Insurance Companies Act 1981 (repealed)
For the purposes of this Act and of the Insurance Companies Act 1974 (" the 1974 Act") insurance business is divided into long term business and general business; and—
" long term business" means insurance business of any of the classes specified in Schedule 1 to this Act, and
" general business " means insurance business of any of the classes specified in Part I of Schedule 2 to this Act.
For the purposes of this Act and the 1974 Act the effecting and carrying out of a contract whose principal object is within one class of insurance business, but which contains related and subsidiary provisions within another class or classes, shall be taken to constitute the carrying on of insurance business of the first-mentioned class, and no other, if subsection (3) or (4) below applies to the contract.
This subsection applies to a contract whose principal object is within any class of long term business but which contains subsidiary provisions within general business class 1 or 2 if the insurer is authorised under section 3 or 4 below to carry on long term business class I.
This subsection applies to a contract whose principal object is within one of the classes of general business but which contains subsidiary provisions within another of those classes, not being class 14 or 15.
Subject to the following provisions of this section, no person shall carry on any insurance business in the United Kingdom unless authorised to do so under section 3 or 4 below.
Subsection (1) above shall not apply to insurance business (other than industrial assurance business) carried on— In this subsection " trade union" and " employers' association " have (throughout the United Kingdom) the meanings assigned to them by section 28 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974.
by a member of Lloyd's; or
by a body registered under the enactments relating to friendly societies; or
by a trade union or employers' association where the insurance business carried on by the union or association is limited to the provision for its members of provident benefits or strike benefits.
Subsection (1) above shall not apply to industrial assurance business carried on by a friendly society registered under the enactments relating to such societies.
Subsection (1) above shall not apply to general business of class 14, 15, 16 or 17 if it is carried on solely in the course of carrying on, and for the purposes of, banking business.
Subsection (1) above shall not apply to general business consisting in the effecting and carrying out, by an insurance company that carries on no other insurance business, of contracts of such descriptions as may be prescribed, being contracts under which the benefits provided by the insurer are exclusively or primarily benefits in kind.
The Secretary of State may authorise a body to carry on in the United Kingdom such of the classes of insurance business specified in Schedule 1 or 2 to this Act, or such parts of those classes, as may be specified in the authorisation.
An authorisation under this section may be restricted to industrial assurance business or to reinsurance business; and a body may not carry on industrial assurance business by virtue of an authorisation under this section unless the authorisation expressly extends to such business.
An authorisation under this section may identify classes or parts of classes of general business by referring to the appropriate groups specified in Part II of Schedule 2 to this Act.
On the issue to a body of an authorisation under this section, any previous authorisation of that body under this section or section 4 below shall lapse.
A body that was, immediately before the commencement of this section, authorised under section 3 of the 1974 Act to carry on in the United Kingdom insurance business of a class relevant for the purposes of that Act (or of any part of such a class) shall be authorised to carry on there insurance business of the corresponding class specified in Schedule 1 or 2 to this Act (or of the appropriate part of that class).
For the purposes of subsection (1) above, each of the two classes of long term business relevant for the purposes of the 1974 Act shall be taken to correspond with classes I, II, III, IV, VI, and VII in Schedule 1 to this Act; and a class of general business relevant for the purposes of the 1974 Act shall be taken to correspond with the class identified in Part I of Schedule 2 to this Act by the same number.
A body may not carry on industrial assurance business by virtue of this section unless it was carrying on such business immediately before the commencement of this Act.
The Secretary of State shall not issue an authorisation under section 3 above unless—
the applicant has submitted to him such proposals as to the manner in which it proposes to carry on business, such financial forecasts and such other information as may be required by or in accordance with regulations under the 1974 Act, and
he is satisfied on the basis of that and any other information received by him that the application ought to be granted.
The Secretary of State shall decide an application for an authorisation under section 3 above within six months of receiving the information referred to in subsection (1)(a) above; and if he refuses to issue the authorisation he shall inform the applicant in writing of the reasons for the refusal.
The Secretary of State shall not under section 3 above authorise a body to carry on both long term business and general business unless—
the long term business is restricted to reinsurance, or
the body is at the time the authorisation is issued already lawfully carrying on in the United Kingdom both long term business and general business (in neither case restricted to reinsurance).
The Secretary of State shall not issue an authorisation under section 3 above to an applicant whose head office is in the United Kingdom unless the applicant is—
a company as defined in section 455 of the Companies Act 1948 or section 399 of the Companies Act (Northern Ireland) 1960, or
a registered society, or
a body corporate established by royal charter or Act of Parliament and already authorised under section 3 or 4 above to carry on insurance business (though not to the extent proposed in the application).
