G.S. ch. 58, art. 19

in effect

G.S. 58-19-1 Findings; purpose; legislative intent.

§ 58-19-1. Findings; purpose; legislative intent. (a) The General Assembly finds that the public interest and the interests of policyholders are or may be adversely affected when any of the following occur: (1) Control of an insurer is sought by persons who would utilize such control adversely to the interests of policyholders. (2) Acquisition of control of an insurer would substantially lessen competition or create a monopoly in the insurance business in this State. (3) An insurer that is part of an insurance holding company system is caused to enter into transactions or relationships with affiliated companies on terms that are not fair and reasonable. (4) An insurer pays dividends to shareholders that jeopardize the financial condition of such insurer. (b) The General Assembly declares that the policies and purposes of this Article are to promote the public interest by doing all of the following: (1) Requiring disclosure of pertinent information relating to changes in control of an insurer. (2) Requiring disclosure by an insurer of material transactions and relationships between the insurer and its affiliates, including certain dividends to shareholders paid by the insurer. (3) Providing standards governing material transactions between an insurer and its affiliates. (1989, c. 722, s. 1; 2015-146, s. 1.1; 2015-281, s. 13.)

G.S. 58-19-2 Compliance with federal law.

§ 58-19-2. Compliance with federal law. (a) As used in this section, "depository institution" has the same meaning as in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. § 1813, and includes any foreign bank that maintains a branch, an agency, or a commercial lending company in the United States. (b) With respect to affiliations between a depository institution or any affiliate of a depository institution and any insurer, the provisions of section 104(c) of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, P.L. 106-102, shall apply to this Article. (2001-215, s. 2.)

G.S. 58-19-5 Definitions.

§ 58-19-5. Definitions. As used in this Article, unless the context requires otherwise, the following terms have the following meanings: (1) An "affiliate" of or person "affiliated" with a specific person. - A person that indirectly through one or more intermediaries or directly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the person specified. (2) "Control", including the terms "controlling", "controlled by", and "under common control with." - The direct or indirect possession of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract other than a commercial contract for goods or nonmanagement services, or otherwise. Control is presumed to exist if any person directly or indirectly owns, controls, holds with the power to vote, or holds proxies representing, ten percent (10%) or more of the voting securities of any other person. This presumption may be rebutted by a showing made in the manner provided by G.S. 58-19-25(j) that control does not exist in fact. The Commissioner may determine, after furnishing all persons in interest notice and opportunity to be heard and making specific findings of fact to support such determination, that control exists in fact, notwithstanding the absence of a presumption to that effect. (3) Enterprise risk. - Any activity, circumstance, event, or series of events involving one or more affiliates of an insurer that, if not remedied promptly, is likely to have a material adverse effect upon the financial condition or liquidity of the insurer or its insurance holding company system as a whole, including, but not limited to, anything that would cause the insurer's risk-based capital to fall into company action level as set forth in Article 12 of this Chapter or would cause the insurer to be in a hazardous financial condition as set forth in G.S. 58-30-60. (4) Executive officer. - A chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief financial officer, treasurer, secretary, controller, and any other individual performing functions corresponding to those performed by the foregoing officers under whatever title. (5) Form A. - The statement regarding the acquisition of control of or merger with a domestic insurer that is required to be filed with the Commissioner pursuant to G.S. 58-19-15. (6) Form B. - The insurance holding company system annual registration statement that is required to be filed with the Commissioner pursuant to G.S. 58-19-25. (7) Form C. - The summary of changes to the insurance company system annual registration statement that is required to be filed with the Commissioner pursuant to G.S. 58-19-25. (8) Form D. - The prior notice of a transaction that is required to be filed with the Commissioner pursuant to G.S. 58-19-30(b). (9) Form E. - The pre-acquisition notification that is required to be filed with the Commissioner pursuant to G.S. 58-19-15(a5). (10) Form F. - The annual enterprise risk report required to be filed with the Commissioner pursuant to G.S. 58-19-25(l). (10a) Group capital calculation. - A report, completed in accordance with the group capital calculation instructions as adopted and amended by the NAIC, used to evaluate the capital adequacy of insurance holding company systems that includes information on the sources of capital within the system, where that capital is located, and sources of risk. (10b) Group-wide supervisor. - The regulatory official authorized to engage in conducting and coordinating group-wide supervision activities who is determined or acknowledged by the Commissioner under G.S. 58-19-38 to have sufficient significant contacts with the internationally active insurance group. (11) Insurance holding company system. - An entity comprising two or more affiliated persons, one or more of which is an insurer. (12) Insurer. - As defined in G.S. 58-1-5(3), and includes a person subject to Articles 65 and 66 or 67 of this Chapter. "Insurer" does not include (1) an agency, authority, or instrumentality of the United States; any of its possessions and territories; the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; the District of Columbia; nor a state or political subdivision of a state; nor (2) fraternal benefit societies or fraternal orders. (12a) Internationally active insurance group. - An insurance holding company system that includes an insurer registered under G.S. 58-19-25 and that meets all of the following criteria: a. The insurance holding company system writes premiums in at least three countries. b. The percentage of gross premiums of the insurance holding company system written outside the United States is at least ten percent (10%) of the insurance holding company system's total gross written premiums. c. Based on a three-year rolling average, the total assets of the insurance holding company system are at least fifty billion dollars ($50,000,000,000) or the total gross written premiums of the insurance holding company system are at least ten billion dollars ($10,000,000,000). (12b) Lead state commissioner. - The person responsible for regulating the insurance holding company system as determined by the Commissioner in accordance with the procedures within the Financial Analysis Handbook adopted by the NAIC. (12c) Limited group capital filing. - A simplified version of the group capital calculation, completed in accordance with procedures adopted by the NAIC, where an insurance holding company system only provides a limited amount of data, allowing them to avoid the filing of a full group capital calculation. (12d) Liquidity stress test. - A process simulating extreme market conditions to assess an entity's ability to maintain sufficient liquidity in response to adverse events. (12e) NAIC. - The National Association of Insurance Commissioners. (12f) NAIC liquidity stress test framework. - A publication, adopted and amended by the NAIC in accordance with procedures adopted by the NAIC, which includes a history of the NAIC's development of regulatory liquidity stress testing, the scope criteria applicable for a specific data year, and the liquidity stress test instructions and reporting templates for a specific data year. (13) Person. - An individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, or any similar entity or any combination of the foregoing acting in concert. (13a) Reciprocal jurisdiction. - As defined in G.S. 58-7-21(b)(4b). (13b) Scope criteria. - Designated exposure bases, detailed in the NAIC liquidity stress test framework along with minimum magnitudes thereof for the specified data year, used to establish a preliminary list of insurers included in the NAIC liquidity stress test framework for that data year. (14) A "security holder" of a specified person. - One who owns any security of such person, including common stock, preferred stock, debt obligations, or any other security convertible into or evidencing the right to acquire any of the foregoing. (15) A "subsidiary" of a specified person. - An affiliate controlled by such person indirectly through one or more intermediaries or directly. (16) Ultimate controlling person. - A person not controlled by any other person. (17) Voting security. - Includes any security convertible into or evidencing a right to acquire a voting security. (1989, c. 722, s. 1; 1995, c. 517, ss. 9, 10; 2001-223, s. 16.1; 2015-146, s. 1.2(a), (b); 2015-281, s. 13; 2019-57, s. 1(a), (b); 2025-45, s. 3(b).)

G.S. 58-19-10 Affiliates or subsidiaries of insurers.

§ 58-19-10. Affiliates or subsidiaries of insurers. (a) Any domestic insurer, either by itself or in cooperation with one or more persons, may organize or acquire one or more subsidiaries engaged in the following kinds of business: (1) Any kind of insurance business authorized by the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated. (2) Acting as an insurance producer 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) Management of any investment company subject to or registered pursuant to the federal 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 federal Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. (6) Rendering investment advice to governments, government agencies, corporations, or other organizations or groups. (7) Rendering other services related to the operations of an insurance business, including actuarial, loss prevention, safety engineering, data processing, accounting, claims, appraisal, and collection services. (8) Ownership and management of assets that the parent corporation could itself own or manage. (9) Acting as an administrative agent for a governmental instrumentality that is performing an insurance function. (10) Financing of insurance premiums, agents, and other forms of consumer financing. (11) Any other business activity that is reasonably ancillary to an insurance business. (12) Owning a corporation or corporations engaged or organized to engage exclusively in one or more of the businesses specified in this section. (b) In addition to investments in common stock, preferred stock, debt obligations, and other securities permitted under this Chapter, a domestic insurer may also: (1) Invest, in common stock, preferred stock, debt obligations, and other securities of one or more affiliates or subsidiaries, amounts that do not exceed the lesser of ten percent (10%) of the insurer's admitted assets or fifty percent (50%) of the insurer's policyholders' surplus, provided that after those investments, the insurer's policyholders' surplus will be reasonable in relation to the insurer's outstanding liabilities and adequate to its financial needs. In calculating the amount of the investments, investments in domestic or foreign insurance affiliates or subsidiaries and health maintenance organizations shall be excluded, and there shall be included: (i) total net monies or other consideration expended and obligations assumed in the acquisition or formation of an affiliate or subsidiary, including all organizational expenses and contributions to capital and surplus of the affiliate or subsidiary whether or not represented by the purchase of capital stock or issuance of other securities; and (ii) all amounts expended in acquiring additional common stock, preferred stock, debt obligations, and other securities, and all contributions to the capital or surplus, of an affiliate or subsidiary subsequent to its acquisition or formation; (2) Invest any amount in common stock, preferred stock, debt obligations and other securities of one or more subsidiaries engaged or organized to engage exclusively in the ownership and management of assets authorized as investments for the insurer; provided that such subsidiary agrees to limit its investments in any asset so that such investments will not cause the amount of the total investment of the insurer to exceed any of the investment limitations specified in subdivision (b)(1) of this section or in Article 7 of this Chapter applicable to the insurer. For the purposes of this section, "the total investment of the insurer" includes: (i) any direct investment by the insurer in an asset; and (ii) the insurer's proportionate share of any investment in an asset by any subsidiary of the insurer, which shall be calculated by multiplying the amount of the subsidiary's investment by the percentage of the ownership of such subsidiary. (3) With the approval of the Commissioner, invest any greater amount in common stock, preferred stock, debt obligations, or other securities of one or more affiliates or subsidiaries; provided that after such investment the insurer's policyholders' surplus will be reasonable in relation to the insurer's outstanding liabilities and adequate to its financial needs. (c) Investments in common stock, preferred stock, debt obligations, or other securities of subsidiaries made pursuant to subsection (b) of this section are not subject to any of the otherwise applicable restrictions or prohibitions contained in this Chapter applicable to such investments of insurers except the medium to lower quality obligation limitations under G.S. 58-7-170(d). (d) Whether any investment pursuant to subsection (b) of this section meets the applicable requirements of that subsection is to be determined, before such investment is made, by calculating the applicable investment limitations as though the investment had already been made, taking into account the then outstanding principal balance on all previous investments in debt obligations, and the value of all previous investments in equity securities as of the day they were made, net of any return of capital invested, not including dividends. (e) If an insurer ceases to control a subsidiary, it shall dispose of any investment therein made pursuant to this section within three years from the time of the cessation of control or within such further time as the Commissioner may prescribe, (i) unless after cessation of control such investment meets the requirements for investment under any other provision of Articles 1 through 64 of this Chapter, or (ii) unless the Commissioner authorizes the insurer to continue the investment. (1989, c. 722, s. 1; 1993, c. 504, s. 11; 2001-223, ss. 16.2, 16.3, 16.4; 2019-179, s. 1; 2022-46, ss. 2(b), 14(u).)

