An insurer shall invest in or hold as admitted assets categories of investments within applicable limits as follows only:
(1) One person. — An insurer shall not at any 1 time have any combination of investments in or loans upon the security of obligations, property or securities of any 1 person (other than its lawful subsidiary) aggregating over 10% of the insurer's assets. This shall not apply as to general obligations of the United States or of any state, or of Canada or any province thereof, or include policy loans made under § 1317 of this title.
(2) Voting stock. — An insurer may invest in and hold at any time not more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock of any corporation, except as to voting rights of preferred stock during periods of defaults of dividends. This restriction shall not apply to stock of a subsidiary of the insurer acquired under § 1313 of this title, or to controlling stock of an insurer acquired under § 1312(b) of this title. The cost of such investments in any 1 corporation shall not exceed 3% of the insurer's assets. The aggregate value of all stock acquired and held under this section shall not exceed 40% of the insurer's assets.
(3) Stocks. — a. A life insurer shall not:
1. Invest in any stocks under §§ 1311 (common stocks), 1312(a) (insurance stocks), and 1314 (common trust funds; mutual funds) of this title if the cost thereof, when added to the aggregate cost of all such investments then held by such insurer, would exceed 125% of its policyholders' surplus (as defined in § 511(a)(2) of this title), or hold at any 1 time investments under such sections having an aggregate market value exceeding 250% of such policyholders' surplus; and
2. Invest in any stocks under § 1310 (preferred and guaranteed stocks) of this title if the cost thereof, when added to the aggregate cost of all such stocks then held by such insurer, would exceed 20% of its assets, or hold at any 1 time stocks under such section having an aggregate market value exceeding 40% of its assets.
b. This provision shall not apply to stock of any controlled or subsidiary corporation under §§ 1312(b) and 1313 of this title.
c. The cost of such investments in any 1 corporation shall not exceed 3% of the insurer's assets.
(4) Mortgages. — An insurer shall not at any 1 time have more than 50% of its assets invested in obligations under § 1323 of this title, exclusive of that portion of such obligations guaranteed or insured by an agency of the United States government. The investment by an insurer in any 1 property shall not exceed 3% of the insurer's assets.
(5) Certain mortgage pools. — An insurer may invest in and hold at any time up to 50% of its assets in certificates or other instruments evidencing participating interests in mortgage loans or pools thereof issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. The cost of such investment in any 1 mortgage pool shall not exceed 7% of the insurer's assets.
(6) Other specific limits. — Limits as to investments in the category of real estate shall be as provided in § 1324 of this title, and other specific limits, if any, shall apply as stated in sections dealing with other respective kinds of investments. Upon a request in writing the Commissioner may permit an insurer to invest an amount up to 5% in excess of any specific investment limitation if determined by the Commissioner to be a sound and prudent investment. Notwithstanding any other limitations contained herein, no investment in a single person other than an investment deemed eligible under § 1302(b) of this title or as provided in § 1313 of this title, shall exceed 50% of policyholders' surplus without the written approval of the Commissioner.