33-2-1140. Groupwide supervision of internationally active insurance groups. (1) (a) The commissioner is authorized to act as the groupwide supervisor for any internationally active insurance group in accordance with the provisions of this section. However, the commissioner may otherwise acknowledge another regulatory official as the groupwide supervisor where the internationally active insurance group:
(i) does not have substantial insurance operations in the United States;
(ii) has substantial insurance operations in the United States, but not in this state; or
(iii) has substantial insurance operations in the United States and this state, but the commissioner has determined pursuant to the factors set forth in subsections (2) and (6) that the other regulatory official is the appropriate groupwide supervisor.
(b) An insurance holding company system that does not otherwise qualify as an internationally active insurance group may request that the commissioner make a determination or acknowledgment as to a groupwide supervisor pursuant to this section.
(2) (a) In cooperation with other state, federal, and international regulatory agencies, the commissioner will identify a single groupwide supervisor for an internationally active insurance group. The commissioner may determine that the commissioner is the appropriate groupwide supervisor for an internationally active insurance group that conducts substantial insurance operations concentrated in this state. However, the commissioner may acknowledge that a regulatory official from another jurisdiction is the appropriate groupwide supervisor for the internationally active insurance group. The commissioner shall consider the following factors when making a determination or acknowledgment under this subsection (2):
(i) the place of domicile of the insurers within the internationally active insurance group that hold the largest share of the group's written premiums, assets, or liabilities;
(ii) the place of domicile of the top-tiered insurers in the insurance holding company system of the internationally active insurance group;
(iii) the location of the executive offices or largest operational offices of the internationally active insurance group;
(iv) whether another regulatory official is acting or is seeking to act as the groupwide supervisor under a regulatory system that the commissioner determines to be substantially similar to the system of regulation provided under the laws of this state, or otherwise sufficient in terms of providing for groupwide supervision, enterprise risk analysis, and cooperation with other regulatory officials; and
(v) whether another regulatory official acting or seeking to act as the groupwide supervisor provides the commissioner with reasonably reciprocal recognition and cooperation.
(b) However, a commissioner identified under this section as the groupwide supervisor may determine that it is appropriate to acknowledge another supervisor to serve as the groupwide supervisor. The acknowledgment of the groupwide supervisor shall be made after consideration of the factors listed in subsections (2)(a)(i) through (2)(a)(v) and shall be made in cooperation with and subject to the acknowledgment of other regulatory officials involved with supervision of members of the internationally active insurance group and in consultation with the internationally active insurance group.
(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, when another regulatory official is acting as the groupwide supervisor of an internationally active insurance group, the commissioner shall acknowledge that regulatory official as the groupwide supervisor. However, in the event of a material change in the internationally active insurance group that results in the internationally active insurance group's insurers domiciled in this state holding the largest share of the group's premiums, assets or liabilities or this state being the place of domicile of the top-tiered insurers in the insurance holding company system of the internationally active insurance group, the commissioner shall make a determination or acknowledgment as to the appropriate groupwide supervisor for such an internationally active insurance group pursuant to subsection (2).
(4) Pursuant to 33-2-1115, the commissioner is authorized to collect from any insurer registered pursuant to 33-2-1111 all information necessary to determine whether the commissioner may act as the groupwide supervisor of an internationally active insurance group or if the commissioner may acknowledge another regulatory official to act as the groupwide supervisor. Prior to issuing a determination that an internationally active insurance group is subject to groupwide supervision by the commissioner, the commissioner shall notify the insurer registered pursuant to this section and the ultimate controlling person within the internationally active insurance group. The internationally active insurance group has not less than 30 days to provide the commissioner with additional information pertinent to the pending determination. The commissioner shall publish in the Montana administrative register and on its internet website the identity of internationally active insurance groups that the commissioner has determined are subject to groupwide supervision by the commissioner.
(5) If the commissioner is the groupwide supervisor for an internationally active insurance group, the commissioner is authorized to engage in any of the following groupwide supervision activities:
(a) assess the enterprise risks within the internationally active insurance group to ensure that:
(i) the material financial condition and liquidity risks to the members of the internationally active insurance group that are engaged in the business of insurance are identified by management; and
(ii) reasonable and effective mitigation measures are in place;
(b) request, from any member of an internationally active insurance group subject to the commissioner's supervision, information necessary and appropriate to assess enterprise risk, including but not limited to information about the members of the internationally active insurance group regarding:
(i) governance, risk assessment, and management;
(ii) capital adequacy; and
(iii) material intercompany transactions;
(c) coordinate and, through the authority of the regulatory officials of the jurisdictions where members of the internationally active insurance group are domiciled, compel development and implementation of reasonable measures designed to ensure that the internationally active insurance group is able to timely recognize and mitigate enterprise risks to members of such internationally active insurance group that are engaged in the business of insurance;
(d) communicate with other state, federal, and international regulatory agencies for members within the internationally active insurance group and share relevant information, subject to the confidentiality provisions of 33-2-1116, through supervisory colleges as provided for in Title 33, chapter 2, part 11, or otherwise;
(e) enter into agreements with or obtain documentation from any insurer registered under 33-2-1111, any member of the internationally active insurance group, and any other state, federal and international regulatory agencies for members of the internationally active insurance group, providing the basis for or otherwise clarifying the commissioner's role as groupwide supervisor, including provisions for resolving disputes with other regulatory officials. Such agreements or documentation may not serve as evidence in any proceeding that any insurer or person within an insurance holding company system not domiciled or incorporated in this state is doing business in this state or is otherwise subject to jurisdiction in this state; and
(f) other groupwide supervision activities, consistent with the authorities and purposes enumerated above, as considered necessary by the commissioner.
(6) If the commissioner acknowledges that another regulatory official from a jurisdiction that is not accredited by the NAIC is the groupwide supervisor, the commissioner is authorized to reasonably cooperate, through supervisory colleges or otherwise, with groupwide supervision undertaken by the groupwide supervisor, provided that:
(a) the commissioner's cooperation is in compliance with the laws of this state; and
(b) the regulatory official acknowledged as the groupwide supervisor also recognizes and cooperates with the commissioner's activities as a groupwide supervisor for other internationally active insurance groups where applicable. When such recognition and cooperation is not reasonably reciprocal, the commissioner is authorized to refuse recognition and cooperation.
(7) The commissioner is authorized to enter into agreements with or obtain documentation from any insurer registered under 33-2-1111, any affiliate of the insurer, and other state, federal, and international regulatory agencies for members of the internationally active insurance group that provide the basis for or otherwise clarify a regulatory official's role as groupwide supervisor.
(8) The commissioner may promulgate rules necessary for the administration of this section.
(9) A registered insurer subject to this section is liable for and shall pay the reasonable expenses of the commissioner's participation in the administration of this section, including the engagement of attorneys, actuaries, and any other professionals and all reasonable travel expenses.
History: En. Sec. 4, Ch. 344, L. 2021.