Section 26.1-05-19 - Authorized investment of funds of insurance companiesA domestic insurance company may invest any of its funds and accumulations in:
1. Securities or obligations made specifically eligible for such investment by law.2. Bonds or other evidences of indebtedness issued, assumed, or guaranteed by the United States, the District of Columbia, or by any state, territory, or insular possession of the United States or by any county, city, township, school district, or other civil division of a state, including loan-backed securities, those payable from special revenues or earnings specifically pledged for the payment thereof, and those payable from special assessments, including rights to purchase or sell these securities or obligations if these rights are traded upon a contract market designated and regulated by a federal agency and purchased for legitimate hedging, nonspeculative purposes.3. Bonds or other evidences of indebtedness issued, assumed, or guaranteed by any instrumentality or agency of the United States, including rights to purchase or sell these securities or obligations if these rights are traded upon a contract market designated and regulated by a federal agency and purchased for legitimate hedging, nonspeculative purposes.4. Notes or bonds secured by mortgage or deed of trust insured by the federal housing administrator, debentures issued by the federal housing administrator, and securities issued by national mortgage associations.5. Bonds guaranteed under former chapter 6-09.2.6. Bonds issued by the public finance authority pursuant to chapter 6-09.4.7. Bonds issued by the state board of higher education under chapter 15-55.8. Revenue bonds issued by the state water commission.9. Interim financing notes issued by the state water commission pursuant to chapter 61-02.10. Warrants issued by a city under chapter 40-24.11. Bonds or notes issued pursuant to chapter 40-33.2.12. Bonds or other obligations issued pursuant to chapter 40-58.13. Bonds issued under chapter 40-61.14. Bonds issued under chapter 54-30.15. Notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the North Dakota life and health insurance guaranty association not in default.16. Notes or other interest-bearing obligations of any state development corporation of which the company is a member, issued in accordance with chapter 10-30.17. Bonds or other evidences of indebtedness issued, assumed, or guaranteed by Canada or any province thereof, or by any municipality or district therein, provided that the obligations are valid and legally authorized and issued.18. Mortgage bonds and debentures of any solvent railway company duly incorporated and authorized under the laws of this state or of any other state or insular possession of the United States or of Canada or of any province thereof.19. Obligations, including bonds or evidences of indebtedness, or participation in those bonds or evidences of indebtedness, or loan-backed securities, which are issued, assumed, guaranteed, or insured by any solvent legal entity duly incorporated and authorized under the laws of the United States or of any state or insular possession thereof, or of Canada or of any province thereof, including rights to purchase or sell these securities or obligations if these rights are traded upon a contract market designated and regulated by a federal agency and purchased for legitimate hedging, nonspeculative purposes.20. Preferred stock, of, or common or preferred stock guaranteed as to dividends by, and common stock of, any corporation organized under the laws of the United States, any state or possession of the United States, Canada or any province of Canada, including rights to purchase or sell these securities or obligations if these rights are traded upon a contract market designated and regulated by a federal agency and purchased for legitimate hedging, nonspeculative purposes, subject to the following restrictions and limitations:a. Investments in preferred, guaranteed, and common stocks issued or guaranteed by a single person may not exceed three percent of the insurance company's admitted assets.b. Investments in preferred, guaranteed, and common stocks may not exceed in the aggregate the greater of twenty-five percent of admitted assets or one hundred percent of the capital and surplus of a nonlife insurance company.c. Investments in preferred, guaranteed, and common stocks may not exceed in the aggregate twenty percent of the life insurance company's admitted assets. For purposes of this section, preferred stock includes mandatory sinking fund preferred stock. Common stock includes shares of mutual funds, master limited partnerships trading as common stock, and American deposit receipts that are traded on a nationally recognized securities exchange or on the national association of securities dealers automated quotations system.
