I–RE

Captive participation has become a strategic tool for companies seeking greater control of their insurance programs, improved price stability, and a share in underwriting performance. While the model has proven highly effective, most solutions on the market still require businesses to coordinate multiple service providers, manage structural complexity, and oversee ongoing administration, which can make adoption for mid-sized organizations cost-prohibitive.

I–RE provides an integrated path. As an insurance and reinsurance underwriter, the firm embeds captive participation directly into the insurance structure, removing the complexity and fragmentation that typically accompany captive formation and management. Through its turnkey product (RE–PAID), I–RE enables companies to participate in underwriting performance with continuity of coverage and a placement as easy as buying conventional commercial insurance, with the added advantage of financial participation.

"We built I–RE to give high-performing mid-market business owners access to the type of insurance structure that traditionally only large organizations could benefit from," says Andy Jeckells, co-founder. “Our mission is to unlock the full financial and strategic potential of captive re/insurance for those who are willing to take control of their risk–to give risk-takers the return they deserve.”

A Smarter Path to Captive Participation

I–RE provides an integrated structure that allows clients to form a captive connected to their insurance program without the extensive setup and ongoing operational burden often associated with traditional models. The firm underwrites A-rated property and casualty insurance in the United States through domestic insurer partners and provides reinsurance in Bermuda that it retrocedes to the client's captive.

Clients have the flexibility to choose how they structure their captive based on their goals and maturity. They often opt to use a Protected Cell Captive, which is faster and cheaper to establish and requires less capital and management involvement. Pure captives can be used from the outset, or as a progression over time as they build surplus and seek more independence and influence. Unlike group captive arrangements, clients retain full ownership of their insurance company and are not required to join shared boards or hold stock alongside unrelated entities.

The RE–PAID structure is designed for US mid-market privately owned organizations that demonstrate strong risk management and stable loss histories. Typical participants have commercial insurance premiums ranging from approximately 500,000 dollars to five million dollars, with an average of one million dollars. They maintain loss ratios below 40 percent, with an average near 20 percent at the point of entry. These organizations pay substantial premiums yet file relatively small claims, leading them to question the value they receive. I–RE's model offers a path for these businesses to gain financial benefit from the discipline they already practice.

Turning Premiums into Profits
Participation in the RE–PAID program involves using a captive to take a limited amount of risk, typically up to 500,000 dollars per claim and up to two million dollars in total. Exposure is time-bound, concluding five years after the underwriting year through a built-in novation agreement that provides clarity and certainty around risk duration, giving the client a clear route to exit should they wish.

To support the captive’s obligations, I–RE has developed a capital-efficient formula, which means the collateral clients must provide, in the form of cash or letter of credit, does not stack year-on-year.

To support stability and reduce volatility, I–RE operates a central fund that allows clients to participate in a portion of third-party risk across the portfolio. Returns are generated through underwriting performance and accumulate within the captive.

Captive reinsurance premiums are retained on a funds withheld basis with returns released at defined intervals, at 18 months, three years and five years following the end of the underwriting year, enabling organizations to build surplus over time through disciplined risk management and loss control.

Since launching the first all-inclusive property and casualty captive product for the mid-market in 2019, I–RE has earned consistent industry recognition, including selection as a finalist for sector awards for six consecutive years. The company continues to expand its capabilities, recently introducing a combined professional liability and general liability product for the healthcare sector, building additional infrastructure in Bermuda and extending its broker network across the United States.

By simplifying access to risk participation and providing an integrated structure, I–RE is reshaping how mid-sized organizations approach insurance. The model preserves the insurance protection businesses require while enabling them to build equity, influence claims handling and unlock financial value from their own underwriting performance. As mid-market companies seek greater financial control and resilience, I-RE offers a strategic pathway that aligns protection with long-term value creation.