G.S. 58-19-15 Acquisition of control of or merger with domestic insurer.

§ 58-19-15. Acquisition of control of or merger with domestic insurer. (a) No person other than the issuer shall make a tender offer for or a request or invitation for tenders of, or enter into any agreement to exchange securities, or seek to acquire, or acquire, in the open market or otherwise, any voting security of a domestic insurer, if, after the consummation thereof, the person would, directly or indirectly (or by conversion or by exercise of any right to acquire), be in control of the insurer, and no person shall enter into an agreement to merge with or otherwise to acquire control of a domestic insurer or any person controlling a domestic insurer unless the offer, request, invitation, agreement entered into, or acquisition is conditioned upon the approval of the Commissioner, and furnished on a Form A as prescribed by the Commissioner under this section. No such merger or other acquisition of control is effective until a statement containing the information required by this section has been filed with the Commissioner and all other provisions of this section have been complied with and the merger or acquisition of control has been approved by the Commissioner under this section. The statement containing the information required by this section shall also be filed with the domestic insurer when it is filed with the Commissioner. (a1) For the purposes of this section a "domestic insurer" includes any person controlling a domestic insurer, unless the person, as determined by the Commissioner, is either directly or through its affiliates primarily engaged in business other than insurance. Further, for the purposes of this section, "person" does not include any securities broker holding, in the usual and customary broker's function, less than twenty percent (20%) of the voting securities of an insurance company or of any person that controls an insurance company. (a2) Any acquisition of control of a domestic insurer must be completed not later than 90 days after the date of the Commissioner's order approving the acquisition under this section, unless the Commissioner grants an extension in writing on a showing of good cause for the delay. Any increase in a company's capital and surplus required under this Article as a result of the change of control of a domestic insurer must be completed not later than 90 days after the date of the Commissioner's order approving the change of control and before the company writes any new insurance business. (a3) If the deadlines for completion in subsection (a2) of this section are not met, the person seeking to acquire control of the domestic insurer must resubmit the statement required by subsection (b) of this section, and the Commissioner may reconsider approval of acquisition of control under this section. (a4) For purposes of this section, any controlling person of the domestic insurer seeking to divest its controlling interest in the domestic insurer, in any manner, shall file with the Commissioner, with a copy to the insurer, confidential notice of its proposed divesture at least 30 days prior to the cessation of control. The Commissioner shall determine those instances in which the party or parties seeking to divest or to acquire a controlling interest in an insurer, will be required to file for and obtain approval of the transaction. The information shall remain confidential until the conclusion of the transaction unless the Commissioner, in his discretion determines that confidential treatment will interfere with enforcement of this section. If the statement referred to in subsection (a) of this section is otherwise filed, this subsection shall not apply. (a5) With respect to a transaction subject to this section, the acquiring person must also file a pre-acquisition notification with the Commissioner on a Form E as prescribed by the Commissioner. In addition to the information required by the Form E, the Commissioner may require an expert opinion as to the competitive impact of the proposed acquisition at the acquiring person's expense. A failure to file the pre-acquisition notification may subject the insurer or other person who fails to make the filing and who also fails to demonstrate a good-faith effort to comply with this requirement to a fine of not more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000). (b) The statement to be filed with the Commissioner under subsection (a) of this section shall be furnished on a Form A as prescribed by the Commissioner, made under oath or affirmation, and shall contain the following information: (1) The name and address of each person by whom or on whose behalf the merger or other acquisition of control referred to in subsection (a) of this section is to be effected (hereinafter called "acquiring party"), and: (i) if such person is an individual, his principal occupation and all offices and positions held during the past five years, and any conviction of crimes other than minor traffic violations during the past 10 years; (ii) if such person is not an individual, a report of the nature of its business operations during the past five years or for such lesser period as such person and any predecessors thereof shall have been in existence; an informative description of the business intended to be done by such person and such person's subsidiaries; and a list of all individuals who are or who have been selected to become directors or executive officers of such person, or who perform or will perform functions appropriate to such positions. Such list shall include for each such individual the information required by sub-subdivision (1)(i) of this subsection. (2) The source, nature, and amount of the consideration used or to be used in effecting the merger or other acquisition of control; a description of any transaction wherein funds were or are to be obtained for any such purpose, including any pledge of the insurer's stock, or the stock of any of its subsidiaries or controlling affiliates; and the identity of persons furnishing such consideration; provided, however, that where a source of such consideration is a loan made in the lender's ordinary course of business, the identity of the lender shall remain confidential, if the person filing such statement so requests. (3) Fully audited financial information as to the earnings and financial condition of each acquiring party for the preceding five fiscal years of each such acquiring party, or for such lesser period as such acquiring party and any predecessors thereof have been in existence; and similar unaudited information as of a date not earlier than 90 days prior to the filing of the statement. (4) Any plans or proposals that each acquiring party may have to liquidate such insurer, to sell its assets or merge or consolidate it with any person, or to make any other material change in its business or corporate structure or management. (5) The number of shares of any security referred to in subsection (a) of this section that each acquiring party proposes to acquire; the terms of the offer, request, invitation, agreement, or acquisition referred to in subsection (a) of this section; and a statement as to the method by which the fairness of the proposal was arrived at. (6) The amount of each class of any security referred to in subsection (a) of this section that is beneficially owned or concerning which there is a right to acquire beneficial ownership by each acquiring party. (7) A full description of any contracts, arrangements, or understandings with respect to any security referred to in subsection (a) of this section in which any acquiring party is involved, including transfer of any of the securities, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guarantees of loans, guarantees against loss or guarantees of profits, division of losses or profits, or the giving or withholding of proxies. Such description shall identify the persons with whom such contracts, arrangements, or understandings have been entered into. (8) A description of the purchase of any security referred to in subsection (a) of this section during the 12 calendar months preceding the filing of the statement, by any acquiring party, including the dates of purchase, names of the purchasers, and consideration paid or agreed to be paid therefor. (9) A description of any recommendations to purchase any security referred to in subsection (a) of this section made during the 12 calendar months preceding the filing of the statement, by any acquiring party, or by anyone based upon interviews or at the suggestion of such acquiring party. (10) Copies of all tender offers for, requests, or invitations for tenders of, exchange offers for, and agreements to acquire or exchange any securities referred to in subsection (a) of this section, and any related additional soliciting material that has been distributed. (11) The term of any agreement, contract, or understanding made with or proposed to be made with any third party in connection with any acquisition of control of or merger with a domestic insurer, and the amount of any fees, commissions, or other compensation to be paid to the third party with regard thereto. (11a) An agreement by the person required to file the statement referred to in subsection (a) of this section that it will provide the annual report, as specified in G.S. 58-19-25(l), for so long as control exists. (11b) An acknowledgement by the person required to file the statement referred to in subsection (a) of this section that the person and all subsidiaries within its control in the insurance holding company system will provide information to the Commissioner upon request as necessary to evaluate enterprise risk to the insurer. (12) Such additional information as the Commissioner may by rule prescribe as necessary or appropriate for the protection of policyholders of the insurer or in the public interest. If the person required to file the statement referred to in subsection (a) of this section is a partnership, limited partnership, syndicate, or other group, the Commissioner shall require that the information called for by subdivisions (1) through (12) of this subsection be given with respect to each partner of such partnership or limited partnership, each member of such syndicate or group, and each person who controls such partner or member. If any such partner, member, or person is a corporation or the person required to file the statement referred to in subsection (a) of this section is a corporation, the Commissioner shall require that the information called for by subdivisions (1) through (12) of this subsection be given with respect to such corporation, each officer and director of such corporation, and each person who is, directly or indirectly, the beneficial owner of more than ten percent (10%) of the outstanding voting securities of such corporation. If any material change occurs in the facts set forth in the statement filed with the Commissioner and sent to such insurer pursuant to this section, an amendment setting forth such change, together with copies of all documents and other material relevant to such change, shall be filed with the Commissioner and sent to such insurer by the filer within two business days after the person learns of such change. (c) If any offer, request, invitation, agreement, or acquisition referred to in subsection (a) of this section is proposed to be made by means of a registration statement under the Federal Securities Act of 1933, in circumstances requiring the disclosure of similar information under the Federal Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or under any State law requiring similar registration or disclosure, the person required to file the statement referred to in subsection (a) may utilize such documents in furnishing the information called for by that statement. (d) The Commissioner shall approve any merger or other acquisition of control referred to in subsection (a) of this section unless, after a public hearing thereon, he finds any of the following: (1) After the change of control, the domestic insurer referred to in subsection (a) of this section would not be able to satisfy the requirements for the issuance of a license to write the kind or kinds of insurance for which it is presently licensed. (2) The effect of the merger or other acquisition of control would be substantially to lessen competition in insurance or tend to create a monopoly in this State. (3) The financial condition of any acquiring party might jeopardize the financial stability of the insurer or prejudice the interest of its policyholders. (4) Any plans or proposals that the acquiring party has to liquidate the insurer, sell its assets or consolidate or merge it with any person, or to make any other material change in its business or corporate structure or management, are unfair and unreasonable to policyholders of the insurer and not in the public interest. (5) The competence, experience, and integrity of those persons who would control the operation of the insurer are such that it would not be in the interests of policyholders of the insurer and of the public to permit the merger or other acquisition of control. (6) The acquisition is likely to be hazardous or prejudicial to the insurance-buying public. (e) The public hearing referred to in subsection (d) of this section shall be held within 120 days after the statement required by subsection (a) of this section is filed, and the Commissioner shall give at least 30 days notice of the hearing to the person filing the statement, to the insurer, and to such other persons as may be designated by the Commissioner. The Commissioner shall make a determination as expeditiously as is reasonably practicable after the conclusion of the hearing. At the hearing, the person filing the statement, the insurer, any person to whom notice of hearing was sent, and any other person whose interest may be affected by the hearing shall have the right to present evidence, examine and cross-examine witnesses, and offer oral or written arguments; and in connection therewith shall be entitled to conduct discovery proceedings at any time after the statement is filed with the Commissioner under this section and in the same manner as is presently allowed in the superior courts of this State. In connection with discovery proceedings authorized by this section, the Commissioner may issue such protective orders and other orders governing the timing and scheduling of discovery proceedings as might otherwise have been issued by a superior court of this State in connection with a civil proceeding. If any party fails to make reasonable and adequate response to discovery on a timely basis or fails to comply with any order of the Commissioner with respect to discovery, the Commissioner on the Commissioner's own motion or on motion of any other party or person may order that the hearing be postponed, recessed, convened, or reconvened, as the case may be, following proper completion of discovery and reasonable notice to the person filing the statement, to the insurer, and to such other persons as may be designated by the Commissioner. If the proposed acquisition of control will require the approval of the insurance commissioners of more than one state, the public hearing referred to in this subsection may be held on a consolidated basis upon request of the person filing the statement referred to in subsection (a) of this section. Such person shall file the statement referred to in subsection (a) of this section with the NAIC within five days of making the request for a public hearing. A commissioner may opt out of a consolidated hearing and shall provide notice to the applicant of the opt out within 10 days of the receipt of the statement referred to in subsection (a) of this section. A hearing conducted on a consolidated basis shall be public and shall be held within the United States before the commissioners of the states in which the insurers are domiciled. Such commissioners shall hear and receive evidence. A commissioner may attend such hearing, in person or by telecommunication. (f) The Commissioner may retain, at the acquiring person's expense, any attorneys, actuaries, economists, accountants, or other experts not otherwise a part of the Commissioner's staff as may be reasonably necessary to assist the Commissioner in reviewing the proposed acquisition of control. (g) The expenses of mailing any notices and other materials required by this section shall be borne by the person making the filing. As security for the payment of such expenses, such person shall file with the Commissioner an acceptable bond or other deposit in an amount to be determined by the Commissioner. (h) The provisions of this section do not apply to any offer, request, invitation, agreement, or acquisition that the Commissioner by order exempts therefrom as (i) not having been made or entered into for the purpose and not having the effect of changing or influencing the control of a domestic insurer, or (ii) as otherwise not comprehended within the purposes of this section. Any acquisition of stock of a former domestic mutual insurer by a parent company that occurs in connection with the conversion of a mutual insurer to a stock insurer under G.S. 58-10-10 is not subject to this section, provided that no person acquires control of the parent company. (i) Each of the following are violations of this section: (1) The failure to file any statement, amendment, or other material required to be filed pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this section. (2) The effectuation or any attempt to effectuate an acquisition of control of, divestiture of, or merger with a domestic insurer, unless the Commissioner has given his approval of the acquisition, divestiture, or merger. (j) The courts of this State are vested with jurisdiction over every person not resident, domiciled, or authorized to do business in this State who files a statement with the Commissioner under this section; and the overall actions involving such person arising out of violations of this section and each such person is deemed to have performed acts equivalent to and constituting an appointment by such person of the Commissioner to be his true and lawful attorney upon whom may be served all legal process in any action, suit, or proceeding arising out of violations of this section. Copies of all such process shall be handled in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 58-16-30, 58-16-35, and 58-16-45. (1989, c. 722, s. 1; 1991, c. 681, ss. 31, 32; c. 720, s. 17; 1993, c. 452, ss. 26-29; c. 504, s. 12; c. 553, s. 16; 1995, c. 517, ss. 11, 12; 2001-223, s. 16.5; 2015-146, s. 1.3(a), (b); 2015-281, s. 13; 2025-45, s. 3(c).)