21. Savings accounts, under certificates of deposit or in any other form, in solvent banks and trust companies which have qualified for federal deposit insurance corporation protection, shares and savings accounts, under certificates of deposit, investment certificates, or in any other form, in solvent savings and loan associations organized under federal law or state law of any state which have qualified for federal savings and loan insurance corporation protection, and shares and deposit accounts, under certificates of deposit or in any other form, in solvent state or federally chartered credit unions which are insured by the national credit union administration. Investments in the shares and accounts are not limited to, or by, the amount of any such insurance protection. Short-term or liquidity investments such as certificates of deposit, repurchase agreements, bankers' acceptances, commercial paper, money market mutual funds, or current interest accounts in solvent banks and trust companies, savings and loan associations, state or federally chartered credit unions, investment brokerage houses which are regulated by a federal agency, and such other types of investments as may be deemed appropriate and authorized by rule by the commissioner.22. Loans made upon the security of its own policies, if a life insurance company, but no loan on any policy may exceed the reserve value thereof.23. Notes secured by mortgages on unencumbered real estate, including construction loans and leaseholds substantially having and furnishing the rights and protection of a first real estate mortgage, within the United States or any province of Canada. An investment in a construction loan covering any single parcel of real estate may not exceed one quarter of one percent of the admitted assets of the company. Investments in construction loans in the aggregate may not exceed two percent of the admitted assets of the company. No loan may be made under this subsection unless at the date of acquisition the total indebtedness secured by such lien does not exceed eighty percent of the value of the property upon which it is a lien, provided that the loan requires immediate scheduled payment in periodic installments of principal and interest and periodic payments are made no less frequently than annually. A loan that does not meet these requirements may not exceed seventy-five percent of the value of the property. A loan may be made in an amount exceeding these percentage limitations if the value of the property mortgaged in excess of the limitation is guaranteed or insured by the federal housing administration or guaranteed by the administrator of veterans' affairs or is insured by private mortgage insurance through an insurance company authorized to do business in this state. Loans may be amortized on the basis of a final maturity not exceeding thirty years from the date of the loan with an actual maturity date of the loan at any time less than thirty years. A loan on a single-family dwelling, when the loan is amortized on the basis of a final maturity twenty-five years or less from the date of the loan, may be made in an amount not exceeding eighty percent of the value of the property mortgaged. The loan on a single-family dwelling may be made in an amount exceeding eighty percent so long as any amount over eighty percent of the value of the property mortgaged is insured by private mortgage insurance through an insurance company authorized to do business in this state. Buildings may not be included in the valuation of such property unless they are insured and the policies are made payable to the company as its interest may appear. A loan may not be made in excess of the amount of insurance carried on the buildings plus the value of the land. No insurance company may hold less than the entire loan represented by the bonds or notes described in this subsection except that a company may own part of an aggregate obligation if all other participants in the investment are insurance companies authorized to do business in North Dakota or banks whose depositors are insured by the federal deposit insurance corporation or savings and loan associations whose members are insured by the federal savings and loan insurance corporation or unless the security of the bonds or notes, as well as all collateral papers, including insurance policies, executed in connection therewith, are made to and held by a trustee which is a solvent bank or trust company having a paid-in capital of not less than two hundred fifty thousand dollars, except in case of banks or trust companies incorporated under the laws of the state of North Dakota, wherein a paid-in capital of not less than one hundred thousand dollars is required. In case of proper notification of default, the trustee, upon request of at least twenty-five percent of the holders of the bonds outstanding, and proper indemnification, shall proceed to protect the rights of the bondholders under the provisions of the trust indentures. An insurance company may acquire such an interest in real estate directly or as a joint venture, limited liability company, or through a limited or general partnership in which the insurance company is a partner. An insurance company acquiring such an interest in real estate on the basis of a joint venture, limited liability company, or through a limited or general partnership may acquire such an interest so long as the company's interest does not exceed seventy-five percent of the value of the property.24. First mortgage bonds on improved city real estate in any state, issued by a corporation duly incorporated under the laws of any state of the United States, if the loans on the real estate are made in accordance with the requirements as to first mortgage loans in subsection 23.25. Real estate for the production of income or for improvement or development for the production of income subject to the following provisions and limitations:a. Real estate used primarily for farming or agriculture may not be acquired under this subsection.b. Investments made by any company under this subsection may not at any time exceed ten percent of the admitted assets of the company.c. An investment in any single parcel of real estate acquired under this subsection may not exceed two percent of the admitted assets of the company.d. The real estate, including the cost of improvements, must be valued at cost and the improvements may be depreciated annually at an average rate of not less than two percent of the original cost.e. An insurance company may acquire such real estate or an interest in such real estate directly or as a joint venture, limited liability company, or through a limited or general partnership in which the insurance company is a partner.26. Land and buildings used as home or regional offices, subject to the following provisions and limitations: a. Land and buildings thereon owned by the company in which the square footage of the property is more than fifty percent occupied by the company and its affiliates.b. Investments or total commitment in the land and buildings may not aggregate more than ten percent of the company's admitted assets without the consent of the commissioner.c. The real estate, including the cost of improvements, must be valued at cost and the improvements must be depreciated annually at an average rate of not less than two percent of the original cost.27. Investments by loans or otherwise, in the purchase of electric or mechanical machines, including software, constituting a data processing system. The company may hold the system as an admitted asset for use in connection with the business of the company if its aggregate cost does not exceed three percent of the company's capital and surplus and the cost of the components constituting the system is fully amortized over a period of not to exceed five years. If a data processing system consists of separate components acquired at different times, then the cost of each component must be amortized over a period not to exceed five years commencing with the date of acquisition of each component.28. Promissory notes amply secured by the pledge of bonds or other evidences of indebtedness in which the company is authorized to invest its funds by the provisions of this section.29. Ownership of, or loans secured by first liens upon:a. Production payments or interests therein payable from oil, gas, other hydrocarbons, or other minerals in producing properties located in areas of established and continuing production within the United States or the adjacent continental shelf areas, which production payments are dischargeable from property interests appraised by independent petroleum engineers at the time of the acquisition or loan, based on current market prices, to have a current market value of at least one hundred fifty percent of the purchase price of, or the amount loaned upon the security of, such production payments. The term "production payments" means rights to oil, gas, other hydrocarbons, or other minerals in place or as produced which entitle the owner thereof to a specified fraction or percentage of production or the proceeds thereof, until a specified or determinable sum of money has been received, and which have investment qualities and characteristics in which the speculative elements are not predominant.b. Royalty interests, overriding royalty interests, net profit interests, leasehold interests, working interests, or other interests or rights in oil, gas, other hydrocarbons, or other minerals in place or as produced, which interests or rights may be subject to production payments of the nature described in subdivision a. No domestic insurance company may invest more than five percent of its admitted assets in the ownership of such interests or rights. In determining the amount invested in such interests or rights at any given time, each insurance company may evaluate such interests or rights in such manner as will permit it to amortize the interests or rights over a period of time during which not more than seventy-five percent of the dollar value of the recoverable production accruing to such interests or rights will be produced, as determined by independent petroleum engineers at the time of investment.
