USA Risk Videos
Upcoming Conference
SAVE THE DATE!
7th Annual Executive
Educational Conference
at the Ballantyne Hotel &
Lodge, Charlotte, NC
May 23-24, 2012
Truly Independent Captive Managers
USA Risk Group is truly independent - we are completely free from conflicts of interest, and therefore remain 100% focused on achieving the best possible results for our clients. We are the world's largest independent captive manager and have the flexibility to expertly place your captive.
Vermont
Bermuda
Barbados
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
South Carolina
Arizona
Washington DC
Hawaii
Delaware
Malta
Other Domiciles
Vermont
Vermont was the second state in the United States to enact captive legislation, but is by far the onshore captive leader. In 1981, USA Risk Group’s Chairman, H. Lincoln “Linc” Miller, Jr. was one of several visionaries who worked with Vermont policymakers to introduce and implement captive insurance legislation. This legislation has stood the test of time and has been emulated by virtually every other onshore domicile.
Bermuda
Bermuda was settled in 1609 and is the oldest self-governing colony in the British Commonwealth. The Island measures 23 square miles, is home to 65,000 residents and lies approximately 660 miles east of North Carolina. International Business and tourism are the main aspects of the Island’s economy with the insurance and reinsurance industry playing a dominant role.
Barbados
Barbados was colonized in 1627 by Englishmen who planted tobacco and cotton for export to England. Subsequently, after 1645, sugar became the main agricultural crop and continues to generate a large part of the foreign exchange earnings to the economy. In 1966, Barbados became an independent nation and joined the British Commonwealth. The International Financial Services Sector was developed around 1977 and now contributes significantly to the foreign exchange earnings, estimated at around US$250 million.With legislation enacted to enhance the attractiveness of Barbados as an international financial base for foreign owned companies, Barbados offers a premier captive domicile.
British Virgin Islands
The British Virgin Islands (BVI), after being settled by various Indian tribes, the Dutch and Spanish, was colonized by Britain in 1672, but ownership of the islands remained in dispute until finally being settled in 1698, when an order of the King in 1694 to prevent foreign settlement in the Virgin Islands was upheld.Sugar became the main agricultural crop but declined during an extended period of disputes and unrest, where piracy, smuggling and slavery were common. In 1950, BVI became a self-governing British Overseas Territory. The adoption of a new constitution in 1966 led to the development of a financial services sector and in 1984 the International Business Companies Act was passed.
Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands were first sighted by European explorers on the 10th of May, 1503, owing to a chance wind that blew Christopher Columbus' ship off course. On his fourth trip to the New World, Columbus was en route to the island of Hispaniola (now Haiti and the Dominican Republic) when his ship was thrust westward toward "two very small and low islands, full of tortoises (turtles), as was all the sea all about, insomuch that they looked like little rocks, for which reason these islands were called Las Tortugas."The two islands were Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. A 1523 map showing all three Islands gave them the name Lagartos, meaning alligators or large lizards, but by 1530 the name Caymanas was being used. It is derived from the Carib Indian word for the marine crocodile, which is now known to have lived in the Islands. This name, or a variant, has been retained ever since.
South Carolina
South Carolina was one of the thirteen original colonies of the United States, known for its Civil War history and being the first state to secede, its southern hospitality, its political independence and its palmettos. The proprietary colony of Carolina was first settled at Charles Town (modern day Charleston) in 1670. In modern times, South Carolina has become one of the pre-eminent captive insurance domiciles in the country. South Carolina’s captive insurance law was passed in 2000. Risk Retention Groups formed in the state are governed by the captive act.
Arizona
Arizona has been a leader in alternative risk since before captives were even part of the USA landscape. Since the early 1970's, Arizona has been a destination of choice for limited purpose reinsurance companies. These companies, known as " Life and Disability Reinsurers" (LDRs), have enjoyed many of the benefits realized by captive insurance companies. Arizona, with approximately 300 LDRs licensed, is already a leader in the captive/specialty reinsurer industry.
