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International Insurance Act


Published: 2000

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CAP. 269, INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE ACT BELIZE

INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE ACT

CHAPTER 269

REVISED EDITION 2000

SHOWING THE LAW AS AT 31ST DECEMBER, 2000

This is a revised edition of the law, prepared by the Law Revision Commissioner

under the authority of the Law Revision Act, Chapter 3 of the Laws of Belize,

Revised Edition 1980 - 1990.

This edition contains a consolidation of the following laws- Page

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 3

INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE ACT 7

Amendments in force as at 31st December, 2000.

BELIZE

INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE ACT

CHAPTER 269

REVISED EDITION 2000

SHOWING THE LAW AS AT 31ST DECEMBER, 2000

This is a revised edition of the law, prepared by the Law Revision Commissioner

under the authority of the Law Revision Act, Chapter 3 of the Laws of Belize,

Revised Edition 1980 - 1990.

This edition contains a consolidation of the following laws- Page

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 3

INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE ACT 7

Amendments in force as at 31st December, 2000.

THE SUBSTANTIVE LAWS OF BELIZE REVISED EDITION 2000

Printed by the Government Printer,

No. 1 Power Lane,

Belmopan, by the authority of

the Government of Belize.

International Insurance [CAP. 269

[ ]

3

CHAPTER 269

INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

PART I

Preliminary

1. Short title.

2. Interpretation.

PART II

Administration of Act

3. Appointment of Supervisor of International Insurance and Deputy

Supervisor of International Insurance.

4. Registration of International Insurance Companies.

5. Application for registration.

6. Refusal of registration.

7. Registration.

8. Renewal of registration.

9. Cancellation or suspension of, or imposition of conditions on,

certificate of registration.

10. Appeal against cancellation or suspension of, or imposition of

conditions on, certificate of registration.

11. Place of business.

12. Notification of changes.

PART III

Records, Accounts and Long-Term Business

13. Interpretation ofwords and phrases used in this Part.

14. Keeping of business records.

15. Annual accounts.

16. Long-term business fund.

17. Transfer of long-term business.

18. Solvency margins.

19. Solvency margin for reinsurer and captive insurer.

PART IV

Regulation of Registered Insurers

20. Restriction of business.

21. Advertising.

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International Insurance [CAP. 269

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22. Insurance managers.

23. Management.

24. Power to obtain information.

25. Inspection and investigation.

26. Use of information.

27. Winding-up of registered insurer.

28. Winding-up on petition of Supervisor.

29. Winding-up of insurer with long-term business.

30. Continuation of long-term business insurers in liquidation.

31. Reduction of contracts as alternative to winding-up.

32. Confidentiality of information.

PART V

Taxation and Exemptions

33. Profits and dividends.

34. Exemption from stamp duty.

35. Exemption from currency and exchange control.

PART VI

Miscellaneous

36. Indemnity.

37. False statements.

38. General penalty provision.

39. Regulations.

40. Procedure to be taken where no procedure laid down in this Act or

regulations.

41. English the authentic text.

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International Insurance [CAP. 269

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CHAPTER 269

INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE

[3rd May, 1999]

PART I

Preliminary

1.-(1) This Act may be cited as the International Insurance Act.

2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:-

“auditor” means an accountant holding:-

(a) a current practicing certificate in accordance with

section 9 of the Accountancy Profession Act; and

(b) a certificate under the hand of the Supervisor certifying

that in his opinion such person is qualified to undertake

the audit of an insurer;

“captive insurance business” means insurance business where the insured is a

parent or affiliated company of the registered insurer or is a person in respect

of whom the registered insurer is authorized by the Supervisor to provide

insurance;

“category of business” means, as the case may be, long-term insurance

business, general insurance business, reinsurance business or captive

insurance business;

“chief executive” means, in relation to a registered insurer, an employee of

10 of 1999.

Commencement

[ 3. 5. 1999 ]

Short title.

Interpretation.

CAP. 305.

such insurer, who, either alone or jointly with another, is responsible under

the immediate authority of the directors for the conduct of the whole of the

insurance business of that insurer;

“company” means a company incorporated under the provisions of the

Companies Act, or incorporated or continued under the provisions of the

International Business Companies Act, or a foreign company;

“conditions” includes restrictions;

“contract” includes policy;

“contract of insurance” includes any contract the effecting of which

constitutes the carrying on of insurance business;

“controller”, in relation to a licensee which is a body corporate, means a

director, or any person in accordance with whose decisions the directors

are accustomed to act, or any person entitled to exercise not less than thirty

per centum of the votes at a general meeting. In determining, for the

purposes of this definition, the voting rights which a body corporate may be

entitled to exercise, it shall be deemed to be entitled to exercise, in addition

to any voting rights it has solely on its own account, those of any company

of which it is subsidiary and those of its subsidiary company or companies.

In determining, for the purposes of this definition, the voting rights which a

natural person may be entitled to exercise, he shall be deemed to be entitled

to exercise, in addition to any voting rights he has solely on his own account,

those of any partner, parent, brother, sister, spouse, minor child or minor

step-child;

“Court” means the Supreme Court of Belize or a Judge thereof;

“dollar” means a unit of the currency of the United States of America and

the sign “$” has the same meaning;

CAP. 250.

CAP. 270.

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“foreign company” means a company incorporated under the laws of a

jurisdiction other than Belize which has not continued into Belize as an

international business company pursuant to the provisions of the International

Business Companies Act;

“general insurance business” means insurance business other than long-term

insurance business;

“insurance” includes assurance and reinsurance;

“insurance agent” means a person appointed by an insurer and not being an

employee of the insurer to solicit applications for insurance or negotiate

insurance on behalf of the insurer, to effectuate and countersign insurance

contracts;

“insurance business” means the business of effecting and carrying out

contracts -

(a) protecting persons against loss or liability to loss in

respect of risks to which such persons may be exposed;

or

(b) to pay a sum of money or other thing of value upon the

happening of an event, and includes reinsurance busi-

ness and running off business including the settlement of

claims;

“insurance manager” means a company operating in or from within Belize

which provides insurance expertise to or for insurers and which has in its

employment a person who -

(a) is qualified by examination as a fellow or associate of the

Chartered Insurance Institute of London, or who is a

member of either the Society of Chartered Property and

CAP. 270.