The Secretary of State shall not issue an authorisation under section 3 above to an applicant whose head office is in the United Kingdom if it has an issued share capital any part of which was issued after the commencement of this section but is not fully paid up.
The Secretary of State shall not issue an authorisation under section 3 above to an applicant whose head office is in the United Kingdom if it appears to the Secretary of State that any director, controller, manager or main agent of the applicant is not a fit and proper person to hold the position held by him.
In this section " controller ", in relation to the applicant, means—
a managing director of the applicant or of a body corporate of which the applicant is a subsidiary;
a chief executive of the applicant or of a body corporate,
being an insurance company, of which the applicant is a subsidiary;
a person—
in accordance with whose directions or instructions the directors of the applicant or of a body corporate of which it is a subsidiary are accustomed to act, or
who either alone or with any associate or associates is entitled to exercise, or control the exercise of, one-third or more of the voting power at any general meeting of the applicant or of a body corporate of which it is a subsidiary.
Section 1. Number Description Nature of business I Life and annuity. Effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance on human life or contracts to pay annuities on human life, but excluding (in each case) contracts within Class iii below. II Marriage and birth. Effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance to provide a sum on marriage or on the birth of a child, being contracts expressed to be in effect for a period of more than one year. III Linked long term. Effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance on human life or contracts to pay annuities on human life where the benefits are wholly or partly to be determined by reference to the value of, or the income from, property of any description (whether or not specified in the contracts) or by reference to fluctuations in, or in an index of, the value of property of any description (whether or not so specified). IV Permanent health. Effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance providing specified benefits against risks of persons becoming incapacitated in consequence of sustaining injury as a result of an accident or of an accident of a specified class or of sickness or infirmity, being contracts that— are expressed to be in effect for a period of not less than five years, or until the normal retirement age for the persons concerned, or without limit of time, and either are not expressed to be terminable by the insurer, or are expressed to be so terminable only in special circumstances mentioned in the contract. V Tontines. Effecting and carrying out tontines. VI Capital redemption. Effecting and carrying out capital redemption contracts. VII Pension fund management. Effecting and carrying out— contracts to manage the investments of pension funds, or contracts of the kind mentioned in paragraph (a) above that are combined with contracts of insurance covering either conservation of capital or payment of a minimum interest.
Sections 1 and 3.
Number Description Nature of business 1 Accident. Effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance providing fixed pecuniary benefits or benefits in the nature of indemnity (or a combination of both) against risks of the person insured— sustaining injury as the result of an accident or of an accident of a specified class, or dying as the result of an accident or of an accident of a specified class, or becoming incapacitated in consequence of disease or of disease of a specified class, inclusive of contracts relating to industrial injury and occupational disease but exclusive of contracts falling within class 2 below or within class IV in Schedule 1 to this Act (permanent health). 2 Sickness. Effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance providing fixed pecuniary benefits or benefits in the nature of indemnity (or a combination of the two) against risks of loss to the persons insured attributable to sickness or infirmity, but exclusive of contracts falling within class IV in Schedule 1 to this Act. 3 Land vehicles. Effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance against loss of or damage to vehicles used on land, including motor vehicles but excluding railway rolling stock. 4 Railway rolling stock. Effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance against loss of or damage to railway rolling stock. 5 Aircraft. Effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance upon aircraft or upon the machinery, tackle, furniture or equipment of aircraft. 6 Ships. Effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance upon vessels used on the sea or on inland water, or upon the machinery, tackle, furniture or equipment of such vessels. 7 Goods in transit. Effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance against loss of or damage to merchandise, baggage and all other goods in transit, irrespective of the form of transport. 8 Fire and natural forces. Effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance against loss of or damage to property (other than property to which classes 3 to 7 above relate) due to fire, explosion, storm, natural forces other than storm, nuclear energy or land subsidence. 9 Damage to property. Effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance against loss of or damage to property (other than property to which classes 3 to 7 above relate) due to hail or frost or to any event (such as theft) other than those mentioned in class 8 above. 10 Motor vehicle liability. Effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance against damage arising out of or in connection with the use of motor vehicles on land, including third-party risks and carrier's liability. 11 Aircraft liability. Effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance against damage arising out of or in connection with the use of aircraft, including third-party risks and carrier's liability. 12 Liability for ships. Effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance against damage arising out of or in connection with the use of vessels on the sea or on inland water, including third-party risks and carrier's liability. 13 General liability. Effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance against risks of the persons insured incurring liabilities to third parties, the risks in question not being risks to which class 10, 11 or 12 above relates. 14 Credit. Effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance against risks of loss to the persons insured arising from the insolvency of debtors of theirs or from the failure (otherwise than through insolvency) of debtors of theirs to pay their debts when due. 15 Suretyship. Effecting and carrying out— contracts of insurance against risks of loss to the persons insured arising from their having to perform contracts of guarantee entered into by them; contracts for fidelity bonds, performance bonds, administration bonds, bail bonds or customs bonds or similar contracts of guarantee. 16 Miscellaneous financial loss. Effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance against any of the following risks, namely— risks of loss to the persons insured attributable to interruptions of the carrying on of business carried on by them or to reduction of the scope of business so carried on; risks of loss to the persons insured attributable to their incurring unforeseen expense; risks neither falling within paragraph (a) or (b) above nor being of a kind such that the carrying on of the business of effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance against them constitutes the carrying on of insurance business of some other class. 17 Legal expenses. Effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance against risks of loss to the persons insured attributable to their incurring legal expenses (including costs of litigation).