Washington DC
Known for its cherry blossoms in early Spring, Mount Vernon, the National Cathedral and so much American history, the District of Columbia has now become a home for captive insurance. The idea of planting cherry trees along the Potomac waterfront came from Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore after her first visit to Japan in 1885. But it took more than 25 years for her idea to take root. George Washington inherited Mount Vernon in 1761 and expanded the property from 2,000 to 8,000 acres with five working farms. When Pierre L’Enfant designed Washington, DC, his plans included the building of a national church. In 1907 the foundation stone – a stone from Bethlehem inserted into a larger piece of American Granite – was laid, with President Roosevelt and the Bishop of London on hand to address the crowd of 10,000. The District of Columbia’s captive insurance law was passed in 2004 as the Captive Insurance Company Act of 2004. It was amended in 2006 by the Captive Insurance Company Amendment Act of 2006. Risk Retention Groups formed in the district are governed by the captive act.
Hawaii
Hawaii was established as a captive domicile in 1987 and has become one of the leading domiciles in the Pacific Rim. Offering the amenities of any major US city, Honolulu has excellent conference facilities, communications, transportation and professional services. Hawaii offers a solid infrastructure with a large number of captives managed and a well educated work force. Overhead in this location is lower than offshore domiciles and premium taxes and fees are set to cover costs only.
Delaware
On July 12, 2005, Governor Ruth Ann Minner signed into law the Delaware Revised Captive Insurance Company Act, which substantially rewrote Delaware’s captive insurance company law. The main objective of the new statute is to enhance Delaware’s appeal as a domicile for captive insurance companies. This goal is to be achieved primarily by: (1) building on Delaware’s stellar reputation for responsiveness to business needs; (2) regulating captive insurance companies in a rigorous but sensible fashion, consistently with their nature and purpose; and (3) providing flexibility to captive insurance companies. The new law creates unique opportunities especially for captive insurance companies and those who can benefit from utilizing them. The Delaware Revised Captive Insurance Company Act also fosters economic development in Delaware, by cultivating the growth of the captive insurance industry in the State.
Malta
USA Risk Group (Malta) Limited was established in April 2010. As Malta is a member of the European Union, Maltese domiciled captives can write policies direct into the EU and European Economic Area. Additionally, Malta has a very advantageous tax structure to allow cost effective operations. We believe Malta is the European location that will see the most expansion in the next few years.
Other Domiciles
Emerging Domiciles
During the past 5 years, there have been a few other states that have emerged as captive domiciles. They have gotten their start like most other domiciles that have come into existence since the turn of the century by mimicking the Vermont law which is considered the gold standard in the industry and then putting that states own slight spin on some portion of the law. One of the keys to USA Risk Group’s success has been our ability to adapt to new environments as new environments have materialized and our clients have shown a desire in pursuing these alternative locales to do business. Montana, Nevada, Kentucky and Utah fall into the category of new domiciles that haven’t taken off as quickly as some of the other recent entrants into the industry but show a promising future in the captive world. USA Risk Group has had positive dealings with the regulators in these states and is ready to continue our move into these domiciles as clients materialize that desire to be located here.
During the past 5 years, there have been a few other states that have emerged as captive domiciles. They have gotten their start like most other domiciles that have come into existence since the turn of the century by mimicking the Vermont law which is considered the gold standard in the industry and then putting that states own slight spin on some portion of the law. One of the keys to USA Risk Group’s success has been our ability to adapt to new environments as new environments have materialized and our clients have shown a desire in pursuing these alternative locales to do business. Montana, Nevada, Kentucky and Utah fall into the category of new domiciles that haven’t taken off as quickly as some of the other recent entrants into the industry but show a promising future in the captive world. USA Risk Group has had positive dealings with the regulators in these states and is ready to continue our move into these domiciles as clients materialize that desire to be located here.
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