G.S. 58-19-17 Foreign or alien insurer's report of change of control.

§ 58-19-17. Foreign or alien insurer's report of change of control. (a) As used in this section, "controlling capital stock" means enough of an insurer's shares of the issued and outstanding stock, as defined in G.S. 58-19-5(2), to give its owner the power to exercise a controlling influence over the management or policies of the insurer. (b) If there is a change in the controlling capital stock or a change of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the assets of a foreign or alien insurer, the insurer shall report the change in writing to the Commissioner within 30 days after the effective date of the change. The report shall be in a form prescribed by the Commissioner and shall contain the name and address of the new owners of the controlling stock or assets, the nature and value of the new assets, and other relevant information that the Commissioner requires. (1991, c. 681, s. 38.)

G.S. 58-19-20 Repealed by Session Laws 1993, c. 452, s. 65.

G.S. 58-19-25 Registration of insurers; disclaimer of affiliation; enterprise risk filings.

§ 58-19-25. Registration of insurers; disclaimer of affiliation; enterprise risk filings. (a) Every insurer that is authorized to do business in this State and that is a member of an insurance holding company system shall register with the Commissioner pursuant to G.S. 58-19-25(b), except a foreign insurer subject to the registration requirements and standards adopted by statute or regulation in the jurisdiction of its domicile that are substantially similar to those contained in: (1) This section. (2) G.S. 58-19-30(a), G.S. 58-19-30(c), and G.S. 58-19-30(d). (3) G.S. 58-19-30(b) or a statutory or regulatory provision such as the following: Each registered insurer shall keep current the information required to be disclosed in its registration statement by reporting all material changes or additions within 15 days after the end of the month in which it learns of each change or addition. The insurer shall also file a copy of its registration statement and any amendments to the statement in each state in which that insurer is authorized to do business, if requested by the insurance regulator of that state. Any insurer that is subject to registration under this section shall register within 30 days after it becomes subject to registration, and an amendment to the registration statement shall be filed by April 1 of each year for the previous calendar year; unless the Commissioner for good cause shown extends the time for registration or filing, and then within the extended time. All registration statements shall contain a summary, on a Form C as prescribed by the Commissioner, outlining all items in the current registration statement representing changes from the prior registration statement. The Commissioner may require any insurer that is an insurance member of a holding company system that is not subject to registration under this section to furnish a copy of the registration statement or other information filed by the insurance company with the insurance regulator of its domiciliary jurisdiction. (b) Every insurer subject to registration shall file the registration statement on a Form B prescribed by the Commissioner, which shall contain the following current information: (1) The bylaws, capital structure, general financial condition, ownership, and management of the insurer and any person controlling the insurer. (2) The identity and relationship of every member of the insurance holding company system. (3) The following agreements in force, and transactions currently outstanding or that have occurred during the last calendar year between such insurer and its affiliates: a. Loans, other investments, or purchases, sales or exchanges of securities of the affiliates by the insurer or of the insurer by its affiliates. b. Purchases, sales, or exchange of assets. c. Transactions not in the ordinary course of business. d. Guarantees or undertakings for the benefit of an affiliate that result in an actual contingent exposure of the insurer's assets to liability, other than insurance contracts entered into in the ordinary course of the insurer's business. e. All management agreements, service contracts, and cost-sharing arrangements. f. Reinsurance agreements. g. Dividends and other distributions to shareholders. h. Consolidated tax allocation agreements. (4) Any pledge of the insurer's stock, including stock of any subsidiary or controlling affiliate, for a loan made to any member of the insurance holding company system. (5) Other matters concerning transactions between registered insurers and any affiliates as may be included from time to time in any registration forms adopted or approved by the Commissioner. (6) If requested by the Commissioner, the insurer shall include financial statements of or within an insurance holding company system, including all affiliates. Financial statements may include, but are not limited to, annual audited financial statements filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. An insurer required to file financial statements pursuant to this subdivision may satisfy the request by providing the Commissioner with the most recently filed parent corporation financial statements that have been filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. (7) Statements that the insurer's board of directors oversees corporate governance and internal controls and that the insurer's officers or senior management have approved, implemented, and continue to maintain and monitor corporate governance and internal control procedures. (8) Any other information required by the Commissioner by rule or regulation. (c) No information need be disclosed on the registration statement filed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section if such information is not material. For purposes of this section, all sales, purchases, exchanges, loans or extensions of credit, investments, or guarantees involving one-half of one percent (0.5%) or less of an insurer's admitted assets as of the preceding December 31 are not material, unless the Commissioner by rule or order provides otherwise. This subsection does not apply to the reporting requirements of G.S. 58-19-26 and G.S. 58-19-27. (d) Subject to G.S. 58-7-130(b) and G.S. 58-19-30(c), each domestic insurer shall report to the Commissioner all dividends and other distributions to shareholders within five business days following the declaration thereof and at least 30 days before the payment of the dividend or distribution by providing the information set forth in G.S. 58-19-30(e). A prior notification of an ordinary dividend or any other ordinary distribution required under this subsection shall be deemed to be incomplete unless all of the information required by G.S. 58-19-30(e) has been included. The Commissioner shall consider the factors set forth in G.S. 58-19-30(d) in his review of dividends or other distributions to shareholders pursuant to this subsection. The Commissioner may adopt rules to further the requirements of this section. (e) Any person within an insurance holding company system subject to registration shall provide complete and accurate information to an insurer, where such information is reasonably necessary to enable the insurer to comply with the provisions of this Article. (f) The Commissioner shall terminate the registration of any insurer that demonstrates that it no longer is a member of an insurance holding company system. A termination of registration shall include the information set forth in subdivision (j)(1) of this section and shall be deemed to have been granted unless the Commissioner, within 30 days after receipt of the request, notifies the registrant otherwise. (g) The Commissioner may require or allow two or more affiliated insurers subject to registration under this section to file a consolidated or alternative registration statement as provided in subsection (h) of this section. The Commissioner, however, reserves the right to require individual filings if he deems such filings necessary in the interest of clarity, ease of administration, or the public good. (h) Any authorized insurer may file a registration statement on behalf of any affiliated insurer or insurers that are required to register under subsection (a) of this section. A registration statement may include information not required by Article 19 of this Chapter regarding any insurer in the insurance holding company system even if the insurer is not authorized to do business in this State. In lieu of filing a registration statement on a Form B, the authorized insurer may file a copy of the registration statement or similar report that it is required to file in its state of domicile, provided all of the following apply: (1) The statement or report contains substantially similar information required to be furnished on Form B. (2) The filing insurer is the principal insurance company in the insurance holding company system. The question of whether the filing insurer is the principal insurance company in the insurance holding company system is a question of fact, and an insurer filing a registration statement or report in lieu of Form B on behalf of an affiliated insurer shall set forth a brief statement of facts which will substantiate the filing insurer's claim that it, in fact, is the principal insurer in the insurance holding company system. (i) The provisions of this section do not apply to any insurer, information, or transaction if and to the extent that the Commissioner by rule or order exempts the same from the provisions of this section. (j) Any person may file with the Commissioner a disclaimer of affiliation, which includes the information outlined in G.S. 58-19-25(j)(2), with any authorized insurer, or such a disclaimer of affiliation may be filed by such insurer or any member of an insurance holding company system as set forth in this subsection: (1) A disclaimer of affiliation shall be deemed to have been granted unless the Commissioner, within 30 days following the receipt of a complete disclaimer of affiliation, notifies the filing party that the disclaimer of affiliation is disallowed. In the event of disallowance, the disclaiming party may request an administrative hearing, which shall be granted. The disclaiming party shall be relieved of its duty to register under this section if approval of the disclaimer of affiliation has been granted by the Commissioner, or if the disclaimer of affiliation is deemed to have been approved. (2) A disclaimer of affiliation pursuant to this subsection or a request for termination of registration pursuant to G.S. 58-19-25(f) claiming that a person does not, or will not upon the taking of some proposed action, control another person (hereinafter "subject") shall contain the following information: a. The number of authorized, issued, and outstanding voting securities of the subject. b. With respect to the person whose control is denied and all affiliates of such person, the number and percentage of shares of the subject's voting securities, which are held of record or known to be beneficially owned, and the number of shares concerning which there is a right to acquire, directly or indirectly. c. All material relationships and bases for affiliation between the subject and the person whose control is denied and all affiliates of such person. d. A statement explaining why the person should not be considered to control the subject. (k) The failure to file a registration statement or any summary of the registration statement or enterprise risk filing thereto required by this section within the time specified for such filing is a violation of this section. (l) Effective January 1, 2016, the ultimate controlling person of every insurer subject to registration shall also file an annual enterprise risk report on Form F as prescribed by the Commissioner. The report shall, to the best of the ultimate controlling person's knowledge and belief, identify the material risks within the insurance holding company system that could pose enterprise risk to the insurer. The report shall be filed with the lead state commissioner. (1989, c. 722, s. 1; 1991, c. 681, ss. 33, 34; 1993, c. 452, ss. 30-32; c. 504, s. 13; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 678, s. 14; 1995, c. 193, s. 26; 2001-223, s. 16.6; 2006-105, s. 3.2; 2015-146, s. 1.4; 2015-281, s. 13; 2025-45, s. 3(d).)

