Learn About The Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff
(a) Any domestic insurance company, association or exchange may pay dividends and other distributions to its shareholders only out of unassigned funds (surplus) or upon approval of the Insurance Commissioner as set forth in subsection (b).
(b) A domestic insurance company, association or exchange may, conditioned upon receipt of the Insurance Commissioner's approval, declare a dividend or other distribution from other than unassigned surplus: Provided, however, That the declaration shall confer no rights upon the security holders of the insurer, and the insurer may not pay the dividend until the Insurance Commissioner has:
(1) Approved the payment of the dividend or other distribution.
(2) Not disapproved the payment of the dividend or other distribution within thirty days after receipt of written notice from the insurer of the declaration thereof. The written notice shall include a schedule setting forth all dividends or other distributions made within the previous twelve months.
(c) Notwithstanding subsection (b), no dividend or other distribution may be declared or paid by a domestic insurance company, association or exchange which would reduce its total capital and surplus to an amount which is less than the amount required by the Insurance Department for the kind or kinds of business which it is authorized to transact.
(d) All information reported to the Insurance Commissioner pursuant to this section shall be given confidential treatment and shall not be subject to subpoena and shall not be made public by the Insurance Commissioner or any other person, except to insurance departments of other states, without the prior written consent of the insurer to which it pertains unless the Insurance Commissioner, after giving the insurer and any 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 he may publish all or any part thereof in such manner as he may deem appropriate.
(e) As used in this section “unassigned funds (surplus)” means undistributed, accumulated surplus, including net income and unrealized gains, since the organization of the insurer.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Pennsylvania Statutes Title 40 P.S. Insurance § 459.8. Disposition of unassigned funds - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/pa/title-40-ps-insurance/pa-st-sect-40-459-8/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)