Casualty Underwriters and who is either a current

member of good standing of the applicable professional

body or of some other professional insurance associa-

tion recognized bv the Supervisor of Insurance for the

purpose of this Act; or

(b) is a person of good standing and has been approved by

the Supervisor of Insurance;

‘insurance policy” means -

(a) any policy or other contract or insurance and any

policy, bond, certificate, receipt or other instrument

evidencing the contract with the insurer or underwriter

or any person named in a policy or other contract of

insurance who is liable to pay or contribute towards

payment of the sum secured by the policy or contract;

(b) an instrument evidencing a contract to pay an annuity;

(c) any policy or other contract in relation to insurance

business of any class under which there is for the time

being an existing liability already accrued or under

which a liability may accrue;

“international business company” means a company incorporated or con-

tinued into Belize pursuant to the International Business Companies Act;

“international insurance business” means the carrying on or the conducting,

whether from within or outside Belize, of any insurance business where each

of the insured, the person to whom the policy moneys are payable and the

owner of the policy or any one or more of such persons-

(a) is not domiciled or ordinarily resident in Belize, or is

CAP. 270.

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International Insurance [CAP. 269

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not a company incorporated or registered in Belize

under any legislation other than the International

Business Companies Act; or

(b) is a company licensed to carry on offshore banking

business under the Offshore Banking Act;

“long-term business” means insurance business of any of the following kinds,

namely-

(a) effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance on

human life or contracts to pay annuities on human life;

(b) effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance against

risks of the persons insured sustaining injury as the result

of an accident or of an accident of a specified class, or

dying as the result of an accident or of an accident of a

specified class, or becoming incapacitated in conse-

quence of disease or disease of a specified class, being

contracts that are expressed to be in effect for a period

of not less than five years or without limit of time and

either not expressed to be terminated by the insurer

before the expiration of five years from the taking effect

thereof or are expressed to be so terminable before the

expiration of that period only in special circumstances

therein mentioned;

(c) effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance,

whether effected by the issue of policies, bonds or

endowment certificates or otherwise, whereby in return

for one or more premiums paid to the insurer a sum or a

series of sums is to become payable to the persons

insured in the future, not being contracts such as to fall

within either paragraph (a) or (b) of this definition; and

CAP. 270.

CAP. 267.

(d) any kind of insurance business declared by regulations

to be long-term business;

“long-term business fund” means a fund established pursuant to section 16

of this Act;

“Minister” means the Minister for the time being responsible for Offshore

Financial Services;

“policy holder” means a person who for the time being is the legal holder of

a policy for securing a contract with an insurer, including an assignee and -

(a) in relation to such long-term business as consists in the

granting of annuities upon human life, includes an

annuitant; and

(b) in relation to insurance business of any kind, includes a

person to whom, under a policy, a benefit is due or a

periodic payment is payable;

“person” includes any body of persons, corporate or unincorporated;

“principal insurance representative” means a person operating in or from

within Belize, who, on his own account and not as the employee of any

other person, maintains for an insurer full and proper records of the business

activities of that insurer;

“registered international insurer” means an insurer registered under section 7

of this Act to carry on insurance business;

“registered insurance manager” means a person registered under section 22

of this Act;

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“Supervisor” means the Supervisor of International Insurance appointed

under section 3 of this Act;

“regulations” means regulations made under section 39 of this Act,

“reinsurance business” means insurance business where the risk insured by a

person is a risk that person has accepted from an insurer;

“statutory fund” means a fund established pursuant to subsection (1) of

section 16 of this Act;

“solvency margin” shall have the meaning ascribed to it by subsection (1) of

section 18 of this Act; and

“year” means a calendar year.

PART II

Administration of Act

3.-(1) The Minister may by notice in the Gazette appoint a person, either by

name or by office, to be Supervisor of International Insurance, who shall

have the charge and control of this Act and shall carry out the duties and

functions vested in him by or under this Act.

(2) The Minister may by notice in the Gazette appoint a Deputy

Supervisor of lnternational Insurance as may be required for the purposes of

this Act.

(3) Anything by this Act appointed or authorized or requested to be

done by the Supervisor may be done by any such Deputy Supervisor in the

absence of the Supervisor and shall be as valid and effectual as if done by the

Supervisor.

Appointment of

Supervisor of

International

Insurance and

Deputy Super-

visor of

International

Insurance.

(4) All Courts, Judges, and persons acting judicially shall take

judicial notice of the seal and also of the signature of the Supervisor and of

any Deputy Supervisor who acts in the absence of the Supervisor.

4. No person shall carry on or transact or hold himself out as carrying

on or transacting any international insurance business in or from within Belize

unless that person holds a valid certificate of registration issued under this

Part and any person who contravenes this section commits an offence

against this Act.

5.-(1) Applications for registration to carry on an international insurance

business shall be made in writing on the prescribed form to the Supervisor

and shall be accompanied by:-

(a) a certified copy of the Act, Charter, Deed of Settle-

ment, Memorandum of Association and Articles of

Association of the body corporate, or other document

or documents by which the body corporate is

constituted; and

(b) such fee as may be prescribed by regulations; and

(c) such evidence as the Supervisor may require -

(i) to show that the applicant has complied with its

obligations under the Companies Act, the

International Business Companies Act, or any

other enactment under which the applicant is

incorporated,

(ii) showing the nature and character of the appli-

cant’s business;

(iii) showing the financial standing of the applicant;

Registration of

International

Insurance

Companies.

Application for

registration.

CAP. 250.

CAP. 270.

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(iv) showing the shareholding and management of

the applicant; and

(v) showing the ultimate beneficial ownership of the

stocks or shares of the applicant;

(d) the address of its registered office in Belize;

(e) such references as the Supervisor may require; and

(f) such other information as may be required by

regulations.

(2) In addition to the documents, information, and evidence which

shall accompany an application under subsection (1) of this section, an

applicant shall, if required to do so by the Supervisor, furnish such additional

documents, information, or evidence as the Supervisor may require.