G.S. 58-19-26 Group capital calculation.

§ 58-19-26. Group capital calculation. (a) Reporting Requirement. - The ultimate controlling person of every insurer subject to registration pursuant to G.S. 58-19-25 shall concurrently file with the registration an annual group capital calculation report. The report shall be filed with the lead state commissioner. (b) Exemptions. - The ultimate controlling person of any of the following is exempt from the filing requirement of subsection (a) of this section: (1) An insurance holding company system that (i) has only one insurer within its holding company structure, (ii) only writes insurance business, (iii) is only licensed in its state of domicile, and (iv) assumes no business from any other insurer. (2) An insurance holding company system that is required to perform a group capital calculation specified by the United States Federal Reserve Board. When this exemption applies, the lead state commissioner shall request the calculation from the United States Federal Reserve Board. If the United States Federal Reserve Board cannot share the calculation with the lead state commissioner under the terms of any information sharing agreements in effect, then the insurance holding company system is not exempt from the group capital calculation filing. (3) An insurance holding company system whose non-United States group-wide supervisor is located within a reciprocal jurisdiction that recognizes the United States state regulatory approach to group supervision and group capital. (4) An insurance holding company system that meets both of the following requirements: a. The insurance holding company system provides information to the lead state commissioner that meets the requirements for accreditation under the NAIC financial standards and accreditation program. The insurance holding company may provide this information either directly or indirectly through its group-wide supervisor. If provided indirectly through a group-wide supervisor, the supervisor is responsible for determining whether the information provided is sufficient to permit the lead state commissioner to comply with the NAIC group supervision approach, as detailed in the NAIC Financial Analysis Handbook. b. The insurance holding company system's non-United States group-wide supervisor is not in a reciprocal jurisdiction but nonetheless recognizes the group capital calculation as the worldwide group capital assessment for United States insurance groups who operate in that jurisdiction. (c) Recognition of Group Capital Calculation. - For purposes of subdivision (b)(4) of this section, a non-United States jurisdiction recognizes the group capital calculation if it satisfies any of the following criteria: (1) A competent regulatory authority in the jurisdiction affirms that insurers and insurance groups whose lead state is accredited by the NAIC under the NAIC accreditation program shall be subject only to worldwide prudential insurance group supervision, including worldwide group governance, solvency and capital, and reporting, as applicable, by that jurisdiction's lead state commissioner and will not be subject to group supervision, including worldwide group governance, solvency and capital, and reporting, at the level of the worldwide parent undertaking of the insurance or reinsurance group by the non-United States jurisdiction. (2) A competent regulatory authority in the jurisdiction affirms that information regarding insurers and their parent, subsidiary, or affiliated entities, if applicable, shall be provided to the lead state commissioner in accordance with an information sharing agreement in the form of a memorandum of understanding or similar document. Acceptable information sharing agreements include the International Association of Insurance Supervisors Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding or other multilateral memoranda of understanding coordinated by the NAIC. The jurisdiction does not satisfy this criteria if the lead state commissioner determines, in consultation with the NAIC, that the requirements of the information sharing agreements are no longer in force. (3) If no United States insurance groups operate in the non-United States jurisdiction, that non-United States jurisdiction notifies the lead state commissioner and the International Association of Insurance Supervisors in writing that the jurisdiction considers the group capital calculation an acceptable international capital standard. (d) Limitation of Exemptions. - Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this section, the lead state commissioner shall require filing of the group capital calculation for United States operations of any non-United States based insurance holding company system if the lead state commissioner determines that the filing is required for (i) prudential oversight and solvency monitoring purposes or (ii) ensuring the competitiveness of the insurance marketplace. (e) Consideration and Correction of NAIC Materials. - The lead state commissioner shall consider any relevant lists, reports, and recommendations published by the NAIC in determining whether the exceptions of subdivision (b)(4) of this section apply to an insurer. If the lead state commissioner's determination differs from relevant materials published by the NAIC, the lead state commissioner shall provide the NAIC with written justification for the difference supported by documentation. If published NAIC materials indicate that a non-United States jurisdiction recognizes the group capital calculation and the lead state commissioner determines that the jurisdiction no longer meets the requirements of subsection (c) of this section, the lead state commissioner may recommend a correction of the materials to the NAIC. (f) Discretionary Exemptions. - The lead state commissioner may either (i) exempt the ultimate controlling person of an insurance holding company system from the filing requirement of subsection (a) of this section or (ii) authorize the ultimate controlling person of an insurance holding company to file a limited group capital filing in lieu of the filing requirement of subsection (a) of this section if all of the following apply: (1) The insurance holding company system has annual direct written and unaffiliated assumed premium, including international direct and assumed premium, but excluding premiums reinsured with the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation and Federal Flood Program, of less than one billion dollars ($1,000,000,000). (2) The insurance holding company system does not include insurers within its holding company structure that are domiciled outside of the United States or one of its territories. (3) The insurance holding company system does not include a banking, depository, or other financial entity that is subject to an identified regulatory capital framework within its holding company structure. (4) The insurance holding company system attests that there are no material changes in transactions between insurers and non-insurers in the group that have occurred since the last filing of an annual group calculation report, if any. (5) The non-insurers within the insurance holding company system do not pose a material financial risk to the insurer's ability to honor policyholder obligations. (g) Resumption of Filings. - If the lead state commissioner determines that an insurance holding company system exempted from the filing requirements of subsection (a) of this section no longer meets the requirements for an exemption, the insurance holding company system shall file the group capital calculation at the next annual filing date unless given an extension by the lead state commissioner based on reasonable grounds shown. If the lead state commissioner, pursuant to subsection (f) of this section, either grants a discretionary exemption or authorizes a limited group capital filing, the lead state commissioner may require the ultimate controlling person of that insurance holding company system to file an annual group calculation at any time if any of the following apply: (1) Any insurer within the insurance holding company system is in a risk-based capital action level event as set forth in Article 12 of this Chapter or a similar standard for a non-United States insurer. (2) Any insurer within the insurance holding company system meets one or more of the standards of an insurer deemed to be in hazardous financial condition pursuant to the criteria provided in G.S. 58-30-60. (3) Any insurer within the insurance holding company system otherwise exhibits qualities of a troubled insurer as determined by the lead state commissioner based on unique circumstances, including the type and volume of business written, ownership and organizational structure, federal agency requests, and international supervisor requests. (2025-45, s. 3(a).)

G.S. 58-19-27 Liquidity stress test.

§ 58-19-27. Liquidity stress test. (a) Participation and Reporting Requirement. - The ultimate controlling person of every insurer subject to registration pursuant to G.S. 58-19-25 shall be included in the NAIC liquidity stress test framework and file a report with the lead state commissioner detailing the results of a specific year's liquidity stress test if either of the following applies: (1) The insurer meets the scope criteria of that data year's NAIC liquidity stress test framework. (2) The insurer did not meet the scope criteria of that data year's liquidity stress test framework, but the lead state commissioner, in consultation with the NAIC Financial Stability Task Force or its successor, nonetheless determines the insurer should be included in the NAIC liquidity stress test framework for that data year. In making this determination, the lead state commissioner shall attempt to avoid the frequent inclusion or exclusion of insurers. (b) [Form of Report. -] The performance of, and filing of the results from, a specific year's liquidity stress test shall comply with (i) the NAIC liquidity stress test framework's instructions and reporting templates for that year and (ii) all lead state commissioners' directives issued in consultation with the NAIC Financial Stability Task Force or its successor. (c) Exemptions. - The lead state commissioner may, in consultation with the NAIC Financial Stability Task Force or its successor, exempt an ultimate controlling person from the reporting requirements of subsection (a) of this section. The lead state commissioner shall consider the intent of regulators to avoid having insurers scoped in and out of the NAIC liquidity stress test framework on a frequent basis when making this determination. (2025-45, s. 3(a).)

G.S. 58-19-28 Dissemination prohibited.

§ 58-19-28. Dissemination prohibited. (a) Unless otherwise provided by law, the making, publishing, disseminating, circulating, or placing before the public, or causing directly or indirectly to be made, published, disseminated, circulated, or placed before the public in a newspaper, magazine, or other publication, or in the form of a notice, circular, pamphlet, letter, or poster, or over any radio or television station or any electronic means of communication available to the public, or in any other way as an advertisement, announcement, or statement containing a representation or statement with regard to the group capital calculation, group capital ratio, the liquidity stress test results, or supporting disclosures for the liquidity stress test of any insurer or any insurer group, or of any component derived in the calculation by any insurer, broker, or other person engaged in any manner in the insurance business is prohibited. (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, if any materially false statement with respect to the group capital calculation, resulting group capital ratio, an inappropriate comparison of any amount to an insurer's or insurance group's group capital calculation or resulting group capital ratio, liquidity stress test result, supporting disclosures for the liquidity stress test, or an inappropriate comparison of any amount to an insurer's or insurance group's liquidity stress test result, or supporting disclosures is published in any written publication and the insurer is able to demonstrate to the Commissioner with substantial proof the falsity or inappropriateness of the statement, then the insurer may publish announcements in a written publication if the sole purpose of the announcement is to rebut the materially false or inappropriate statement. (2025-45, s. 3(a).)

G.S. 58-19-30 Standards and management of an insurer within an insurance holding company system.