Number Description Nature of business 1 Accident and health. Classes 1 and 2. 2 Motor. Class 1 (to the extent that the relevant risks are risks of the person insured sustaining injury, or dying, as the result of travelling as a passenger) and classes 3, 7 and 10. 3 Marine and transport. Class 1 (to the said extent) and classes 4, 6, 7 and 12. 4 Aviation. Class 1 (to the said extent) and classes 5, 7 and 11. 5 Fire and other damage to property. Classes 8 and 9. 6 Liability. Classes 10, 11, 12 and 13. 7 Credit and suretyship. Classes 14 and 15. 8 General. All classes.
Section 7.
Subject to the following provisions of this Schedule, the premium limit for the purposes of section 7(6) above is the aggregate of the amounts of gross premiums shown in the annual accounts relating to the business of the applicant in the United Kingdom last deposited under section 18 of the 1974 Act as receivable in respect of general business in the financial year to which the accounts relate.
If the accounts so deposited relate to a financial year which is not for a period of 12 months, the aggregate of the amounts of gross premiums shown in the accounts as receivable in that financial year shall be divided by the number of months in that financial year and multiplied by twelve.
If no accounts have been deposited under section 18 of the 1974 Act the aggregate amount of gross premiums shall be the amount or, if more than one amount, the lower or lowest amount, shown in respect of gross premiums relating to the business of the applicant in the United Kingdom in the financial forecast last submitted by the applicant in accordance with regulations made for the purposes of section 5(1)(a) above.
Section 36.
In section 12 of the Insurance Companies Act 1974—
in subsection (3) the words from " or in Northern Ireland " to " trade unions " shall be omitted, and for the words from " the same " to the end there shall be substituted the words " (throughout the United Kingdom) the meanings assigned to them by section 28 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974 " ; and
in subsection (5) for the words " pecuniary loss insurance business" there shall be substituted the words " general business of class 14, 15, 16 or 17 ".
References in section 23(1) and (2) to either or both of the classes of long term business shall be construed as references to ordinary long-term insurance business or industrial assurance business or both of those kinds of insurance business.
In section 26(5), for the words "section 7(2)(c) above" there shall be substituted the words " section 7(4)(c) of the Insurance Companies Act 1981 ".
In section 28—
in subsection (1) for the words " sections 29 " there shall be substituted the words " sections 30 ".
in subsection (4) for the words " 29 to 34 " there shall be substituted the words " 30, 33, 34 " and for the words "7(2)(c) above" there shall be substituted the words " 7(4)(c) of the Insurance Companies Act 1981 "
in subsections (5) and (6) for the words " sections 29" there shall be substituted the words " sections 30 ";
in subsection (7) for the words " (1)(6) to (e), (2)" there shall be substituted the words " (1)(b) to (g) ".
In section 34, at the end of subsection (3) there shall be added the words " , and subsection (1A) of that section shall apply to an investigation made in pursuance of this section as it applies to an investigation to which subsection (1)(b) of that section relates. "
In section 39—
in subsection (1) for the words from " sections 29" to " manager of the company " there shall be substituted the words " sections 30 to 37 above on the ground that he would be prohibited from issuing an authorisation to the company because of the unfitness of a person for the position held by him (not being that of controller of the company) "; and
in subsection (5) for the words from "to be" to the end there shall be substituted the words " to hold the position concerned ".
In section 40(1), for the words " sections 29 " there shall be substituted the words " sections 30 ".
In section 41—
at the end of subsection (1) there shall be added the words " or the Insurance Companies Act 1981 ", and
in subsection (1A) after the words "Insurance Companies Act 1980 " there shall be inserted the words " or under the Insurance Companies Act 1981 ".