6. The Supervisor shall not register any applicant under section 7 of this

Act unless the applicant -

(a) is a company, a mutual society, a syndicate or a pool;

and

(b) satisfies the Supervisor that the amount paid up on its

share capital-

(i) in a case where the applicant proposes to carry

on long-term business but no other category of

business, is $100,000 or more;

(ii) in a case where the applicant proposes to carry

on general business but no other category of

Refusal of

registration.

business, is $100,000 or more;

(iii) in a case where the applicant proposes to carry

on reinsurance business but no other category

of business, is $50,000 or more;

(iv) in a case where the applicant proposes to carry

on captive insurance business but no other

category of business, is $25,000 or more;

and additionally satisfies the Supervisor that the

minimum paid up share capital shall be deposited with

an offshore bank or other licensed financial institution in

Belize and shall not be removed without the prior

written permission of the Supervisor; and

(c) satisfies the Supervisor that the controller, directors and

chief executive (if any) ofthe applicant are fit and

proper persons to be associated with insurance

companies; and

(d) satisfies the Supervisor that it has, or has available,

ade-quate knowledge and expertise of the insurance

business to be carried on; and

(e) satisfies the Supervisor that it has either -

(i) management in Belize with adequate knowledge

and expertise of the insurance business to be

carried on and has at least one director resident

in Belize; or

(ii) appointed a registered insurance manager in

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Belize with adequate knowledge and experience

of the insurance business to be carried on; and

(iii) appointed an attorney-at-law resident in Belize

(consent of which appointment shall be signified

by the person in writing) who is approved by the

Supervisor for the purpose of accepting service

of process in any legal proceedings to which the

insurer is a party;

(f) complies with the criteria contained in any regulations

made pursuant to this Act.

7.-(1) In relation to every application for registration, the Supervisor shall

either:-

(a) issue a certificate of registration to the applicant

authorizing it to carry on, subject to such terms and

conditions as he thinks appropriate, a defined category

or categories of insurance business; or

(b) reject the application; or

(c) defer the application and direct that such further

enquiries, submissions or clarifications as he considers

necessary be made.

(2) Where the Supervisor rejects an application, he shall notify the

applicant in writing of the rejection.

(3) If any terms and conditions are imposed under paragraph (a) of

subsection (1) of this section, the Supervisor may from time to time vary or

revoke any of those terms or conditions or impose any additional conditions.

Registration.

8.-(1) A registered insurer shall pay to the Supervisor an annual licence fee

as prescribed by regulations.

(2) Where application to renew the certificate is not made before

the date of expiry, or the annual renewal fee is not paid prior to that date, a

renewal certificate may nevertheless be issued, on payment of the

prescribed penalties provided that -

(a) the certificate of registration has not been cancelled or

revoked;

(b) a renewal application is made and the annual renewal

fee is paid within one month after the date of expiry of

the certificate; and

(c) the Supervisor is satisfied that there were good and

sufficient reasons as to why an application for renewal

or payment of the renewal fee was not made prior to

the date of expiry of the certificate.

(3) Every certificate of registration shall show on its face the date of

its expiry.

(4) Any director or officer of a registered insurer who knowingly

permits the company to continue to carry on its insurance business after the

date of expiry of its certificate of registration and before a current certificate

of registration has been issued commits an offence against this Act.

9.-(1) A certificate of registration may be cancelled or suspended or be

made subject to conditions by the Supervisor at any time and for such

period as the Supervisor deems fit, where there has been any change in the

circumstances of the registered insurer (including any change in share-

holding, management, or beneficial ownership) which would have caused

the Supervisor to have refused an application for registration if such changed

Renewal of

registration.

Cancellation or

suspension of, or

imposition of

conditions on,

certificate of

registration.

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circumstances had been part of the original application or where the

registered insurer -

(a) fails to furnish any document, information or evidence

which he has been required to furnish; or

(b) fails to notify the Supervisor of any material changes

which have taken place, as required by section 12 of

this Act; or

(c) has a winding-up order made against it; or

(d) fails to comply with any term or condition subject to

which the certificate of registration was issued; or

(e) is in breach of any duty or obligation imposed upon it by

this Act or commits an offence under this Act; or

(f) ceases to transact international insurance business from

within Belize for a period of one year and requests that

the certificate of registration be cancelled; or

(g) conducts its affairs in a manner which is or might be

prejudicial to the interests of present or potential policy

holders and the general public.

(2) Where the Supervisor intends to suspend or cancel a certificate

of registration or impose conditions on such certificate as provided in sub-

section (1) of this section, he shall give the registered insurer written notice of

his intention and a period of six weeks to show cause why the certificate

should not be suspended or cancelled or be subjected to conditions.

(3) Where the Supervisor has given written notice to the registered

insurer of his intention to suspend or cancel a certificate of registration or

impose conditions on such certificate under subsection (2) of this section, the

Supervisor, after considering any submissions and evidence tendered by the

registered insurer, may -

(a) suspend or cancel, or impose conditions on, the

certificate of registration;

(b) alter his intention by suspending instead of cancelling

the certificate of registration; or

(e) not proceed with his intention to suspend or cancel, or

impose conditions on, the certificate of registration,

and he shall give written notice to the registered insurer of his decision and

such decision shall take effect from such date as is specified by the Super-

visor in the notice.

(4) Where the Supervisor gives notice to the registered insurer of

his decision to suspend or cancel a certificate of registration or impose

condi-tions on such certificate under subsection (3) of this section, the

registered insurer shall return the certificate of registration to the Supervisor

forthwith.

10.-(1) Any person who is aggrieved by the cancellation or suspension of a

certificate of registration or imposition of conditions on such a certificate

may, within fourteen days of the giving of the notice under subsection (3) of

section 9 of this Act, appeal against such cancellation, suspension or

imposition of conditions to a Judge of the Court in Chambers, whose

decision thereon shall be final and a copy of the application shall be served

on the Supervisor seven days prior to the hearing.

(2) Pending the determination of any appeal under subsection (l) of

this section, the judge may at any time and from time to time defer the

cancellation, suspension or imposition of conditions which is the subject of

the appeal.

Appeal against

cancellation or

suspension of, or

imposition of

conditions on,

certificate of

registration.