§ 58-19-30. Standards and management of an insurer within an insurance holding company system. (a) Transactions within an insurance holding company system to which an insurer subject to registration is a party are subject to all of the following standards: (1) The terms shall be fair and reasonable. (2) Charges or fees for services performed shall be reasonable. (3) Expenses incurred and payment received shall be allocated to the insurer in conformity with customary insurance accounting practices consistently applied. (4) The books, accounts, and records of each party to all such transactions shall be so maintained as to clearly and accurately disclose the nature and details of the transactions, including such accounting information as is necessary to support the reasonableness of the charges or fees to the respective parties. (5) The insurer's surplus as regards policyholders following any dividends or distributions to shareholder affiliates shall be reasonable in relation to the insurer's outstanding liabilities and adequate to its financial needs. (6) Agreements for cost-sharing services and management services shall include such provisions as required by this Article or rule and regulation issued by the Commissioner. (7) If the Commissioner determines that the continued operation of an insurer subject to this Article is hazardous to the insurer's policyholders, creditors, or the general public under G.S. 58-30-60(b), then the Commissioner may require the insurer to elect between securing and maintaining either (i) a deposit held by the Commissioner or (ii) a bond with respect to any contract or agreement entered into by the insurer. The bond or deposit shall be maintained until the existing contract or agreement is no longer affected by the existence of the hazardous condition. The Commissioner shall determine the amount of the deposit or bond, not to exceed the total annual value of the contracts or agreements affected by the existence of the hazardous condition. (8) All records and data of the insurer held by an affiliate remain the property of the insurer and are subject to control of the insurer. For purposes of this subdivision, "records and data" includes claims and claim files, policyholder lists, application files, litigation files, premium records, rate books, underwriting manuals, personnel records, financial records, or similar information within the possession, custody, or control of the affiliate. An affiliate holding the records and data of an insurer shall do all of the following: a. Ensure, at no additional cost to the insurer, that the records and data controlled by the insurer are identifiable and segregated, or readily capable of segregation, from all other persons' records and data. b. Provide to any receiver of the insurer, upon request: (i) a complete set of all records and data of any type that pertain to the insurer's business, (ii) access to the operating systems on which the records and data are maintained, and (iii) the software that runs those systems either through assumption of licensing agreements or otherwise. The receiver may restrict the use of the records and data by the affiliate if the affiliate is not operating the insurer's business. c. In the event of the affiliate's default under a lease or other agreement, secure a waiver of any landlord lien or other encumbrance to provide the insurer access to all records and data. (9) Premiums or other funds belonging to the insurer that are collected by or held by an affiliate are the exclusive property of the insurer and are subject to the control of the insurer. Any right of offset in the event an insurer is placed into receivership shall be subject to Article 30 of this Chapter. (b) The following transactions involving a domestic insurer and any person in its holding company system, including amendments or modifications of affiliated agreements that were previously filed pursuant to this section and that are subject to any materiality standards contained in subdivisions (1) through (6) of this subsection, may not be entered into unless the insurer has notified the Commissioner in writing of its intention to enter into the transaction at least 30 days before the transaction, or a shorter period as the Commissioner permits, and the Commissioner has not disapproved it within that period. The notice for amendments or modifications shall include the reason for the change and the financial impact on the domestic insurer. Informal notice shall be given to the Commissioner, within 30 days after termination of a previously filed agreement, so that the Commissioner may determine the type of filing required, if any. An insurer required to give notice of a proposed transaction pursuant to this subsection shall furnish the required information on a Form D, as prescribed by the Commissioner: (1) Sales, purchases, exchanges, loans or extensions of credit, or investments, provided the transactions equal or exceed: (i) with respect to nonlife insurers, the lesser of three percent (3%) of the insurer's admitted assets or twenty-five percent (25%) of surplus as regards policyholders; (ii) with respect to life insurers, three percent (3%) of the insurer's admitted assets; each as of the preceding December 31. (2) Loans or extensions of credit to any person who is not affiliated, where the insurer makes the loans or extensions of credit with the agreement or understanding that the proceeds of the transactions, in whole or in substantial part, are to be used to make loans or extensions of credit to, to purchase assets of, or to make investments in, any affiliate of the insurer making the loans or extensions of credit provided the transactions equal or exceed: (i) with respect to nonlife insurers, the lesser of three percent (3%) of the insurer's admitted assets or twenty-five percent (25%) of surplus as regards policyholders; (ii) with respect to life insurers, three percent (3%) of the insurer's admitted assets; each as of the preceding December 31. (3) Reinsurance agreements or modifications to the agreements, including the following: a. Reinsurance pooling agreements. b. Agreements in which either (i) the reinsurance premium or a change in the insurer's liabilities or (ii) the projected reinsurance premium or a change in the insurer's liabilities in any of the next three years equals or exceeds five percent (5%) of the insurer's surplus as regards policyholders, as of the preceding December 31. c. Agreements that may require as consideration the transfer of assets from an insurer to a nonaffiliate, if an agreement or understanding exists between the insurer and nonaffiliate that any portion of the assets will be transferred to one or more affiliates of the insurer. (4) All management agreements, service contracts, tax allocation agreements, or cost-sharing arrangements shall, as applicable: a. Identify the person providing services and the nature of such services. b. Set forth the methods to allocate costs. c. Require timely settlement, not less frequently than on a quarterly basis, and compliance with the requirements in the NAIC Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual. d. Prohibit advancement of funds by the insurer to the affiliate except to pay for services defined in the agreement. e. State that the insurer will maintain oversight for functions provided to the insurer by the affiliate and that the insurer will monitor services annually for quality assurance. f. Define records and data of the insurer to include all information developed or maintained under or related to the contract or agreement that are otherwise the property of the insurer. The definition of records and data shall include claims and claim files, policyholder lists, application files, litigation files, premium records, rate books, underwriting manuals, personnel records, financial records, or similar information within the possession, custody, or control of the affiliate. g. Specify that all records and data of the insurer: (i) remain the property of the insurer, (ii) are subject to the control of the insurer, and (iii) must, at no additional cost to the insurer, be held in a manner that ensures that the records and data controlled by the insurer are identifiable and segregated, or readily capable of segregation, from all other persons' records and data. h. State that all funds and invested assets of the insurer are the exclusive property of the insurer, held for the benefit of the insurer and are subject to the control of the insurer. i. Include standards for termination of the contract or agreement with and without cause. j. Include provisions for indemnification of the insurer: (i) in the event of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the affiliate providing the services or (ii) if the affiliate violates the terms required by sub-subdivisions k. through o. of this subdivision. k. Specify that, if the insurer is placed in supervision, conservatorship, or receivership or seized by the Commissioner under Article 30 of this Chapter: 1. All of the rights of the insurer under the contract or agreement extend to the receiver, conservator, or Commissioner. 2. All records and data of the insurer shall, at no additional cost to the receiver or Commissioner, be identifiable and segregated, or readily capable of segregation, from all other persons' records and data. 3. All records and data of the insurer shall be turned over to the receiver or Commissioner immediately upon the receiver's or the Commissioner's request. The records and data shall be turned over in a usable format, and the cost to transfer the records and data to the receiver or the Commissioner shall be fair and reasonable. 4. At the direction of the receiver or Commissioner, the affiliate shall make available all employees required to maintain the continued performance of operations or services of the insurer deemed essential by the receiver or Commissioner. l. Specify that the affiliate has no automatic right to terminate the agreement if the insurer is placed in supervision, conservatorship, or receivership, or seized by the Commissioner under Article 30 of this Chapter. m. Specify all of the following with respect to the performance of services after termination of the contract or agreement if the insurer is placed in supervision, conservatorship, receivership, or seized by the Commissioner under Article 30 of this Chapter. 1. That the affiliate shall, at the direction of the conservator or Commissioner, provide services deemed essential after termination of the contract or agreement. 2. That the contract or agreement shall specify the minimum period of time essential services shall be performed after the termination of the contract or agreement. 3. That, until the insured is released by the receiver, Commissioner, or a court order, performance of essential services after the termination of the contract or agreement shall be provided without regard to pre-receivership unpaid fees, if the affiliate continues to receive timely payment for post-receivership services rendered. n. Specify that, if the insurer is placed in supervision, conservatorship, receivership, or seized by the Commissioner under Article 30 of this Chapter, the affiliate will do all of the following: 1. Maintain any systems, programs, or other infrastructure necessary to the performance of the contract or agreement. 2. Until the insured is released by the receiver, Commissioner, or a court order, make any systems, programs, or other infrastructure necessary to the performance of the contract or agreement available to the receiver or Commissioner, if the affiliate continues to receive timely payment for post-receivership services rendered. o. Specify that, if the insurer is placed into receivership pursuant to Article 30 of this Chapter and portions of the insurer's policies or contracts are eligible for coverage by one or more guaranty associations, then, subject to the receiver's authority over the insurer, the affiliate's commitments under sub-subdivisions k. through n. of this subdivision will extend to the affected guaranty associations. (5) Guarantees when made by a domestic insurer; provided, however, that a guarantee which is quantifiable as to amount is not subject to the notice requirements of this subdivision unless it exceeds the lesser of one-half percent (0.5%) of the insurer's admitted assets or ten percent (10%) of surplus as regards policyholders as of the preceding December 31. Further, all guarantees which are not quantifiable as to amount are subject to the notice requirements of this subdivision. (6) Any material transactions, specified by rule, that the Commissioner determines may adversely affect the interests of the insurer's policyholders. Nothing in this section authorizes or permits any transactions that, in the case of an insurer, not a member of the same insurance holding company system, would be otherwise contrary to law. A domestic insurer may not enter into transactions that are part of a plan or series of like transactions with persons within the insurance holding company system if the purpose of those separate transactions is to avoid the statutory threshold amount and thus avoid the review that would otherwise occur. If the Commissioner determines that such separate transactions were entered into over any 12-month period for that purpose, the Commissioner may exercise the Commissioner's authority under G.S. 58-19-50. The Commissioner, in reviewing transactions pursuant to this subsection, shall consider whether the transactions comply with the standards set forth in subsection (a) of this section and whether they may adversely affect the interests of policyholders. The Commissioner shall be notified within 30 days after any investment of a domestic insurer in any one corporation if, as a result of the investment, the total investment in the corporation by the insurance holding company system exceeds ten percent (10%) of the corporation's voting securities. (c) No domestic insurer shall pay any extraordinary dividend or make any other extraordinary distribution to its shareholders until (i) 30 days after the Commissioner has received notice of the declaration thereof and has not within that period disapproved the payment or (ii) the Commissioner has approved the payment within the 30-day period. For the purposes of this section, an "extraordinary dividend" or "extraordinary distribution" includes any dividend or distribution of cash or other property, whose fair market value together with that of other dividends or distributions made within the preceding 12 months exceeds the greater of (i) ten percent (10%) of the insurer's surplus as regards policyholders as of the preceding December 31, or (ii) the net gain from operations of the insurer, if the insurer is a life insurer, or the net income, if the insurer is not a life insurer, not including realized capital gains, for the 12-month period ending the preceding December 31; but does not include pro rata distributions of any class of the insurer's own securities. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an insurer may declare an extraordinary dividend or distribution that is conditional upon the Commissioner's approval, and the declaration shall confer no rights upon shareholders until (i) the Commissioner has approved the payment of the dividend or distribution or (ii) the Commissioner has not disapproved the payment within the 30-day period referred to above. (d) For the purposes of this Article, in determining whether an insurer's surplus as regards policyholders is reasonable in relation to the insurer's outstanding liabilities and adequate to its financial needs, the factors set forth in subdivisions (1) through (11) of this subsection, among others, shall be considered. In determining the adequacy of an insurer's surplus, no single factor is controlling. The Commissioner will consider the net effect of all of the factors in subdivisions (1) through (11) of this subsection, plus other factors bearing on the financial condition of the insurer. The factors are: (1) The size of the insurer as measured by its assets, capital and surplus, reserves, premium writings, insurance in force, and other appropriate criteria. (2) The extent to which the insurer's business is diversified among the several kinds of insurance. (3) The number and size of risks insured in each kind of insurance. (4) The extent of the geographic dispersion of the insurer's insured risks. (5) The nature and extent of the insurer's reinsurance program. (6) The quality, diversification, and liquidity of the insurer's investment portfolio. In determining the quality and liquidity of investments in subsidiaries, the Commissioner will consider the individual subsidiary and may discount or disallow its valuation to the extent that the individual investments so warrant. (7) The recent past and projected future trend in the size of the insurer's surplus as regards policyholders. (8) The surplus as regards policyholders maintained by other comparable insurers. In comparing the surplus maintained by other insurers, the Commissioner will consider the extent to which each of these factors varies from company to company. (9) The adequacy of the insurer's reserves. (10) The quality and liquidity of investments in affiliates. The Commissioner may treat any such investment as a disallowed asset for purposes of determining the adequacy of surplus as regards policyholders whenever in his judgment such investment so warrants. (11) The quality of the insurer's earnings and the extent to which the reported earnings of the insurer include extraordinary items. (e) Requests for approval of extraordinary dividends or any other extraordinary distribution to shareholders made pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and prior notice of an ordinary dividend or any other ordinary distribution to shareholders under G.S. 58-19-25(d) shall include the following: (1) The amount of the proposed dividend or distribution. (2) The date established for payment of the dividend or distribution. (3) A statement as to whether the dividend or distribution is to be in cash or other property and, if in property, a description thereof, its cost, and its fair market value together with an explanation of the basis for valuation. (4) A statement identifying the dividend or distribution as an ordinary dividend or other ordinary distribution subject to G.S. 58-19-25(d) or as an extraordinary dividend or other extraordinary distribution as defined in subsection (c) of this section. (5) A copy of the calculations determining whether the proposed dividend or distribution is an ordinary dividend or other ordinary distribution subject to G.S. 58-19-25(d), or an extraordinary dividend or other extraordinary distribution as defined in subsection (c) of this section. The work paper shall include the following information: a. The amounts, dates, and form of payment of all dividends or distributions (including regular dividends but excluding distributions of the insurer's own securities) paid within the period of 12 consecutive months ending on the date fixed for payment of the proposed dividend for which notification is being given or approval is sought and commencing on the day after the same day of the same month in the last preceding year. b. Surplus as regards policyholders as of the preceding December 31. c. If the insurer is a life insurer, the net gain from operations for the 12-month period ending the preceding December 31. d. If the insurer is not a life insurer, the net income less realized capital gains for the 12-month period ending the preceding December 31. (6) A balance sheet and statement of income for the period between the last annual statement filed with the Commissioner and the end of the month preceding the month in which the request for approval or the prior notification of a dividend or distribution is submitted. The insurer shall indicate the amount of all unrealized capital gains included in unassigned funds. (7) A brief statement as to the effect of the proposed dividend or distribution upon the insurer's surplus and the reasonableness of surplus in relation to the insurer's outstanding liabilities and the adequacy of surplus relative to the insurer's financial needs. (8) A brief statement as to the intended use or uses of the proposed dividend or distribution by the parent, and if applicable, any upstream parent of the insurer. A request for approval of an extraordinary dividend or any other extraordinary distribution shall be deemed to be incomplete unless all of the information required by this subsection has been included. (f) Any affiliate that is party to an agreement or contract with a domestic insurer that is subject to subdivision (b)(4) of this section shall be subject to the jurisdiction of any supervision, seizure, conservatorship, or receivership proceedings against the insurer and to the authority of the Commissioner or any supervisor, conservator, rehabilitator, or liquidator for the insurer appointed pursuant to Article 30 of this Chapter for the purpose of interpreting, enforcing, and overseeing the affiliate's obligations under the agreement or contract to perform services for the insurer that meet any of the following requirements: (1) The services are an integral part of the insurer's operations, including management, administrative, accounting, data processing, marketing, underwriting, claims handling, investment, or any other similar functions. (2) The services are essential to the insurer's ability to fulfill its obligations under insurance policies. The Commissioner may require that an agreement or contract pursuant to subdivision (b)(4) of this section for the provision of services described in subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection specify that the affiliate consents to the jurisdiction as set forth in this subsection. (1989, c. 722, s. 1; 1991, c. 681, ss. 35, 36; c. 720, s. 18; 1993, c. 452, s. 33; 2001-223, s. 16.7; 2005-215, s. 14; 2006-105, ss. 3.3, 3.4; 2015-146, ss. 1.5(a), 1.5(b); 2015-281, s. 13; 2023-133, s. 4(a).)

