..." [Download full story]

January 12, 2012: VCIA News: THE VERMONT CAPTIVE INSURANCE ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES NEW DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT

January 12, 2012: Captive Industry News: MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL INDEPENDENT CAPTIVE MANAGEMENT FIRM CONTINUES EXPANSION.

January 10, 2012: Member Company News: Kane completes phase one of HIM integration. Additional capital is raised to fund further growth and expansion.

January 10, 2012: 2011 VERY STRONG FOR VERMONT CAPTIVE INSURANCE LICENSES. 6th Year of 40-Plus New Captive Insurance Licenses.

December 30, 2011: Domicile News from Missouri: Department of Insurance names new division heads for Market Regulation, Consumer Protection.

December 22, 2011: Domicile News: Guernsey Signs TIEA With India.

December 22, 2011: Association Survey Results from FERMA: Risk managers confirm concerns with supply chain insurance.

December 22, 2011:SIIA Sues Michigan in Response to Health Plan Tax Law.

December 21, 2011: Montana Insurance Commissioner Withdraws Support of Nevada in Court Case Against RRG.

December 19, 2011: Bermuda News: Captive hopes raised by Brussels.

December 14, 2011: Regulatory Guidance from FERMA and ECIIA: New guidance for senior executives on risk can help avoid additional regulatory attention. [Note: Press release includes link to download full guidance white paper]

December 7, 2011: Association News: Harold Pumford to retire as CEO of the Association of Governmental Risk Pools (AGRiP) in mid-2012.

December 1, 2011: News analysis from Cayman from our friends at Hyperion: Cayman Islands amends regulations to attract Reinsurers.

November 29, 2011: Captive.com Member News: Spring Awarded Two Additional Patents for its Innovative Benefits Funding Strategies

November 23, 2011: Artex Announces New Facility for Complex and Unusual Risks

November 22, 2011: A.M. Best Briefing: Additional Stress Testing in Light of European Economic Uncertainty. [Press release contains link to downloadable briefing report.] [Web format] [Downloadable pdf]

November 18, 2011: A.M. Best Captive Ratings News:

• A.M. Best Affirms Debt Rating of Tailwind Holdings, LLC.
• A.M. Best Affirms Debt Rating of Northwind Holdings, LLC.

November 17, 2011: Member company news: Zurich reaches agreement with Patriot National Insurance Group to underwrite workers' compensation insurance through agency captive platform.

November 17, 2011: Captive Domicile News: Missouri's leadership at NAIC grows. Insurance director elected to executive positions on two panels. 

November 16, 2011: Captive Domicile News: DELAWARE IS #1 DOMICILE FOR INSURANCE RISK PURCHASING GROUPS.

November 14, 2011: More captive ratings news: A.M. Best Assigns Issuer Credit Rating to AmerInst Insurance Group, Ltd.

November 14, 2011: Reinsurance news: FERMA proposes modifications to Brazilian reinsurance regulations in the interest of business and insurance buyers.

November 14, 2011: Captive Ratings News: A.M. Best Assigns Ratings to Fidelity National Indemnity Insurance Company Following Purchase by WRM America Holding Company, LLC.

November 11, 2011: Legislative/Regulatory Opinion from the Heartland Institute: Heartland Institute Rips Into NCOIL Cat Fund Model: ‘It Should Be Ceremonially Burnt’

November 9, 2011: As we continue to get caught up in the aftermath of an 8-day power outage, we are delighted to bring you some excellent news from Cayman: Cayman Islands Continues Captive Market Growth - Formations Up 93 Percent.

November 9, 2011: Captive Insurance Company News: ACIG Names Michael J. O’Neill CEO and President.

November 9, 2011: Member Company News: USA Risk Group Appoints Jonathan Arbeit Vice President USA Risk Group (West).

November 4, 2011: Captive ratings news: A.M. Best Affirms Ratings for the Nonprofits Insurance Alliance Group Members.

November 2, 2011: Captive Domicile News from Isle of Man: Isle of Man Captive Association raises the profile of the Island at FERMA.

October 31, 3011: Captive Ratings News: A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of Prism Assurance, Ltd..

October 25, 2011: Captive Ratings News: A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of National Guaranty Insurance Company of Vermont.

October 24, 2011: Captive Ratings News: A.M. Best Assigns Ratings to Great Falls InsSurance Company.

October 24, 2011: FERMA and IRM survey results: Social media reputation damage high on risk managers' list of concerns.

October 19, 2011: A.M. Best Captive Ratings Methology Change: A.M. Best Withdraws and Consolidates Certain Methodologies.

October 18, 2011: Captive Ratings News from A.M. Best: A.M. Best Assigns Ratings to Noble Assurance Company.

October 18, 2011: Captive Domicile News from Utah: Utah Insurance Commissioner Appoints Deputy & Assistant Commissioner.

October 17, 2011 Captive Ratings Press Releases from A.M. Best:

• A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of BNY Trade Insurance, Ltd.
  
• A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of The Hamilton Insurance Corp.

October 14, 2011, from the State of VT: Nonadmitted and Reinsurance Reform Act: No Captive Insurance Impact Consortium Agrees with White Paper Conclusions. Also see letter from VCIA President Richard Smith to VCIA members and friends and download full paper: WHITE PAPER DISCUSSING THE NONADMITTED AND REINSURANCE REFORM ACT OF 2010 AND ITS POTENTIAL APPLICATION TO CAPTIVE INSURANCE

October 11, 2011 Captive Ratings News from A.M. Best:

• A.M. Best Withdraws Ratings of Hatherley Insurance Ltd. Due to Its Transfer Into Park Assurance Company.
• A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of Nissan Global Reinsurance, Ltd.

October 11, 2011: Michael Corbett Joins Insurance Division as Captives Director.

October 6, 2011: News from FERMA's Risk Management Forum: Luzzi becomes FERMA president. [includes photo]

SIIA Legislative Update, October 4, 2011: SIIA Counters Criticisms of Self-Insured Group Health Plans & Stop-Loss Insurance.

October 3, 2011 - More on-the-spot conference coverage from the FERMA Risk Management Forum: A record number of 1521 risk professionals are taking part in the 2011 FERMA Risk Management Forum.

October 2, 2011 - Risk managers under constant pressure to innovate, says FERMA president [includes photo]

Captive Ratings News, September 29, 2011: A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of Rembrandt Insurance Company, Ltd.

Captive Ratings News, September 28, 2011: A.M. Best Withdraws Ratings of Connaught Insurance Company Limited.

Captive.com Member News, September 28, 2011: Kane appoints new Senior Executive Officer in Dubai, Tim Tovell joins team; Tracey Bladen appointed as Regional Compliance Officer. [includes photo and link for printable pdf version]

Mergers and Acquisitions, September 21, 2011: U.S. Risk acquires American Special Risk Insurance Services.

Association News, September 20, 2011: FERMA Welcomes Two New Members.

Association News, September 20, 2011: FERMA elects new President and VP.

Captive Association News, September 12, 2011: Tennessee Captive Insurance Association Fully Operational.

Captive Ratings News, September 12, 2011: A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of AmerInst Insurance Company, Ltd.

Great news about a dear friend who just joined a great company - September 7, 2011: Carol Frey joins Great American Alternative Markets Division as Divisional Assistant Vice President.

Note from Industry Friends in VT in aftermath of Irene - September 1, 2011: Vermont's Captive Industry Proceeds as the State Recovers from Irene.

Legislative Update - September 1, 2011: SIIA Urges Michigan Governor to Veto Health Plan Tax Legislation