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International Insurance [CAP. 269

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11. A registered insurer shall transact business only from its registered

office in Belize unless it applies in writing and receives the prior written per-

mission of the Supervisor to maintain its office at another location and the

Supervisor may grant such written permission upon such terms and

conditions as he thinks fit.

12.-(1) A registered insurer shall within twenty-one days after the making of

an alteration in the Act, Charter, Deed of Settlement, Memorandum of

Association, Articles of Association or other document by which it was

constituted a body corporate, submit to the Supervisor particulars in writing

of the alteration certified by a director or the secretary of the registered

insurer.

(2) A registered insurer shall within fourteen days notify the Super-

visor in writing of any material change in the particulars set out in the appli-

cation for registration or in the documents, information, or evidence accom-

panying that application or in any documents, information or evidence, if any,

given under section 5 of this Act.

PART III

Records, Accounts and Long-Term Business

13. In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires:-

“business records” include accounting, policy and claims records of the

registered insurer and such working papers and other documents as are

necessary to explain the methods and calculations by which its accounts are

made up;

“accounts” means profit and loss accounts and balance sheets, and includes

notes (other than directors’ reports) attached to, or intended to be read with,

any of those profit and loss accounts or balance sheets.

Place of

business.

Notification of

changes.

Interpretation of

words and

phrases used in

this Part.

14.-(1) A registered insurer shall at its registered office in Belize -

(a) keep and maintain such business records as to correctly

record and explain its transactions and financial

position; and

(b) keep and maintain its business records in such a manner

as to enable true and fair accounts to be prepared from

time to time, and

(c) keep and maintain its business records at its registered

office in Belize unless otherwise authorized in writing by

the Supervisor.

(2) Any registered insurer who fails to comply with this section

commits an offence against this Act.

15.-(1) In this section, the expression “annual accounts” means:-

(a) the revenue or fund account for the year; and

(b) the profit and loss account for the year or, in the case

of a registered insurer not trading for profit, income and

expenditure account for the year; and

(c) the balance sheet as at the end of the year in such form

(being a form calculated to enable comparisons to be

made between the registered insurer’s business for the

year in respect of which the statements are prepared

and the registered insurer’s business for the year

immediately preceding that year),

and shall contain such information as may be prescribed.

Keeping of

business records.

Annual accounts.

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(2) A copy of the registered insurer’s audited annual accounts,

signed by two directors, shall be submitted to the Supervisor within twenty

one days after the date of the meeting at which the accounts were approved

by the board of directors, and in any event not later than three months after

the close of the financial year to which they relate.

(3) Such statements, reports, certificates and information as may be

required by regulations made under this Act, or required by any other

enactment to be annexed or attached to the annual accounts for any purpose,

shall be produced to the Supervisor at the same time as the annual accounts

are submitted.

(4) For the purpose of this section, an audit shall be carried out by

an independent auditor approved for that purpose by the Supervisor.

(5) Any registered insurer who wilfully fails to comply with sub-

sections (2) and (3) of this section commits an offence against this Act.

(6) If an insurer deposits with the Supervisor a written undertaking

satisfactory to him that it will not engage in any business other than the re-

insurance of risks covered by one or more named insurers acceptable to the

Supervisor, the Supervisor may by writing under his hand exempt the insurer

from the whole or any part of the provisions of this section or section 6

subject to such conditions, if any, as the Supervisor may think fit to impose.

(7) The Minister may make regulations providing for the manner and

form in which registered insurers shall keep and maintain annual accounts,

and providing for the auditing of such accounts.

16.-(1) Payments from the long-term business fund shall not be made

directly or indirectly for any purpose other than those of the insurer’s long-

term business, except insofar as such payments may be made out of any

surplus certified by an auditor to be distributable otherwise than to a policy

holder.

Long-term

business fund.

(2) Every such insurer carrying on long-term business may establish

any number of separate accounts in respect of respective premiums paid to

it to provide:-

(a) annuities on human life; and

(b) contracts of insurance on human life,

and such respective premiums shall be kept segregated one from the other

and independent of all other funds of the insurer, and notwithstanding the

provisions of any other law to the contrary, shall not be chargeable with any

liability arising from any other business of the insurer.

(3) A contract for an annuity or insurance on human life may

provide that:-

(a) the benefit and obligations of the said contract may be

assigned, in whole or in part, to a third party; and

(b) premiums therefor are payable in cash, securities,

promissory notes, bonds, debentures, real or personal

property or any other asset or thing of value acceptable

to the insurer.

17.-(1) Where it is proposed to carry out a scheme under which the whole

or part of the long-term business carried on by a registered insurer (“the

transferor”) is to be transferred to another registered insurer (“the trans-

feree”), the transferor or transferee may apply to the Court by petition, for

an order sanctioning the scheme.

(2) The Court shall not determine an application under this section

unless the petition is accompanied by a report on the terms of the scheme

by an independent actuary (not being an employee of, nor actuary to, either

registered insurer) and the Court is satisfied that the requirements of sub-

Transfer of long-

term business.

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International Insurance [CAP. 269

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25

section (3) of this section have been complied with or that in the circum-

stances compliance is unnecessary.

(3) The requirements referred to in subsection (2) of this section are-

(a) that a notice has been published in such two newspapers

circulating in Belize as the Supervisor shall approve

stating that the application has been made and giving the

address of the offices at which, and the period for

which, copies of the documents mentioned in paragraph

(d) of this subsection shall be available as required by

that paragraph;

(b) except where the Court has otherwise directed, that the

statement -

(i) setting out the terms of the scheme; and

(ii) containing a sufficiently detailed summary of the

report mentioned in subsection (2) of this section

necessary to indicate the opinion of the actuary

on the likely effects of the scheme on the long-

term policy holders of the registered insurers

concerned,

has been sent to each of those policy holders and to

every member of those registered insurers;

(c) that a copy of the petition and of the report mentioned in

subsection (2) of this section and of any statement sent

out under paragraph (b) of this subsection has been

served on the Supervisor and that a period of not less

than three weeks has elapsed since the date of such

service; and

(d) that copies of the petition and of the report mentioned

in subsection (2) of this section have been open to

inspection at the office in Belize of the registered

insurers concerned or their representatives for a period

of not less than three weeks beginning with the date of

the publication of a notice in accordance with

paragraph (a) of this subsection.

