Virginia Law

Article 6. Subsidiaries of Insurance Companies.

The terms defined in § 38.2-1322 shall have the same meaning in this article.

1977, c. 414, § 38.1-178.11; 1986, c. 562.

Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, a domestic insurer shall not organize, acquire, or obtain control of any subsidiary, either by itself or in cooperation with one or more persons, unless the subsidiary is engaged in the following kinds of business:

1. Transacting any kind of insurance business authorized by the jurisdiction in which the subsidiary is incorporated;

2. Acting as an insurance broker or as an insurance agent for its parent or for any of its parent's insurer subsidiaries;

3. Investing, reinvesting or trading in securities for its own account, that of its parent, any subsidiary of its parent, or any affiliate or subsidiary;

4. Managing any investment company subject to or registered pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, including related sales and services;

5. Acting as a broker-dealer subject to or registered pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;

6. Rendering investment advice to governments, governmental agencies, corporations or other organizations or groups;

7. Rendering other services related to the operations of an insurance business including, but not limited to, actuarial, loss prevention, safety engineering, data processing, accounting, claims, appraisal and collection services;

8. Owning and managing assets that the domestic insurer could itself own or manage;

9. Acting as administrative agent for a governmental instrumentality that is performing an insurance function;

10. Financing of insurance premiums or agents;

11. Engaging in any other business activity the Commission determines to be reasonably ancillary to an insurance business; or

12. Owning a corporation or corporations engaged or organized to engage exclusively in one or more of the businesses specified in this section.

1977, c. 414, § 38.1-178.12; 1986, c. 562.

1. A domestic insurer may acquire voting securities of any company in an amount sufficient to presume control without the company's being considered a subsidiary if the domestic insurer files a disclaimer of affiliation with the Commission. The disclaimer shall disclose fully (i) the nature and purpose of the investment, (ii) all material transactions and relationships between the domestic insurer and the company, and (iii) the basis for the disclaimer. The Commission may disallow the disclaimer only after giving the domestic insurer and the company notice and an opportunity to be heard. Any disallowance shall be supported by specific findings of fact.

2. If the Commission disallows the disclaimer, the domestic insurer shall immediately take action sufficient to satisfy the Commission that the domestic insurer does not control the company.

1977, c. 414, § 38.1-178.13; 1986, c. 562.

This article shall not apply to any investment or subsidiary relationship that was in effect prior to June 1, 1977, between a domestic insurer and another company. However, no domestic insurer may increase its investment or ownership of voting securities or otherwise materially increase its control over the affairs of the company without prior approval of the Commission.

1977, c. 414, § 38.1-178.14; 1986, c. 562.

Nothing in this article shall exempt any domestic insurer from the provisions of Article 5 (§ 38.2-1322 et seq.), Article 5.1 (§ 38.2-1334.3 et seq.), or Article 5.2 (§ 38.2-1334.11 et seq.).

1977, c. 414, § 38.1-178.15; 1986, c. 562; 2014, c. 248; 2017, c. 643.

Whenever it appears to the Commission that any person has committed a violation of this article that makes the continued operation of a domestic insurer contrary to the interests of policyholders or the public, the Commission may, after giving notice and an opportunity to be heard, suspend, revoke or refuse to renew the insurer's license to do business in this Commonwealth for whatever period it finds is required for the protection of policyholders or the public. Any such action shall be supported by specific findings of fact and conclusions of law.

1977, c. 414, § 38.1-178.19; 1986, c. 562.