G.S. 58-19-35 Examination.

§ 58-19-35. Examination. (a) Subject to the limitation contained in this section and in addition to the powers that the Commissioner has under other provisions of Articles 1 through 64 of this Chapter relating to the examination of insurers, the Commissioner also has the power to examine any insurer registered under G.S. 58-19-25, its affiliates, or any acquiring party to ascertain the financial condition of such insurer, its affiliates, or acquiring party, including the enterprise risk to the insurer by the ultimate controlling person, by any entity or combination of entities within the insurance holding company system, or by the insurance holding company system on a consolidated basis. (b) The Commissioner may retain, at the expense of the registered insurer or acquiring party that is being examined, such attorneys, actuaries, economists, accountants, and other experts not otherwise a part of the Commissioner's staff as are reasonably necessary to assist in the conduct of the examination under subsection (a) of this section. Any persons so retained shall be under the direction and control of the Commissioner and shall act in a purely advisory capacity. (c) Repealed by Session Laws 1995, c. 360, s. 2(h). (d) Repealed by Session Laws 2015-146, s. 1.6, as amended by Session Laws 2015-281, s. 13, effective July 1, 2015. (e) The Commissioner may order any insurer registered under G.S. 58-19-25 or any acquiring party to produce such records, books, or other information in the possession of the insurer, its affiliates, or acquiring party as reasonably necessary to determine compliance with this Chapter. (f) To determine compliance with this Chapter, the Commissioner may order any insurer registered under G.S. 58-19-25 to produce information not in the possession of the insurer if the insurer can obtain access to such information pursuant to contractual relationships, statutory obligations, or other method. In the event the insurer cannot obtain the information requested by the Commissioner, the insurer shall provide the Commissioner a detailed explanation of the reason that the insurer cannot obtain the information and the identity of the holder of that information. Whenever it appears to the Commissioner that the detailed explanation is without merit, the Commissioner may require, after notice and hearing, the insurer to pay a penalty of one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each day's delay or may suspend or revoke the insurer's license. (g) In the event the insurer fails to comply with an order, the Commissioner shall have the power to examine the affiliates to obtain the information. The Commissioner shall also have the power to issue subpoenas, to administer oaths, and to examine under oath any person for purposes of determining compliance with this section. Upon the failure or refusal of any person to obey a subpoena, the Commissioner may petition a court of competent jurisdiction, and upon proper showing, the court may enter an order compelling the witness to appear and testify or produce documentary evidence. Failure to obey the court order shall be punishable as contempt of court. Every person shall be obligated to attend as a witness at the place specified in the subpoena, when subpoenaed, anywhere within the state. He or she shall be entitled to the same fees and mileage, if claimed, as a witness in the courts of the county specified in the subpoena as the site of the examination. Any fees, mileage, and actual expense necessarily incurred in securing the attendance of witnesses, and their testimony, shall be itemized and charged against, and be paid by, the company being examined. (1989, c. 722, s. 1; 1995, c. 193, s. 27; c. 360, s. 2(h); 2015-146, s. 1.6; 2015-281, s. 13.)

G.S. 58-19-37 Supervisory colleges.

§ 58-19-37. Supervisory colleges. (a) With respect to any insurer registered under G.S. 58-19-25, and in accordance with subsection (c) of this section, the Commissioner shall also have the power to participate in a supervisory college for any domestic insurer that is part of an insurance holding company system with international operations in order to determine compliance by the insurer with this Chapter. The powers of the Commissioner with respect to supervisory colleges include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) Initiating the establishment of a supervisory college. (2) Clarifying the membership and participation of other supervisors in the supervisory college. (3) Clarifying the functions of the supervisory college and the role of other regulators, including the establishment of a group-wide supervisor. (4) Coordinating the ongoing activities of the supervisory college, including planning meetings, supervisory activities, and processes for information sharing. (5) Establishing a crisis management plan. (b) Each registered insurer subject to this section shall be liable for and shall pay the reasonable expenses of the Commissioner's participation in a supervisory college in accordance with subsection (c) of this section, including reasonable travel expenses. For purposes of this section, a supervisory college may be convened as either a temporary or permanent forum for communication and cooperation between the regulators charged with the supervision of the insurer or its affiliates, and the Commissioner may establish a regular assessment to the insurer for the payment of these expenses. (c) In order to assess the business strategy, financial position, legal and regulatory position, risk exposure, risk management, and governance processes, and as part of the examination of individual insurers in accordance with G.S. 58-19-35, the Commissioner may participate in a supervisory college with other regulators charged with supervision of the insurer or its affiliates, including other state, federal, and international regulatory agencies. The Commissioner may enter into agreements in accordance with G.S. 58-19-40 providing the basis for cooperation between the Commissioner and the other regulatory agencies and the activities of the supervisory college. Nothing in this section shall delegate to the supervisory college the authority of the Commissioner to regulate or supervise the insurer or its affiliates within its jurisdiction. (2015-146, s. 1.7; 2015-281, s. 13.)

G.S. 58-19-38 Group-wide supervision of internationally active insurance groups.