(4) Each of the registered insurers concerned shall furnish a copy of

the petition and of the report mentioned in subsection (2) of this section to

any person who asks for one at any time before an order sanctioning the

scheme is made on the petition.

(5) On any petition under this section -

(a) the Supervisor; and

(b) any person (including any employee of the transferor or

the transferee) who alleges that he would be adversely

affected by the carrying out of the scheme,

shall be entitled to be heard.

(6) The Court shall not make an order sanctioning the scheme

unless it is satisfied that the transferee is, or, immediately after the making of

the order will be, authorized to carry on any long-term business to be

transferred under the scheme.

(7) No such transfer as is mentioned in subsection (1) of this

section shall be carried out unless the scheme relating to the transfer has

been sanctioned by the Court in accordance with this section and no order

shall be made under the Companies Act or the International Business

Companies Act, in respect of so much of any compromise or arrangement

as involves any such transfer.

CAP. 250.

CAP. 270.

,

No. 1 Power Lane,

Belmopan, by the authority of

the Government of Belize.

International Insurance [CAP. 269

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(8) Where the Court makes an order under this section sanctioning a

scheme the Court may, either by that order or by any subsequent order,

make provision for all or any of the following matters:-

(a) the transfer to the transferee of the whole or any part of

the undertaking and of the property or liabilities of the

transferor;

(b) the allotting or appropriation by the transferee of any

shares, debentures, policies or other like interests in the

transferee which under the scheme are to be allotted or

appropriated by the transferee to or for any person;

(c) the continuation by or against the transferee of any legal

proceedings pending by or against the transferor;

(d) the dissolution, without winding-up, of the transferor,

(e) such incidental, consequential and supplementary

matters as are necessary to secure that the scheme shall

be fully and effectively carried out.

(9) Where any such order provides for the transfer of property or

liabilities, that property shall, by virtue of the order, be transferred to and vest

in, and those liabilities shall, by virtue of the order, be transferred to and

become the liabilities of, the transferee, and in the case of any property, if the

order so directs, such property shall become free from any mortgage or

charge which is by virtue of the scheme to cease to have effect.

(10) For the purposes of any provision requiring the delivery of an

instrument as a condition for the registration of the transfer of any property,

an order which by virtue of this section operates to transfer any property

shall be treated as an instrument of transfer.

(11) Where a scheme is sanctioned by an order of the Court under

this section the transferee shall, within ten days from the date on which the

order is made, or such longer period as the Supervisor may allow, deposit

two certified copies of the order with the Supervisor.

(12) Any person who fails to comply with subsection (4) or (11) of

this section commits an offence against this Act.

18.-(1) Subject to subsection (7) of this section, every registered insurer

shall ensure that the value of its assets exceeds the amount of its liabilities

(“the margin of solvency”) by such amount as may be prescribed by or

determined in accordance with regulations made for the purposes of this

section.

(2) If the solvency margin of a registered insurer falls below such

amount as may be prescribed by or determined in accordance with regula-

tions made for the purposes of this section, the registered insurer shall at the

request of the Supervisor submit to him a short-term financial scheme within

thirty days of the request, or such longer period as the Supervisor may

permit, and shall if the Supervisor considers the scheme (or the scheme as

previously modified) inadequate, propose in writing modifications to it.

(3) A scheme submitted under subsection (2) of this section may

include proposals for -

(a) the appointment of a special manager acceptable to the

Supervisor; and

(b) the discontinuance, either in whole or in part, of the

registered insurer’s business.

(4) A registered insurer shall adhere to any scheme accepted by

the Supervisor.

Solvency margins.

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Belmopan, by the authority of

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(5) If a registered insurer is unable or fails to submit a scheme which

is acceptable to the Supervisor, the registered insurer shall be deemed to be

unable to pay its debts.

19. Every registered insurer who carries on only reinsurance business or

captive insurance business shall -

(a) have such surplus of tangible assets or other assets as

may be approved by the Supervisor over liabilities as

may from time to time be prescribed by regulations; and

(b) demonstrate, if required to do so by the Supervisor in

writing, to the satisfaction of the Supervisor, its financial

stability.

PART IV

Regulation of Registered Insurers

20.-(1) A registered insurer shall not carry on any activities from in and

within Belize or elsewhere otherwise than in connection with or for the

purpose of its international insurance business.

(2) Subject to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, a

registered insurer shall not carry on business from in and within Belize other

than international insurance business.

(3) A registered insurer authorized to carry on only captive

insurance business may underwrite a maximum of thirty per centum of

unrelated insurance business.

(4) Subject to subsection (5) of this section, a registered insurer may

effect reinsurance in respect of any international insurance business under-

taken by it and may assign to the policy holder the rights of the registered

Solvency margin

for reinsurer and

captive insurer.

Restriction of

business.

insurer against the reinsurer in respect of any particular policy. In the event

of such an assignment being effected, the policyholder shall continue to the

extent that the risks covered by the policy issued by the registered insurer

have not been so reinsured.

(5) An assignment pursuant to subsection (4) of this section shall be

valid only if the policy holder has consented in writing to the application of

this section to such assignment or if the person who will become the policy

holder upon its issue has so consented prior to the issue of the policy.

(6) Nothing in subsections (4) and (5) and in this subsection shall

restrict the ability of a registered insurer to effect reinsurance without an

assignment pursuant to subsection (4) of this section.

21.-(1) No advertising shall be made or tacitly or otherwise condoned by a

registered insurer which is likely to mislead or deceive prospective policy

holders with respect to the registered insurer’s assets, corporate structure,

financial standing, age or relative position in the insurance business or in any

other material respect. The registration certificate of a registered insurance

manager shall be prominently displayed by the registered insurer.

(2) Any person who contravenes this section commits an offence

against this Act.

22.-(1) No person shall act as an insurance manager for, or in relation to, a

registered insurer, unless that person is registered in a register kept by the

Supervisor in accordance with regulations and has paid to the Supervisor

the prescribed registration fee and every prescribed renewal fee.

(2) An applicant for registration shall provide such documents and

information as may be required by the Supervisor including, without limiting

the generality of the foregoing, such documents and information as the

Super-visor may require to satisfy himself that the applicant is a person in

good standing and has or has available adequate knowledge and expertise

Advertising.

