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GCP #126: CICA’s Dan Towle, and 831(b) captive owner Drake Plastics

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Dan Towle, CICA
Dustin Carlson, SRA 831(b) Admin
Stephen Quance, Drake Plastics

In episode 126 of the Global Captive Podcast, supported by the ⁠EY Global Captive Network⁠, Richard is joined by ⁠CICA⁠ President Dan Towle, while Senior Reporter Luke hosts a discussion with 831(b) captive owner Drake Plastics Ltd and Dustin Carlson, President of SRA 831(b) Admin.

02:11 – 14:24: CICA President Dan Towle

Further reading from Captive Intelligence:

⁠UK has all the tools for captive success, but proportionality “key ingredient”⁠

⁠Captives Coming Home? … What DataHub tells us about UK-owned captives⁠

16:06 – 31:40: Luke interviews Dustin Carlson, President of SRA 831(b) Admin, and Steven Quance, President of Drake Plastics Ltd, to explain how micro-captives are valuable risk financing and management tools, and why they are pushing back through the courts against what they see as regulatory overreach by the Internal Revenue Service in the United States.

Further reading from Captive Intelligence:

⁠Drake Plastics files second lawsuit against IRS concerning 831(b) captives⁠

IRS finalises 831(b) regulations, concedes on loss ratio criticism

For the latest news, data-driven analysis and thought leadership on the global captive market, visit ⁠Captive Intelligence⁠ and sign up to our ⁠twice-weekly newsletter⁠.

COSCO Shipping captive had ratings affirmed

AM Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent and long-term issuer credit rating of ‘a’ (Excellent) of COSCO SHIPPING Captive Insurance Co., Ltd.

According to Ci DataHub, the captive was formed in China in 2017 and is owned by China COSCO SHIPPING Corporation Limited.

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Captive Intelligence provides high-value information, industry analysis, exclusive interviews and business intelligence tools to professionals in the captive insurance market.

SCOR appoints alternative solutions underwriter

Ignacio Calderón has joined SCOR as an alternative solutions underwriter, leaving Risk and Reinsurance Solutions (2RS) after five years with the Luxembourg captive manager.

SCOR Alternative Solutions division develops customised, non-traditional strategies for insurance and reinsurance clients, including captives.

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Captive Intelligence provides high-value information, industry analysis, exclusive interviews and business intelligence tools to professionals in the captive insurance market.

Goldman Sachs appointed by Shell captive for $40bn OCIO and Investment Advisory Pension Plan 

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Goldman Sachs Asset Management been appointed by Shell’s captive and various pension entities to manage a $40bn mandate for international pension plan assets in Europe and provide advisory services for pension plans in North America. 

Shell’s pension plan trustees will have access to the global investment capabilities of Goldman Sachs across public and private markets. 

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Captive Intelligence provides high-value information, industry analysis, exclusive interviews and business intelligence tools to professionals in the captive insurance market.

BP captive returns to premium growth, AM Best rating affirmed 

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AM Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (excellent) and long-term issuer credit rating of “a” (excellent) of Guernsey-domiciled Jupiter Insurance. The outlook for the ratings is stable. 

Jupiter is one of global energy company BP’s two captives, with risks consisting mainly of onshore and offshore property damage and business interruption covers. 

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Captive Intelligence provides high-value information, industry analysis, exclusive interviews and business intelligence tools to professionals in the captive insurance market.

Marco Capital acquires Benteler Re 

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Marco Capital Holdings Limited, a European property and casualty insurance run-off group, has acquired Benteler Reinsurance Company DAC, becoming the latest captive domiciled in Ireland to be placed into re-domiciled, sold or closed down. 

The transaction is subject to regulatory approval, and terms of the sale are not disclosed. 

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Captive Intelligence provides high-value information, industry analysis, exclusive interviews and business intelligence tools to professionals in the captive insurance market.

Global uncertainly puts supply chain, credit insurance in captive focus 


  • AI and data transforming supply chain transparency 
  • Work underway to create umbrella policy for supply chain risks  
  • Captives act mainly on a reinsurance basis for trade credit 

Geopolitical uncertainty, coupled with the threat or imposition of tariffs, is prompting firms to take a more cautious approach to their operations and risk management strategies. 

Trade tensions, shifting alliances, and regulatory changes in key markets are increasing supply chain vulnerabilities and adding cost pressures for many firms. 

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Captive Intelligence provides high-value information, industry analysis, exclusive interviews and business intelligence tools to professionals in the captive insurance market.

Assumption University joins edHEALTH programme 

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Massachusetts-based Assumption University has joined the edHEALTH medical stop loss programme. 

EdHEALTH is a group medical stop loss captive for higher education and secondary schools, which converted to a cell structure

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Captive Intelligence provides high-value information, industry analysis, exclusive interviews and business intelligence tools to professionals in the captive insurance market.

AXA XL launches web-based portal for global clients 

AXA XL has launched a web-based portal for its global clients, including captives, which provides a centralised platform allowing data insights across multinational solutions portfolios to be viewed and exported in real-time. 

The portal, which is available via AXA’s digital commercial platform, enables clients to analyse and extract data and documents across policy, premium via an interactive dashboard. 

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Captive Intelligence provides high-value information, industry analysis, exclusive interviews and business intelligence tools to professionals in the captive insurance market.

Japanese capacity strain expected to boost captive growth – HCIC 

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Hawaii is anticipating further growth in captives owned by large Japanese manufactures, according to Paul Shimomoto, chair of the Hawaii Captive Insurance Council (HCIC), and partner at Hawaii law firm Goodsill. 

Japanese companies, particularly those with a US business presence, have a strong affinity for Hawaii, viewing it as an attractive and reputable domicile for their captives. 

According to CI Datahub, 28% of Japanese captives worldwide are domiciled in Hawaii, followed by Labuan with 20%. 

Speaking on the latest episode of the Global Captive Podcast, Shimomoto said Hawaii is seeing continued interest from Japanese companies, particularly from the life sciences and health technology sectors.

Hawaii has long-positioned itself as the go-to captive domicile for Japanese corporates, including regular visits to Japan organised by HCIC, and Shimomoto is cautiously optimistic this could be another opportunity for the captive concept to gain greater traction. 

The last visit by HCIC was in April when it sent a small delegation ton meet with the four major fronting companies in Tokyo.

 ”What’s becoming very obvious is that there’s not enough capacity in the market for the Japanese commercial insurers and they are quickly realising that their customers need more coverage, they need more capacity,” Shimomoto said.

“They can’t get it through the commercial market, so the only place they can really turn is to themselves. So we’re cautiously optimistic that perhaps this is the ‘over the hump’ moment for us with Japanese companies.

“We’ve heard from the fronting companies that because of these capacity shortages that their phones are ringing off the hook with queries about captives.”

Also speaking on the GCP Short, Matt Takamine, captive practice leader at Brown & Brown, said that capacity is shrinking, and it is likely to worsen with consolidation in the Japanese insurance industry — by 2027, there is expected to be only three major carriers. 

“Hawaii is extremely well positioned, having had the HCIC active there for 20 years providing captive education and outreach,” he said. “Overall, I think we’re in good shape.” 

Takamine added that right now is the golden age of captives, “and you really see that in the globalisation of alternative risk which is amazing to be a part of”. 

“Hawaii needs to remain competitive, and Paul and I work closely with the State of Hawaii and the HCIC to ensure that our laws are as strong as possible for both current and prospective captive owners,” he said.

Listen to the full discussion on Hawaii’s captive market on the latest episode of the Global Captive Podcast here, or on any podcast platform. Just search for ‘Global Captive Podcast’.