Dow Corning looks to expand benefit risks funded through captive

WASHINGTON—Dow Corning Corp. is asking the Labor Department for approval to expand employee benefit risks funded through its Washington-based captive insurer.

Midland, Mich.-based Dow Corning, a joint venture of Dow Chemical Corp. and Corning Inc., wants to use its captive, Devonshire Underwriters Ltd., to fund basic life insurance benefits. Minnesota Life Insurance Co. would reinsure the risk with Devonshire.

In 2009, the Labor Department approved an arrangement in which Devonshire reinsured certain other types of life insurance coverage written by Minnesota Life, as well as long-term disability coverage written by Aetna Life Insurance Co.

Dow Corning redomesticated Devonshire, which it also uses to fund various casualty risks, in June 2009 to Washington, D.C., from Bermuda.

Dow Corning's application was filed by Spring Consulting Group L.L.C. in Boston.