West Virginia Code
Article 8. Investments
§33-8-17. Same - Foreign Investments and Foreign Currency Exposure

(a) Subject to the limitations of section ten of this article, an insurer may acquire foreign investments, or engage in investment practices with persons of or in foreign jurisdictions, of substantially the same types as those that an insurer is permitted to acquire under this article, other than of the type permitted under section twelve of this article, if, as a result and after giving effect to the investment:
(1) The aggregate amount of foreign investments then held by the insurer under this subsection does not exceed twenty percent of its admitted assets; and
(2) The aggregate amount of foreign investments then held by the insurer under this subsection in a single foreign jurisdiction does not exceed ten percent of its admitted assets as to a foreign jurisdiction that has a sovereign debt rating of SVO 1 or three percent of its admitted assets as to any other foreign jurisdiction.
(b) Subject to the limitations of section ten of this article, an insurer may acquire investments, or engage in investment practices denominated in foreign currencies, whether or not they are foreign investments acquired under subsection (a) of this section, or additional foreign currency exposure as a result of the termination or expiration of a hedging transaction with respect to investments denominated in a foreign currency, if:
(1) The aggregate amount of investments then held by the insurer under this subsection denominated in foreign currencies does not exceed ten percent of its admitted assets; and
(2) The aggregate amount of investments then held by the insurer under this subsection denominated in the foreign currency of a single foreign jurisdiction does not exceed ten percent of its admitted assets as to a foreign jurisdiction that has a sovereign debt rating of SVO 1 or three percent of its admitted assets as to any other foreign jurisdiction; an investment will not be considered denominated in a foreign currency if the acquiring insurer enters into one or more contracts in transactions permitted under section eighteen of this article and the business entity counterparty agrees under the contract or contracts to exchange all payments made on the foreign currency denominated investment for United States currency at a rate which effectively insulates the investment cash flows against future changes in currency exchange rates during the period the contract or contracts are in effect.
(c) In addition to investments permitted under subsections (a) and (b) of this section, an insurer that is authorized to do business in a foreign jurisdiction, and that has outstanding insurance, annuity or reinsurance contracts on lives or risks resident or located in that foreign jurisdiction and denominated in foreign currency of that jurisdiction, may acquire foreign investments respecting that foreign jurisdiction, and may acquire investments denominated in the currency of that jurisdiction, subject to the limitations of section ten of this article. However, investments made under this subsection in obligations of foreign governments, their political subdivisions and government-sponsored enterprises will not be subject to the limitations of section ten of this article if those investments carry an SVO rating of 1 or 2. The aggregate amount of investments acquired by the insurer under this subsection may not exceed the greater of:
(1) The amount the insurer is required by the law of the foreign jurisdiction to invest in the foreign jurisdiction; or
(2) One hundred fifteen percent of the amount of its reserves, net of reinsurance, and other obligations under the contracts on lives or risks resident or located in the foreign jurisdiction.
(d) In addition to investments permitted under subsections (a) and (b) of this section, an insurer that is not authorized to do business in a foreign jurisdiction, but which has outstanding insurance, annuity or reinsurance contracts on lives or risks resident or located in that foreign jurisdiction and denominated in foreign currency of that jurisdiction, may acquire foreign investments respecting that foreign jurisdiction, and may acquire investments denominated in the currency of that jurisdiction subject to the limitations of section ten of this article. However, investments made under this subsection in obligations of foreign governments, their political subdivisions and government-sponsored enterprises are not subject to the limitations of section ten of this article if those investments carry an SVO rating of 1 or 2. The aggregate amount of investments acquired by the insurer under this subsection may not exceed one hundred five percent of the amount of its reserves, net of reinsurance, and other obligations under the contracts on lives or risks resident or located in the foreign jurisdiction.
(e) Investments acquired under this section shall be aggregated with investments of the same types made under all other sections of this article, and in a similar manner, for purposes of determining compliance with the limitations, if any, contained in the other sections. Investments in obligations of foreign governments, their political subdivisions and government-sponsored enterprises of these persons, except for those exempted under subsections (c) and (d) of this section, are subject to the limitations of section ten of this article.

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