CaptiveLearning.com Unveiled to Public

CaptiveLearning.com, an on-line educational platform devoted to the captive insurance industry, was officially launched on Aug. 1. The Web site is dedicated to building excellence in captive insurance company operations and governance, and is a captive.com companion website.

"CaptiveLearning.com will build on the success of captive.com which has served the captive insurance industry since 1995," reports Chris Mancini, CEO of Captive.com LLC. "Captive.com is accessed by some 65,000 visitors monthly, many of whom are thirsty for quality on-demand training. We are excited about taking aim at captive excellence through this venture," she added.

A quickly-growing course catalog began with the first module in a governance series entitled Captive Governance Best Practices. The presenter is John Salisbury, a recently-retired captive CEO. "John was a founding principal of captive.com, and is the architect of the CaptiveLearning.com website. He has a passion for learning and will be actively encouraging others to share their captive expertise by creating courses or presentations to be hosted at CaptiveLearning.com," Mancini commented.

CaptiveLearning.com is designed to:

1. Serve as a training resource devoted to building excellence in captive governance and operations;

2. Provide captive service providers the opportunity to share their knowledge and promote their services;

3. Offer a resource through which captive domiciles can inform and train managers, service providers and staff, adding value to their domicile;

4. Provide cost-effective, on-demand continuing education for captive professionals

Presentations and courses available at CaptiveLearning.com will either be sponsored and available at no cost to participants, or on a pay-per-view basis. Both video/PowerPoint and audio/PowerPoint formats will be used. The learning management platform is robust, including features such as secure online forums, the ability to upload and download course materials, testing capability, certificates of completion, and more.

Two pay-per-view video/PowerPoint presentations are currently available. Kate Westover, a respected authority on captive insurance and author of Captive Practices and Procedures, is the instructor for The Feasibility Study module. This course begins a 10-part series based on Westover's book. The course is a must see for organizations considering captive formation, and those currently developing a captive.

Preparing a Captive Governance Annual Work Plan is the second pay-per-view course available, building on the governance series. John Salisbury is the instructor.

Visit www.CaptiveLearning.com for Membership Information and a video/PowerPoint introduction to CaptiveLearning.com.

Best's Review Offers Info on Captives

Audio and edited interviews with six leading captive insurance domiciles and service providers are now available online in a newly published digital edition from Best’s Review magazine.

Issues & Answers: Captive Domiciles and Services covers topics such as reinsurance, captive insurance regulation, legal and more. A captive insurance organization insures some or all of the risks of its parent organization. Captives are a significant part of the growing Alternative Risk Transfer (ART) insurance sector in many nations and in the United States.

The edition can be read and listened to at no charge at http://www.bestreview.com/captives08.html.

Articles and interviews in the special section include:

• Balancing Act: DiscoverRe brings together the fronting, reinsurance and other services essential to the formation of group captives. http://publishing.yudu.com/Ajajq/IACaptives2008/ resources/4.htm
• Expertise, Expertise, Expertise: J.P. Schmidt, Commissioner, State of Hawaii, explains why Hawaii is a popular captive domicile for both U.S. and Pacific Rim companies. http://publishing.yudu.com/Ajajq/IACaptives2008/ resources/8.htm
• Meeting the Challenges Captives Can Present: Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. provides one-stop servicing of captives’ needs, says Managing Director Andrew Hofer. http://publishing.yudu.com/Ajajq/IACaptives2008/ resources/6.htm
• Positive Relationships Foster Positive Results: GMAC Re Assistant Vice President Anthony Valente says flexibility is key in the alternative market. http://publishing.yudu.com/Ajajq/IACaptives2008/ resources/2.htm
• Southern Hospitality: The South Carolina Captive Insurance Association promotes the regulatory and business advantages of the Palmetto State as a captive domicile. An interview with John Weitzel of the South Carolina Captive Insurance Association. http://publishing.yudu.com/Ajajq/IACaptives2008/ resources/12.htm

• The Aloha Spirit: The Hawaii Captive Insurance Council, comprised of Hawaii captive owners and service providers, works in concert with State of Hawaii captive regulatory authorities to develop a stable, top-quality business environment. An interview with George W. Sumner III, president and director of the Hawaii Captive Insurance Council. http://publishing.yudu.com/Ajajq/IACaptives2008/ resources/10.htm

The next edition of Issues & Answers: Insurance Technology will appear in the October 2008 edition of Best’s Review. Those interested in being included should contact Best’s Review’s advertising sales department at (908) 439-2200, ext. 5399. For a video explaining this section, visit http://publishing.yudu.com/Ab308/IA-Tech-Oct-2007/resources/30.htm.

Kentucky Ranks 9th in U.S. for Captive Insurers

Kentucky is among the top 10 states in the nation and the top 25 locations in the world for captive insurers, according to the March 2008 issue of Business Insurance. A captive is a specialized type of insurance company formed to insure the business risks of a corporate parent or a number of similar corporations (such as a trade association). Captive insurers are licensed and regulated by the Kentucky Office of Insurance. During the last three years, Kentucky has updated its captive law, passed a resolution supporting the industry, and hired a full-time coordinator to handle market development and to oversee the regulation and licensing of these entities. The number of licensed captives in the commonwealth grew from 10 to 31 during 2007. According to Business Insurance, this growth places Kentucky ninth in the United States behind Vermont, Hawaii, South Carolina, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, the District of Columbia and New York. Internationally, Kentucky is tied for 21st place. Bermuda leads the world with 958 captives. Vermont, the top U.S. captive state, is third in the world with 567.