Insurance

managers.

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Belmopan, by the authority of

the Government of Belize.

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to provide satisfactory insurance management services in Belize.

(3) Sections 23, 24, 25 and 32 of this Act shall apply, with the

necessary modifications, in relation to any person acting as an insurance

manager to the same extent as they apply to a registered insurer.

(4) The Supervisor may, if he thinks it proper to do so-

(a) refuse to register any application for registration; and

(b) cancel any registration at any time.

(5) Where a person carries on a business which in any respect is, or

in the opinion of the Supervisor appears to be, of a similar character to the

business carried on by an insurance manager, that person, upon a declara-

tion madebythe Supervisor in writing, shall be subject to the provisions of this

section and shall be deemed to be acting as an insurance manager.

(6) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) of this section or

wilfully:-

(a) takes or uses any style, title or description which

consists of or includes the expression “insurance

manager” when he is not so registered; or

(b) takes or uses any style, title or description falsely

implying, or otherwise pretends, that he so is registered,

commits an offence against this Act.

23.-(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, every registered insurer

shall to the satisfaction of the Supervisor:-

(a) have a registered office in Belize; and

Management.

(b) have management in Belize with adequate knowledge

and experience of the insurance business carried on, or

appoint a registered insurance manager in Belize, to

perform this function.

(2) A registered insurer who is authorized to carry on only rein-

surance or captive insurance may be exempted by the Supervisor from the

requirements of subsection (1) (b) of this section.

24.-(1) The Supervisor may require a registered insurer to provide him, at

specified times or intervals, with information about specified matters relating

to the insurer, and such information may be verified in a specified manner or

provided in a specified form.

(2) The Supervisor may require a registered insurer to produce, at

such time and place as the Supervisor may specify, such documents or

infor-mation as the Supervisor may specify.

(3) Any power conferred by virtue of subsection (1) or (2) to re-

quire a registered insurer or other person to produce any document or infor-

mation shall include a power to take copies of it or extracts from it.

(4) Any person who fails to supply information or to produce any

document when required to do so by the Supervisor in accordance with this

section, commits an offence against this Act.

(5) The powers conferred by this section and section 25 may be

exercised in relation to a registered insurer who has ceased to have any

liability in respect of any contract of insurance which was entered into at a

time when it was registered.

(6) For the purpose of ascertaining whether a registered insurer is

complying with the provisions of this Act, the Supervisor or any person

authorized by him may inspect any book, minute book, register or record

Power to obtain

information.

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Belmopan, by the authority of

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International Insurance [CAP. 269

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required by or under this Act to be kept by the registered insurer.

(7) A person who, except for the purposes of this Act, or when

properly ordered to do so by the Court, makes a record of, divulges or

communicates to any other person, any information which he has acquired by

reason of such inspection, commits an offence against this Act.

(8) A registered insurer or any official thereof shall, on being

required by the Supervisor or a person authorized by the Supervisor,

produce any such book, register or record.

(9) A registered insurer or any officer thereof shall not obstruct or

hinder the Supervisor or any person so authorized while exercising any of the

powers referred to in subsection (5) of this section.

(10) There shall be paid to the Supervisor such fees and penalties as

are prescribed.

25.-(1) The Supervisor may appoint in writing an Inspector to investigate the

affairs or any part of the affairs of a registered insurer and to inspect the

registered insurer’s business and accounting records and accounts and such

other records as may have been kept by the registered insurer in the course

of its international insurance business, for any reason and if he has reason to

believe that the registered insurer is carrying on its business in a manner

prejudicial to the interests of its policy holders or of persons who may

become policy holders or that it may have insufficient assets to cover its

liabilities and claims by policy holders, or that it may be contravening any of

the provisions of this Act, either in Belize or elsewhere.

(2) It shall be the duty of the registered insurer under investigation

and of all past and present officers of the registered insurer and of any related

company which has been involved in the international insurance business

transactions of the registered insurer, to produce to the Inspector all books,

records and documents relating to the registered insurer or related company

Inspection and

investigation.

under investigation which are in their custody or control and otherwise to

give the Inspector all assistance in connection with the investigation which

they are reasonably able to give.

(3) The Inspector shall have powers of entry and access necessary

for the purposes of this section, and he may take possession of all such

books, accounts and documents as, and for so long as, may be necessary

for the purposes of his inspection and investigation.

(4) The Inspector shall exercise his rights of entry and access under

subsection (3) during the normal office hours of the registered insurer, unless

otherwise authorized by the Court.

(5) The Inspector may take copies of all books, accounts and

documents of the registered insurer in his possession for the purposes of his

inspection and investigation under this section.

(6) Any person who -

(a) wilfully obstructs the Inspector acting in the execution

of his powers under this section;

(b) refuses, fails or neglects to produce any books,

accounts, documents or information required under this

section; or

(c) knowingly produces or causes or permits to be pro-

duced any book, account, document or information

required under this section which he knows to be false

in a material particular,

commits an offence against this Act.

(7) The Inspector shall have the same powers in respect of the

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Belmopan, by the authority of

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supply of information and production of documents as are given to the

Supervisor under section 24.

26. The Supervisor and officers or officials thereof and an Inspector

appointed under section 25 of this Act, shall not reveal any information to any

person other than to a law enforcement officer not below the rank of

Inspector for the purposes of enabling him to carry out his duties as such

officer of the Government, and any such officer to whom such information is

revealed shall similarly not reveal it to any person other than such a person as

is referred to herein.

27.-(1) The provisions of the Part IV of the Companies Act and Part IX of

the International Business Companies Act, shall apply mutatis mutandis

with respect to the winding-up of a registered insurer registered under this

Act, subject to the provisions of this section and sections 28, 29 and 30 of

this Act.

(2) A petition for the winding-up of a registered insurer shall not be

presented by any person other than by or on behalf of the Supervisor with-

out the leave of the Court.

28.-(1) The Supervisor may present a petition for the winding-up of a

registered insurer or its business from in or from within Belize on any ground

provided by and in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act

and/or the International Business Companies Act, and also on the following

additional grounds:-

(a) that the registered insurer has failed to satisfy an obliga-

tion to which it is or was subject by virtue of this Act;

(b) that the registered insurer, being under an obligation

imposed by the Companies Act or the International

Business Companies Act or this Act with respect to the

keeping of business and accounting records, has kept in

Use of

information.