§ 58-19-38. Group-wide supervision of internationally active insurance groups. (a) In cooperation with other state, federal, and international regulatory agencies, the Commissioner will identify a single group-wide supervisor for an internationally active insurance group in accordance with the provisions of this section. The Commissioner is authorized to act as the group-wide supervisor for any internationally active insurance group. However, the Commissioner may otherwise acknowledge another regulatory official as the group-wide supervisor where the internationally active insurance group meets any of the following criteria: (1) It does not have substantial insurance operations in the United States. (2) It has substantial insurance operations in the United States, but not in this State. (3) It has substantial insurance operations in the United States and this State, but the Commissioner has determined pursuant to the factors set forth in subsections (b) and (f) of this section that the other regulatory official is the appropriate group-wide supervisor. An insurance holding company system that does not otherwise qualify as an internationally active insurance group may request that the Commissioner make a determination or acknowledgment as to a group-wide supervisor pursuant to this section. (b) The Commissioner shall consider all of the following factors when determining that the Commissioner is the appropriate group-wide supervisor for an internationally active insurance group that conducts substantial insurance operations concentrated in this State or acknowledges that a regulatory official from another jurisdiction is the appropriate group-wide supervisor for the internationally active insurance group: (1) The place of domicile of the insurers within the internationally active insurance group that holds the largest share of the group's written premiums, assets, or liabilities. (2) The place of domicile of the top-tiered insurer(s) in the insurance holding company system of the internationally active insurance group. (3) The location of the executive offices or largest operational offices of the internationally active insurance group. (4) Whether another regulatory official is acting or is seeking to act as the group-wide supervisor under a regulatory system that the Commissioner determines to have either of the following characteristics: a. The system is substantially similar to the system of regulation provided under the laws of this State. b. The system is otherwise sufficient in terms of providing for group-wide supervision, enterprise risk analysis, and cooperation with other regulatory officials. (5) Whether another regulatory official acting or seeking to act as the group-wide supervisor provides the Commissioner with reasonably reciprocal recognition and cooperation. A regulatory official identified under this section as the group-wide supervisor may determine that it is appropriate to acknowledge another regulatory official to serve as the group-wide supervisor. The acknowledgment of the group-wide supervisor shall be made (i) after consideration of the factors listed in subdivisions (1) through (5) of this subsection, (ii) in cooperation with and subject to the acknowledgment of other regulatory officials involved with supervision of members of the internationally active insurance group, and (iii) in consultation with the internationally active insurance group. (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, when another regulatory official is acting as the group-wide supervisor of an internationally active insurance group, the Commissioner shall acknowledge that regulatory official as the group-wide supervisor. However, the Commissioner shall make a determination or acknowledgment as to the appropriate group-wide supervisor for such an internationally active insurance group pursuant to subsection (b) of this section when there is a material change in the internationally active insurance group that results in either of the following: (1) The internationally active insurance group's insurers domiciled in this State holding the largest share of the group's premiums, assets, or liabilities. (2) This State being the place of domicile of the top-tiered insurers in the insurance holding company system of the internationally active insurance group. (d) Pursuant to G.S. 58-19-35, the Commissioner is authorized to collect from any insurer registered pursuant to G.S. 58-19-25 all information necessary to determine whether the Commissioner may act as the group-wide supervisor of an internationally active insurance group or if the Commissioner may acknowledge another regulatory official to act as the group-wide supervisor. Prior to issuing a determination that an internationally active insurance group is subject to group-wide supervision by the Commissioner, the Commissioner shall notify the insurer registered pursuant to G.S. 58-19-25 and the ultimate controlling person within the internationally active insurance group. The internationally active insurance group shall have 30 days to provide the Commissioner with additional information pertinent to the pending determination. (e) If the Commissioner is the group-wide supervisor for an internationally active insurance group, the Commissioner is authorized to engage in the following group-wide supervision activities: (1) Assess the enterprise risks within the internationally active insurance group to ensure all of the following: a. That the material financial condition and liquidity risks to the members of the internationally active insurance group, that are engaged in the business of insurance, are identified by management. b. That reasonable and effective mitigation measures are in place. (2) Request, from any member of an internationally active insurance group subject to the Commissioner's supervision, information necessary and appropriate to assess enterprise risk. This information includes information about the governance, risk assessment and management, capital adequacy, and material intercompany transactions of the members of the internationally active insurance group. (3) Coordinate and, in reliance on the authority of the regulatory officials of the jurisdictions where members of the internationally active insurance group are domiciled, compel development and implementation of reasonable measures designed to ensure that the internationally active insurance group is able to timely recognize and mitigate enterprise risks to members of the internationally active insurance group that are engaged in the business of insurance. (4) Communicate with other state, federal, and international regulatory agencies with jurisdiction over members within the internationally active insurance group and share relevant information through supervisory colleges as set forth in G.S. 58-19-37 or otherwise subject to the confidentiality provisions of G.S. 58-19-40. (5) Enter into agreements with or obtain documentation from any insurer registered under G.S. 58-19-25, any member of the internationally active insurance group, and any other state, federal, and international regulatory agencies for members of the internationally active insurance group, providing the basis for or otherwise clarifying the Commissioner's role as group-wide supervisor, including provisions for resolving disputes with other regulatory officials. Such agreements or documentation shall not serve as evidence in any proceeding that any insurer or person within an insurance holding company system not domiciled or incorporated in this State is doing business in this State or is otherwise subject to jurisdiction in this State. (6) Other group-wide supervision activities, consistent with the authorities and purposes enumerated above, as considered necessary by the Commissioner. (f) If the Commissioner acknowledges that another regulatory official from a jurisdiction that is not accredited by the NAIC is the group-wide supervisor, the Commissioner is authorized to reasonably cooperate, through supervisory colleges or otherwise, with group-wide supervision undertaken by the group-wide supervisor, provided that both of the following conditions are met: (1) The Commissioner's cooperation is in compliance with the laws of this State. (2) The regulatory official acknowledged as the group-wide supervisor recognizes and cooperates with the Commissioner's activities as a group-wide supervisor for other internationally active insurance groups where applicable. Where recognition and cooperation are not reasonably reciprocal, the Commissioner is authorized to refuse recognition and cooperation. (g) The Commissioner may enter into agreements with or obtain documentation from any insurer registered under G.S. 58-19-25, any affiliate of the insurer, and other state, federal, and international regulatory agencies for members of the internationally active insurance group that provide the basis for or otherwise clarify a regulatory official's role as group-wide supervisor. (h) The Commissioner may adopt rules necessary for the administration of this section. (i) A registered insurer subject to this section shall be liable for and shall pay the reasonable expenses of the Commissioner's participation in the administration of this section, including the engagement of attorneys, actuaries, and any other professionals and reasonable travel expenses. (2019-57, s. 1(c).)

G.S. 58-19-40 Confidential treatment.

§ 58-19-40. Confidential treatment. (a) Documents, materials, or other information in the possession or control of the Department that are obtained by or disclosed to the Commissioner or any other person in the course of an examination or investigation made pursuant to G.S. 58-19-35, and all information reported or provided to the Department pursuant to subdivisions (11a) and (11b) of G.S. 58-19-15(b), G.S. 58-19-25, G.S. 58-19-30 and G.S. 58-19-38 are recognized by this State as being proprietary and to contain trade secrets, and shall be confidential by law and privileged, shall not be considered a public record under either G.S. 58-2-100 or Chapter 132 of the General Statutes, shall not be subject to subpoena, and shall not be subject to discovery or admissible in evidence in any private civil action. However, the Commissioner is authorized to use the documents, materials, or other information in the furtherance of any regulatory or legal action brought as a part of the Commissioner's official duties. The Commissioner shall not otherwise make the documents, materials, or other information public without the prior written consent of the insurer to which it pertains unless the Commissioner, after giving the insurer and its affiliates who would be affected thereby notice and opportunity to be heard, determines that the interest of policyholders, shareholders, or the public will be served by the publication thereof, in which event the Commissioner may publish all or any part of the information in such manner as may be deemed appropriate. (a1) With respect to information provided to the Department pursuant to G.S. 58-19-26 and G.S. 58-19-27, the Commissioner shall: (1) Maintain the confidentiality of the group capital calculation and group capital ratio produced within the calculation and any group capital information received from an insurance holding company system supervised by the Federal Reserve Board or any United States group-wide supervisor. (2) Maintain the confidentiality of the liquidity stress test results and supporting disclosures and any liquidity stress test information received from an insurance holding company system supervised by the Federal Reserve Board and non-United States group-wide supervisors. (b) Neither the Commissioner nor any person who received documents, materials, or other information while acting under the authority of the Commissioner or with whom such documents, materials, or other information are shared pursuant to this Article shall be permitted or required to testify in any private civil action concerning any confidential documents, materials, or information subject to subsection (a) of this section. (c) In order to assist in the performance of the duties imposed by this Article, the Commissioner: (1) May share documents, materials, or other information, including the confidential and privileged documents, materials, or information subject to subsection (a) of this section, including proprietary and trade secret documents and materials, with all of the following: a. Other state, federal, and international regulatory agencies. b. The NAIC. c. Any third-party consultants designated by the Commissioner. d. State, federal, and international law enforcement authorities, including members of any supervisory college described in G.S. 58-19-37, provided that the recipient agrees in writing to maintain the confidentiality and privileged status of the document, material, or other information and has verified in writing the legal authority to maintain confidentiality. (2) Notwithstanding subdivision (1) of this subsection, may only share confidential and privileged documents, material, or information reported pursuant to G.S. 58-19-25(l) with Commissioners of states having statutes or regulations substantially similar to subsection (a) of this section and who have agreed in writing not to disclose such information. (3) May receive documents, materials, or information, including otherwise confidential and privileged documents, materials, or information, including proprietary and trade-secret information, from the NAIC and its affiliates and subsidiaries and from regulatory and law enforcement officials of other foreign or domestic jurisdictions, and shall maintain as confidential or privileged any document, material, or information received with notice or the understanding that it is confidential or privileged under the laws of the jurisdiction that is the source of the document, material, or information. (4) Shall enter into written agreements with the NAIC and any third-party consultant designated by the Commissioner governing sharing and use of information provided pursuant to this Article consistent with this subsection that shall do all of the following: a. Require a recipient to maintain the confidentiality and privileged status of any documents, materials, or information. Specify procedures and protocols regarding the confidentiality and security of information shared with the NAIC or a third-party consultant designated by the Commissioner pursuant to this Article, including procedures and protocols for sharing by the NAIC with other state, federal, or international regulators. The agreement shall require a recipient to verify in writing that the recipient has reviewed the legal authority supporting any confidentiality or privilege. b. Specify that ownership of information shared with the NAIC or a third-party consultant pursuant to this Article remains with the Commissioner, and the use of the information by the NAIC or third-party consultant designated by the Commissioner is subject to the direction of the Commissioner. b1. Prohibit the NAIC or third-party consultant designated by the Commissioner from storing the information shared pursuant to this section in a permanent database after the underlying analysis is completed. This sub-subdivision does not apply to documents, material, or information reported pursuant to G.S. 58-19-27. c. Require prompt notice to be given to an insurer whose confidential information in the possession of the NAIC or a third-party consultant designated by the Commissioner pursuant to this Article is subject to a request or subpoena to the NAIC for disclosure or production. d. Require the NAIC or a third-party consultant designated by the Commissioner to consent to intervention by an insurer in any judicial or administrative action in which the NAIC or a third-party consultant designated by the Commissioner may be required to disclose confidential information about the insurer shared with the NAIC or a third-party consultant designated by the Commissioner pursuant to Article 19 of this Chapter. e. Require the Commissioner to notify an insurer when documents, materials, or information confidential or privileged to that insurer are shared with a third-party consultant. The notification shall include the identity of the third-party consultant. This sub-subdivision only applies to documents, materials, or information shared pursuant to G.S. 58-19-27. (d) The sharing of information by the Commissioner pursuant to this Article shall not constitute a delegation of regulatory authority or rulemaking, and the Commissioner is solely responsible for the administration, execution, and enforcement of the provisions of Article 19 of this Chapter. (e) No waiver of any applicable privilege or claim of confidentiality in the documents, materials, or information shall occur as a result of disclosure to the Commissioner under this section or as a result of sharing as authorized in subsection (c) of this section. (f) Documents, materials, or other information in the possession or control of the NAIC or a third-party consultant designated by the Commissioner pursuant to a requirement of this Article shall be confidential by law and privileged, shall not be considered a public record under G.S. 58-2-100 or Chapter 132 of the General Statutes, shall not be subject to subpoena, and shall not be subject to discovery or admissible in evidence in any private civil action. (1989, c. 722, s. 1; 2015-146, s. 1.8; 2015-281, s. 13; 2019-57, s. 1(d); 2025-25, s. 29(6); 2025-45, s. 3(e).)

G.S. 58-19-45 Injunctions; prohibitions against the voting of securities; sequestration of voting securities.

§ 58-19-45. Injunctions; prohibitions against the voting of securities; sequestration of voting securities. (a) Whenever it appears to the Commissioner that any person has committed or is about to commit a violation of this Article or of any rule or order of the Commissioner under this Article, the Commissioner may apply to the Superior Court of Wake County for an order enjoining such person from violating or continuing to violate this Article or any such rule or order; and for such other equitable relief as the nature of the case and the interest of the domestic insurer's policyholders or the public may require. (b) No security that is the subject of any agreement or arrangement regarding acquisition, or that is acquired or to be acquired, in contravention of the provisions of this Article or of any rule or order of the Commissioner under this Article, may be voted at any shareholder's meeting nor may be counted for quorum purposes; and any action of shareholders requiring the affirmative vote of a percentage of shares may be taken as though such securities were not issued and outstanding. No action taken at any such meeting shall be invalidated by the voting of such securities, unless the action would materially affect control of the insurer or unless the courts of this State have so ordered. If an insurer or the Commissioner has reason to believe that any security of the insurer has been or is about to be acquired in contravention of the provisions of this Article or of any rule or order issued by the Commissioner under this Article, the insurer or the Commissioner may apply to the Superior Court of Wake County to enjoin any offer, request, invitation, agreement, or acquisition made in contravention of G.S. 58-19-15 or any rule or order of the Commissioner under that section to enjoin the voting of any security so acquired, to void any vote of such security already cast at any meeting of shareholders, and for such other equitable relief as the nature of the case and the interest of the insurer's policyholders or the public may require. (c) In any case where a person has acquired or is proposing to acquire any voting securities in violation of this Article or any rule or order of the Commissioner under this Article, the Superior Court of Wake County may, on such notice as the court considers appropriate and upon the application of the insurer or the Commissioner, seize or sequester any voting securities of the insurer owned directly or indirectly by the person, and issue an order with respect thereto as may be appropriate to effectuate the provisions of this Article. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for the purposes of this Article the sites of the ownership of the securities of domestic insurers are in this State. (1989, c. 722, s. 1; 1991, c. 681, s. 37; 1993, c. 452, s. 34.)

