Insurance Companies Act (S.C. 1991, c. 47)

Marginal note:Definitions

• 966. (1) The definitions in subsection 490(1) apply in respect of insurance holding companies, subject to the following:

  • (a) the reference to “section 495” in the definition “permitted entity” is to be read as a reference to “section 971”; and

  • (b) the reference to “company” in the definition “permitted entity” is to be read as a reference to “insurance holding company”.

• Marginal note:Members of an insurance holding company’s group

  (2) For the purpose of this Division, a member of an insurance holding company’s group is any of the following:

  • (a) an entity referred to in any of paragraphs 971(1)(a) to (f) that controls the insurance holding company;

  • (b) a subsidiary of the insurance holding company or of an entity referred to in any of paragraphs 971(1)(a) to (f) that controls the insurance holding company;

  • (c) an entity in which the insurance holding company, or an entity referred to in any of paragraphs 971(1)(a) to (f) that controls the insurance holding company, has a substantial investment; or

  • (d) a prescribed entity in relation to the insurance holding company.

• Marginal note:Non-application of Division

  (3) This Division does not apply in respect of

  • (a) the holding of a security interest in real property, unless the security interest is prescribed under paragraph 984(a) to be an interest in real property; or

  • (b) the holding of a security interest in securities of an entity.

Marginal note:Investments

967. Subject to this Division, an insurance holding company may invest its funds in the shares of or ownership interests in any entity or make any other investment that its directors consider necessary or advisable to manage the insurance holding company’s liquidity.

Marginal note:Investment standards

968. The directors of an insurance holding company shall establish and the insurance holding company shall adhere to investment and lending policies, standards and procedures that a reasonable and prudent person would apply to avoid undue risk of loss and obtain a reasonable return.

Marginal note:Restriction on control and substantial investments

• 969. (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), no insurance holding company shall acquire control of, or hold, acquire or increase a substantial investment in, any entity other than a permitted entity.

• Marginal note:Exception: indirect investments

  (2) An insurance holding company may acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity other than a permitted entity by way of

  • (a) an acquisition of control of an entity referred to in any of paragraphs 971(1)(a) to (j), a specialized financing entity or a prescribed entity that controls or has a substantial investment in the entity; or

  • (b) an acquisition of shares or ownership interests in the entity by

    • (i) an entity referred to in any of paragraphs 971(1)(a) to (j), a specialized financing entity or a prescribed entity that is controlled by the insurance holding company, or

    • (ii) an entity controlled by an entity referred to in any of paragraphs 971(1)(a) to (j), a specialized financing entity or a prescribed entity that is controlled by the insurance holding company.

• Marginal note:Exception: temporary investments, realizations and loan workouts

  (3) An insurance holding company may acquire control of, or acquire or increase a substantial investment in, an entity by way of

  • (a) a temporary investment permitted by section 974;

  • (b) an acquisition of shares of a body corporate or of ownership interests in an unincorporated entity permitted by section 975; or

  • (c) a realization of security permitted by section 976.

• Marginal note:Exception: uncontrolled event

  (4) An insurance holding company is deemed not to contravene subsection (1) if the insurance holding company acquires control of, or acquires or increases a substantial investment in, an entity solely as the result of an event not within the control of the insurance holding company.

• Marginal note:Application of other provision

  (5) Despite having acquired control of, or a substantial investment in, an entity under a particular provision of this Part, an insurance holding company may continue to control the entity or hold the substantial investment in the entity as though it had made the acquisition under another provision of this Part so long as the conditions of that other provision are met.

• Marginal note:Timing of deemed acquisition

  (6) If an insurance holding company decides to exercise its right under subsection (5), the insurance holding company is deemed to be acquiring the control or the substantial investment under the other provision.