Winding-up of

registered

insurer.

CAP. 250.

CAP. 270.

Winding-up on

petition of

Supervisor.

CAP. 250.

CAP. 270.

CAP. 250.

CAP. 270.

satisfaction of that obligation and the Supervisor is

unable to ascertain its financial position.

(2) ln any proceedings on a petition to wind-up a registered insurer

presented by the Supervisor under subsection (1) of this section, evidence

that such registered insurer was insolvent at the close of the period to which

the annual accounts of the registered insurer last submitted under section 15

of this Act relate shall be evidence that the registered insurer continues to be

unable to pay its debts, unless the contrary is proved.

29.-(1) No registered insurer which carries on long-term business shall be

wound-up voluntarily.

(2) Subject to subsection (3) of this section, in any winding-up -

(a) the assets of a registered insurer’s long-term business

fund or funds shall be available only for meeting the

liabilities and expenses of the registered insurer

attributable to such long-term business for which the

particular fund or funds were created;

(b) the other assets of the registered insurer shall be avail-

able only for meetingthe liabilities and expenses of the

registered insurer attributable to its other business.

(3) Where the value of the assets mentioned in either paragraph of

subsection (2) of this section exceeds the amount of the liabilities and

expenses mentioned in that paragraph, the restriction imposed by that

subsection shall not apply to so much of those assets as represents the

excess.

(4) Where under the Companies Act or the International Business

Companies Act, any money or property is ordered to be repaid or restored

to a registered insurer or any sum is ordered to be contributed to its assets

Winding-up of

insurer with long-

term business.

CAP. 250.

CAP. 270.

,

No. 1 Power Lane,

Belmopan, by the authority of

the Government of Belize.

International Insurance [CAP. 269

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then, if and in so far as the wrongful act which is the reason for the making of

the order relates to assets representing a fund or funds maintained by the

registered insurer in respect of its long-term business, the Court shall include

in the order a direction that the money, property or contribution shall be

treated for the purposes of this Act as assets of that fund or funds and this

Act shall have effect accordingly.

30.-(1) This section has effect in relation to the winding-up of a registered

insurer carrying on long-term business.

(2) The Liquidator shall, unless the Court otherwise orders, carry on

the long-term business of the registered insurer with a view to its being

transferred as a going concern to another international insurance company or

foreign company, and, in carrying on that business as aforesaid, the

Liquidator may agree to the variation of any contracts of insurance in

existence at the commencement of the winding-up but shall not effect any

new contracts of insurance.

(3) If the Liquidator is satisfied that the interests of the creditors in

respect of liabilities of the registered insurer attributable to its long-term

business require the appointment of a special manager of the registered

insurer’s long-term business, he may apply to the Court, and the Court may

on such application appoint a special manager to act during such time as the

Court may direct, with such power as may be granted to him by the Court.

(4) A special manager appointed under subsection (3) shall -

(a) give such security and account in such manner as the

Court may direct; and

(b) receive such remuneration as may be fixed by the Court.

(5) The Court may, if it thinks fit and subject to such conditions (if

any) as it may determine, reduce the amount of the contracts made by the

Continuation of

long-term

business of

insurers in

liquidation.

registered insurer in the course of carrying on its long-term business.

(6) The Court may, on the application of the Liquidator, or a special

manager appointed under subsection (3) of this section, or the Supervisor,

appoint an independent actuary to investigate the long-term business of such

company and to report to the Liquidator, the special manager or the

Supervisor, as the case may be, on the desirability or otherwise of that

business being continued and on any reduction in the contracts made in the

course of carrying on that business that may be necessary for its successful

continuation.

31. In the case of an international insurance company which has been

proved to be unable to pay its debts, the Court may, if it thinks fit, reduce

the amount of the contracts of the company on such terms and subject to

such conditions as the Court thinks just, in place of making a winding-up

order.

32.-(1) Any information from which an individual or body can be identified

which is acquired by the Supervisor or any registered insurer in the course

of carrying out his or its functions shall be regarded as confidential by the

Supervisor and such registered insurer, and by his or its members, officers

and servants.

(2) No such information as is referred to in subsection (1) shall be

disclosed, without the consent of every individual who, and every body

which, can be identified from that information, except to the extent that its

disclosure appears to the Supervisor to be necessary -

(a) to enable the Supervisor to carry out any of his

statutory functions; or

(b) in the interests of the prevention or detection of crime;

or

Reduction of

contracts as

alternative to

winding-up.

Confidentiality of

information.

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Belmopan, by the authority of

the Government of Belize.

International Insurance [CAP. 269

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(c) in connection with the discharge of any international

obligation to which Belize is subject; or

(d) to assist, in the interests of the public, any authority

which appears to the Supervisor to exercise in a place

outside Belize functions corresponding to those of the

Supervisor; or

(e) to comply with the directions of the Court in Belize.

(3) Without prejudice to subsections (1) and (2), any information

communicated to the Supervisor by another jurisdiction shall be regarded as

confidential, if that jurisdiction so requests, by the Supervisor and by his

members, officers, and servants; and such information shall not be disclosed

except in compliance with the directions of the Court.

(4) A person who discloses information, or who causes or permits

the disclosure of information, in contravention of this section commits an

offence and is liable -

(a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term

not exceeding two years, or to a fine, or to both such

fine and term of imprisonment; or

(b) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding five

hundred dollars.

PART V

Taxation and Exemptions

33. Notwithstanding anything contained in any other enactment:-

(a) no income tax, or any other direct or indirect tax or

Profits and

dividends.

impost, shall be levied in Belize upon the transactions,

contracts, securities or other dealings or upon profits or

gains of a registered insurer, or upon any premiums

earned by a registered insurer, or money paid to an

insured by a registered insurer, in respect of any

international insurance business written in or from within

Belize; and

(b) no income tax, or any other direct or indirect tax or

impost, shall be levied in Belize in respect of any

dividends or earnings attributable to the shares or

securities of a registered insurer, or upon any premiums

paid to a registered insurer or money paid to an insured

by a registered insurer.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the exemptions granted

to a registered insurer by the provisions of this section, sections 34 and 35,

such exemptions shall:-

(a) be evidenced by a certificate issued at no extra charge

in the name of the Minister,

(b) not apply so as to exempt a registered insurer from

increases in fees;

(c) not apply so as to exempt a registered insurer from the

prescribed annual fee.