G.S. 58-19-50 Sanctions.

§ 58-19-50. Sanctions. (a) Any person failing, without just cause, to file any registration statement as required in this Article shall pay, after notice and hearing, a civil penalty of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each day's delay, not to exceed a total penalty of one thousand dollars ($1,000), to the Commissioner. The clear proceeds of civil penalties provided for in this section shall be remitted to the Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund in accordance with G.S. 115C-457.2. (b) Every director or officer of an insurance holding company system who knowingly and willfully violates, participates in, or assents to, or who knowingly and willfully permits any of the officers or agents of the insurer to engage in transactions or make investments that have not been properly reported or submitted pursuant to G.S. 58-19-25(a), 58-19-30(b), or 58-19-30(c), or that violate this Article, shall pay, in his individual capacity, after notice and hearing, a civil penalty of one hundred dollars ($100.00) per violation, not to exceed a total penalty of one thousand dollars ($1,000), to the Commissioner, who shall forward the clear proceeds to the General Fund of this State. (c) Whenever it appears to the Commissioner that any insurer subject to this Article or any director, officer, employee, or agent thereof has engaged in any transaction or entered into a contract that is subject to G.S. 58-19-30 and that would not have been approved had such approval been requested, the Commissioner may order the insurer to immediately cease and desist from any further activity under that transaction or contract. After notice and hearing the Commissioner may also order the insurer to void any such contracts and restore the status quo if such action is in the best interest of the policyholders, creditors, or the public. (d) Whenever it appears to the Commissioner that any insurer or any director, officer, employee, or agent thereof has knowingly and willfully committed a violation of this Article, the Commissioner may cause criminal proceedings to be instituted by the Superior Court of Wake County against such insurer or the responsible director, officer, employee, or agent thereof. Any insurer that knowingly and willfully violates this Article may be fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). Any individual who knowingly and willfully violates this Article is guilty of a Class I felony. (e) Any officer, director, or employee of an insurance holding company system who knowingly and willfully subscribes to or makes or causes to be made any false statements or false reports or false filings with the intent to deceive the Commissioner in the performance of his duties under this Article, is guilty of a Class I felony. Any fines imposed shall be paid by the officer, director, or employee in his individual capacity. (f) Whenever it appears to the Commissioner that any person has committed a violation of G.S. 58-19-15, and which prevents the full understanding of the enterprise risk to the insurer by the affiliates or by the insurance holding company system, the violation may serve as an independent basis for disapproving dividends or distributions and for placing the insurer under an order of supervision in accordance with Article 30 of this Chapter. (1989, c. 722, s. 1; 1993, c. 504, s. 14; c. 539, ss. 1271, 1272; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 1998-215, s. 84; 2015-146, s. 1.9; 2015-281, s. 13.)

G.S. 58-19-55 Receivership.

§ 58-19-55. Receivership. Whenever it appears to the Commissioner that any person has committed a violation of this Article that so impairs the financial condition of a domestic insurer as to threaten insolvency or make the further transaction of business by it hazardous to its policyholders, creditors, shareholders, or the public, then the Commissioner may proceed as provided in Article 30 of this Chapter. (1989, c. 722, s. 1.)

G.S. 58-19-60 Recovery.

§ 58-19-60. Recovery. (a) If an order for liquidation or rehabilitation of a domestic insurer has been entered, the receiver appointed under such order has a right to recover on behalf of the insurer, (i) from any parent corporation or insurance holding company or person or affiliate who otherwise controlled the insurer, the amount of distributions (other than distributions of shares of the same class of stock) paid by the insurer on its capital stock, or (ii) any payment in the form of a bonus, termination settlement, or extraordinary lump sum salary adjustment made by the insurer or its subsidiary or subsidiaries to a director, officer, or employee, where the distribution or payment pursuant to (i) or (ii) above is made at any time during the one year preceding the petition for liquidation or rehabilitation, as the case may be, subject to the limitations of subsections (b), (c), and (d) of this section. (b) No such distribution is recoverable if the parent or affiliate shows that when paid such distribution was lawful and reasonable, and that the insurer did not know and could not reasonably have known that such distribution might adversely affect the ability of the insurer to fulfill its contractual obligations. (c) Any person that was a parent corporation or insurance holding company or a person that otherwise controlled the insurer or affiliate at the time such distributions were paid is liable up to the amount of distributions or payments under subsection (a) of this section such person received. Any person who otherwise controlled the insurer at the time such distributions were declared is liable up to the amount of distributions he would have received if they had been paid immediately. If two or more persons are liable with respect to the same distributions, they are jointly and severally liable. (d) The maximum amount recoverable under this section is the amount needed in excess of all other available assets of the insurer to pay its contractual obligations and to reimburse any guaranty funds. (e) To the extent that any person liable under subsection (c) of this section is insolvent or otherwise fails to pay claims due from it pursuant to that subsection, its parent corporation, insurance holding company, or person who otherwise controlled it at the time that the distribution was paid, are jointly and severally liable for any resulting deficiency in the amount recovered from such parent corporation or insurance holding company or person who otherwise controlled it. (1989, c. 722, s. 1; 2015-146, s. 1.10; 2015-281, s. 13.)

G.S. 58-19-65 Revocation or suspension of insurer's license.

§ 58-19-65. Revocation or suspension of insurer's license. Whenever it appears to the Commissioner that any person has committed a violation of this Article that makes the continued operation of an insurer contrary to the interests of policyholders or the public, the Commissioner may, after giving notice and an opportunity to be heard, suspend or revoke such insurer's license to do business in this State for such period as he finds is required for the protection of policyholders or the public. Any such determination shall be accompanied by specific findings of fact and conclusions of law. (1989, c. 722, s. 1; 2003-212, s. 26(f).)

G.S. 58-19-70 Judicial review; mandatory injunction or writ of mandamus.

§ 58-19-70. Judicial review; mandatory injunction or writ of mandamus. (a) Any person aggrieved by any order made by the Commissioner pursuant to this Article may appeal in accordance with G.S. 58-2-75. (b) Any person aggrieved by any failure of the Commissioner to act or make a determination required by this Article may petition the Superior Court of Wake County for a mandatory injunction or a writ of mandamus directing the Commissioner to act or make such determination forthwith. (1989, c. 722, s. 1.)

G.S. 58-19-75 Forms - general requirements.

§ 58-19-75. Forms - general requirements. (a) Forms A, B, C, D, E, and F are intended to be guides in the preparation of the statements required by G.S. 58-19-15, 58-19-25, and 58-19-30. They are not intended to be fill-in-the-blank forms. The statements filed shall contain the numbers and captions of all items, but the text of the items may be omitted, provided the answers are prepared in such a manner as to indicate clearly the scope and coverage of the items. All instructions, whether appearing under the items of the form or elsewhere, are to be omitted. Unless expressly provided otherwise, if any item is inapplicable or the answer to the item is in the negative, an appropriate statement to that effect shall be made. (b) A complete copy of each statement, including exhibits and all other papers and documents filed as a part of the statement, shall be filed with the Commissioner by mail addressed to the Commissioner and shall be signed in the manner prescribed on the form. Unsigned copies shall be conformed. If the signature of any person is affixed pursuant to a power of attorney or other similar authority, a copy of the power of attorney or other authority shall also be filed with the statement. (c) If an applicant requests a hearing on a consolidated basis under G.S. 58-19-15, in addition to filing the Form A with the Commissioner, the applicant shall file a copy of the Form A with the NAIC in electronic form. (d) Statements should be prepared electronically. Statements shall be easily readable and suitable for review and reproduction. Debits in credit categories and credits in debit categories shall be designated so as to be clearly distinguishable as such on photocopies. Statements shall be in the English language and monetary values shall be stated in United States dollars. If any exhibit or other paper or document filed with the statement is in a foreign language, it shall be accompanied by a translation into the English language and any monetary value shown in a foreign currency normally shall be converted into United States dollars. (2015-146, s. 1.11; 2015-281, s. 13; 2022-46, s. 1.)

G.S. 58-19-80 Forms - incorporation by reference, summaries and omissions.

§ 58-19-80. Forms - incorporation by reference, summaries and omissions. (a) Information required by any item of Form A, Form B, Form D, Form E, or Form F may be incorporated by reference in answer or partial answer to any other item. Information contained in any financial statement, annual report, proxy statement, statement filed with a governmental authority, or any other document may be incorporated by reference in answer or partial answer to any item of Form A, Form B, Form D, Form E, or Form F provided the document is filed as an exhibit to the statement. Excerpts of documents may be filed as exhibits if the documents are extensive. Documents currently on file with the Commissioner which were filed within three years need not be attached as exhibits. References to information contained in exhibits or in documents already on file shall clearly identify the material and shall specifically indicate that such material is to be incorporated by reference in answer to the item. Such materials shall not be incorporated by reference in any case where the incorporation would render the statement incomplete, unclear, or confusing. (b) Where an item requires a summary or outline of the provisions of any document, only a brief statement shall be made as to the pertinent provisions of the document. In addition to the statement, the summary or outline must incorporate by reference particular parts of any exhibit or document currently on file with the Commissioner which was filed within three years and may be qualified in its entirety by such reference. In any case where two or more documents required to be filed as exhibits are substantially identical in all material respects except as to the parties thereto, the dates of execution, or other details, a copy of only one of the documents need be filed with a schedule identifying the omitted documents and setting forth the material details in which those documents differ from the documents, a copy of which is filed. (2015-146, s. 1.11; 2015-281, s. 13.)

G.S. 58-19-85 Forms - information unknown or unavailable and extension of time to furnish.

§ 58-19-85. Forms - information unknown or unavailable and extension of time to furnish. If it is impractical to furnish any required information, document, or report at the time it is required to be filed, there shall be filed with the Commissioner a separate document: (1) Identifying the information, document, or report in question. (2) Stating why the filing thereof at the time required is impractical. (3) Requesting an extension of time for filing the information, document, or report to a specified date. The request for extension shall be deemed granted unless the Commissioner after receipt of the request denies the request prior to the time the information, document, or report is required. (2015-146, s. 1.11; 2015-281, s. 13.)

G.S. 58-19-90 Forms - additional information and exhibits.

§ 58-19-90. Forms - additional information and exhibits. In addition to the information expressly required to be included in Form A, Form B, Form C, Form D, Form E, and Form F, the Commissioner may request such further material information, if any, as may be necessary to make the information contained therein not misleading. The person filing may also file such exhibits as it may desire in addition to those expressly required by the statement. The exhibits shall be so marked as to indicate clearly the subject matters to which they refer. Changes to Form A, B, C, D, or F shall include on the top of the cover page the phrase: "Change No. [insert number] to" and shall indicate the date of the change and not the date of the original filing. (2015-146, s. 1.11; 2015-281, s. 13.)

Source: North Carolina General Assembly (ncleg.gov)URL: https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/ByChapter/Chapter_58.htmlFetched: 10/19/2026