30. Obligations secured by a pledge of personal property, as follows:a. Tangible personal property, or equipment trust certificates or other instruments evidencing an interest in or debt secured by tangible personal property, if there is a right to receive determined portions of rental, purchase, or other fixed obligatory payments for the use or purchase of such tangible personal property.b. Bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness secured wholly or partially by tangible personal property, provided that at the date of acquisition the amount of such indebtedness does not exceed sixty-six and two-thirds percent of the value of such tangible personal property. The aggregate outstanding investment made under subdivisions a and b may not exceed five percent of the admitted assets of the life insurance company.
31. Loans, securities, or investments issued by a small business investment company created by the Myron G. Nelson Fund, Incorporated, and licensed by the small business administration under the Small Business Investment Company Act of 1958 [Pub. L. 85-699; 72 Stat. 689; 15 U.S.C. 661 et seq.] or the Small Business Equity Enhancement Act of 1992 [Pub. L. 102-366; 106 Stat. 1007-1020; 15 U.S.C. 661 et seq.].32. Loans, securities, or investments in addition to those permitted in this section, whether or not the loans, securities, or investments qualify or are permitted as legal investments under its charter or under other provisions of this section or under other provisions of the laws of this state. The aggregate admitted value of the company's investments under this section may not at any one time exceed either seven percent of the company's admitted assets, or the amount equal to the company's capital and surplus in excess of the minimum capital and surplus required by law, whichever is less.33. Loans, securities, or investments in a North Dakota low-risk incentive fund organized under chapter 26.1-50. The aggregate admitted value of the company's investment under this subsection may not at any time exceed the lesser of five percent of the company's admitted assets or the amount equal to the company's capital and surplus in excess of the minimum capital and surplus required by law. A company making an investment under this subsection may value at par any investment purchased at par.34. Foreign investments of substantially the same types as those permitted under subsections 19 and 20. a. Under this subsection, a foreign investment is subject to the following restrictions and limitations: (1) Foreign investments issued, assumed, guaranteed, or insured by a single person may not exceed three percent of the insurance company's admitted assets.(2) Foreign investments in a single foreign jurisdiction may not exceed in the aggregate ten percent of the insurance company's admitted assets as to a foreign jurisdiction that has a sovereign debt rating of one as determined by the securities valuation office of the national association of insurance commissioners or three percent of the insurance company's admitted assets as to any other foreign jurisdiction.(3) Foreign investments may not exceed in the aggregate twenty percent of the insurance company's admitted assets.b. Investments acquired under this subsection must be aggregated with investments of the same type made under subsection 20 for purposes of determining compliance with the limitations contained in that subsection.c. For purposes of this subsection, a foreign investment means an investment in a foreign jurisdiction or an investment in a legal entity domiciled in a foreign jurisdiction. A foreign jurisdiction is any jurisdiction other than the United States, any state or possession of the United States, Canada, or any province of Canada. The commissioner may adopt rules as to investments which are permissible for any domestic insurance company which may waive or increase any limitation on investments or authorize companies to invest their funds in investments which are not specifically mentioned in statutes relating to investments if the commissioner finds, after notice and hearing, that such funds would be well invested and available for the payment of losses. The commissioner, in adopting such rules, may not be any more restrictive, or place any greater limitations on, any type of investment in which companies are authorized by statute to invest their funds.
This section does not prohibit a company from taking any action deemed necessary or expedient for the protection of investments made by it or from accepting in good faith, to protect its interests, securities, or property not mentioned in this section in payment or to secure debts due to it.
Amended by S.L. 2023 , ch. 65( HB 1038 ), § 10, eff. 8/1/2023.Amended by S.L. 2023 , ch. 65( HB 1038 ), § 9, eff. 8/1/2023.