34. Contracts of insurance executed for or in connection with the

international insurance business of a registered insurer under this Act shall be

exempt from stamp duty.

35.-(1) Any international insurance business conducted by a registered

insurer in accordance with this Act shall be exempt from any currency and

Exemption from

stamp duty.

Exemption from

currency and

exchange control.

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Belmopan, by the authority of

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International Insurance [CAP. 269

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exchange control restrictions or exchange control regulations.

(2) No foreign exchange levy shall be imposed or be payable in

respect of any international insurance business conducted by a registered

insurer in accordance with this Act.

PART VI

Miscellaneous

36. Both the Minister and the Supervisor shall not, nor shall any member,

officer or person acting pursuant to any authority conferred by the Minister

or the Supervisor, as the case may be, be liable to any action, suit or

proceeding for, or in respect of, any act or matter done or omitted to be

done in good faith in the exercise, or purported exercise, of the functions

conferred by or under this Act or any regulations made thereunder.

37. Any person who:-

(a) causes or permits to be included in any book or

document provided or produced to the Minister, the

Supervisor, or to an lnspector appointed under the

provisions of section 25 of this Act, a statement which

he knows to be false in a material particular; or

(b) in purported compliance with any provision of this Act

or a requirement imposed under any such provision,

provides information which he knows to be false in a

material particular or recklessly provides information

which is false in a material particular,

commits an offence against this Act.

Indemnity.

False statements.

38.-(1) Any person who commits an offence against the provisions, or any

part of the provisions, of any one of sections 14, 21, 22, 24, 32 and 33

shall be liable on conviction (if the offender is a natural person) to a fine not

exceeding ten thousand dollars or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding

twelve months or to both such fine and term of imprisonment in respect of

each such offence, and if the offender is not a natural person, to a fine not

exceeding twenty thousand dollars.

(2) Any person who commits an offence against the provisions, or

any part of the provisions, of any one of sections 3, 4, 8, 25, and 38 shall

be liable, (if the offender is a natural person), to a fine not exceeding twenty

five thousand dollars or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years

or to both such fine and such term of imprisonment in respect of each such

offence, and if the offender is not a natural person, to a fine not exceeding

one hundred thousand dollars.

(3) Any person who contravenes or fails or neglects to comply with

any provision of this Act or regulations made thereunder, commits an

offence against this Act or regulations made thereunder, and shall be liable

on convic-tion on indictment, in a case for which no specific penalty is

otherwise provided in this Act, (if the offender is a natural person), to a fine

not exceeding five thousand dollars or to a term of imprisonment not

exceeding six months, or to both such fine and such term of imprisonment,

and if the offender is not a natural person, to a fine not exceeding ten

thousand dollars.

(4) Where any person is convicted of an offence under this Act and

such offence is a continuing offence, the offender shall be liable in addition to

the penalty otherwise provided for in this Act, to an additional fine not

exceeding five hundred dollars for every day for which the offence

continues.

(5) Where any offence under this Act committed by a body cor-

porate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of,

General penalty

provision.

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Belmopan, by the authority of

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or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of any director, chief executive

officer, manager, secretary or other similar officer or servant of the body

corporate, such director, chief executive officer, manager, secretary or other

similar officer or servant shall be deemed to have committed the offence

against this Act and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished

accordingly, in addition to or together with the body corporate.

(6) Any person who is convicted of an offence under section 32 and

is proved to have solicited, received or offered (as the case may be), on

behalf of himself or any other person, any reward for doing the act which

constituted the offence, he shall be liable, in addition to any penalty imposed

under subsection (1), to a further fine equivalent to the amount or value of the

reward solicited, received or offered, and to forfeit the amount or value of

any reward actually received by him.

(7) No person shall be prosecuted for an offence under this Act

without the consent in writing of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

39.-(1) The Minister may from time to time make such regulations as may

be deemed necessary or expedient for the purpose of giving full effect to the

provisions of this Act and for the due administration thereof.

(2) Without limiting the general powers conferred by subsection (1)

of this section, it is hereby declared that regulations may be made under this

section for all or any of the following purposes:-

(a) for prohibiting or restricting the issue or transfer of any

share in a registered insurer or any interest in such a

share, to any specified person or class of persons,

(b) for restricting a registered insurer and any related

company from entering into transactions of any specified

description with any person of any specified class or

description;

Regulations.

(c) providing for the preparation, form and content of the

annual accounts of a registered insurer;

(d) providing for the preparation, form and content of

statements, reports and information to be annexed to

annual accounts;

(e) providing for the solvency margins to be maintained by

registered insurers in respect of different categories of

business;

(f) for restricting the appointment of auditors to persons

who have effected indemnity insurance of such type and

amount as may be specified;

(g) providing for the determination of the level and amount

of assets and liabilities for the purposes of the

calculations of margins of solvency under this Act, and

that, for any specified purpose, assets or liabilities of

any specified category or description shall be left out of

account or shall be taken into account only to a

specified extent;

(h) for the fixing of penalties for contravening any provision

of regulations made under this Act; and

(i) for purposes connected with any of the matters

specified in paragraphs (a) to (b) above.

40. In the event that any act or step is required or permitted to be done

under this Act, and no form is prescribed or procedure laid down in this Act

or regulations for doing the same, the Supervisor may, in response to an

application to him, or on his own motion, give guidelines and directions as to

Procedure to be

taken where no

procedure laid

down in this Act

or regulations.

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the manner in which the same may be done and any act or step done or

taken in accordance with his guidelines and directions shall be a valid

performance of such act or step.

41.-(1) Every document filed with the Supervisor, and all records and

accounts required to be kept under this Act, shall be in the English language.

(2) Where a document is not in the English language it shall be

accompanied by an authentic English translation, and in the event of any

conflict in meaning between the foreign language and the English version, the

English version shall prevail.

__________

English the

authentic text.