In section 46, in paragraph (6) of subsections (1) and (1A), at the end, there shall be inserted the words " or by virtue of the Insurance Companies Act 1981 ".
In section 57(4) for the words from " 21 " to " this Act" there shall be substituted the words " and 21 to 27 of this Act, section 15 of the Insurance Companies Act 1981 ".
In section 61(1), in paragraph (c)(iv), at the end, there shall be added the words " or made available under section 25(2)(b) of the Insurance Companies Act 1981 ".
In section 65(1) for the words from " of a kind " to " 83(2) below " there shall be substituted the words " the effecting of which constitutes the carrying on of ordinary long-term insurance business ".
In section 68(1) for the words from " of the kinds " to " 83(2) below " there shall be substituted the words " the effecting of which constitutes the carrying on of ordinary long-term insurance business and ".
In sections 79 to 82, after the words "under this Act" where-ever they occur there shall be inserted the words " or the Insurance Companies Act 1981 ".
Section 85 shall be amended as follows. In the definition of " chief executive " for the words " section 7 above " there shall be substituted the words " section 7 of the Insurance Companies Act 1981 ". For the definition of " contract of insurance " there shall be substituted— In the definition of " controller" for the words " section 7 above" there shall be substituted the words " section 7 of the Insurance Companies Act 1981 ". In the definition of " general business " for the words " section 1(2) above " there shall be substituted the words " section 1 of the Insurance Companies Act 1981 ". In the definition of " long term business" for the words " section 1(2) above " there shall be substituted the words " section 1 of the Insurance Companies Act 1981 ". After the definition of " long term policy holder " there shall be inserted—. In the definition of "manager" for the words "section 7 above" there shall be substituted the words " section 7 of the Insurance Companies Act 1981 ". After the definition of "manager" there shall be inserted—. For the definition of " ordinary long-term insurance business " there shall be substituted—.
In section 87, after the words " this Act " there shall be inserted the words " or the Insurance Companies Act 1981 ".
In section 20(2) of the Insurance Companies Act 1958 for the words “the amount required by section 44 of the Insurance Companies Act 1974” there shall be substituted the words “£50,000”.
In section 1(3)(b) of the Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969 for the words from “Great Britain” to “1974” there shall be substituted the words “the United Kingdom insurance business of a class specified in Schedule 1 or 2 to the Insurance Companies Act 1981”.
In Article 5(3)(b) of the Employer’s Liability (Defective Equipment and Compulsory Insurance) (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 for the words from “Northern Ireland” to “1974” there shall be substituted the words “the United Kingdom insurance business of a class specified in Schedule 1 or 2 to the Insurance Companies Act 1981”.
In section 87(1) of the Solicitors Act 1974—
“liability insurance business” means insurance business within class 13 in Schedule 2 to the Insurance Companies Act 1981 and
“pecuniary loss insurance business” means insurance business within class 1, 2, 14, 15, 16 or 17 in Schedule 2 to the Insurance Companies Act 1981
The Policyholders Protection Act 1975, shall be amended as follows. In section 3(2) for the words from “permitted” to “1974” there shall be substituted the words “authorised under section 3 or 4 of the Insurance Companies Act 1981”. In section 8(4), for the words from “not being” to the end there shall be substituted the words “other than class 5, 6, 7, 11 or 12, not being a contract of reinsurance”. In subsections (1) and (3) of section 28 after the words “Insurance Companies Act 1974” there shall be inserted the words “the Insurance Companies Act 1981”. In section 29 after the words “Insurance Companies Act 1974” there shall be inserted the words “or the Insurance Companies Act 1981”; and at the end there shall be added the words “or the said Act of 1981”.
In section 29(1) of the Insurance Brokers (Registration) Act 1977—
in the definition of “authorised insurers” for the words “liability insurance business or pecuniary loss insurance business” there shall be substituted the words “insurance business of class 13 or of classes 1, 2, 14, 15, 16 and 17 in Schedule 2 to the Insurance Companies Act 1981”; and
in the definition of “insurance business” for the words from “of any” to “assurance business” there shall be substituted the words “other than industrial assurance business (within the meaning of section 1(2) of the Industrial Assurance Act 1923 or Articles 2(2) and 3(1) of the Industrial Assurance (Northern Ireland) Order 1979).”
In Article 3(4) of the Industrial Assurance (Northern Ireland) Order 1979—
for the words “Act 1974 and in particular to section 2(2) of that Act” there shall be substituted the words “Acts 1974 and 1981 and in particular to sections 2(3) and 3(2) of that Act of 1981”;
for the words “section 3 of that Act” there shall be substituted the words “section 3 of that Act of 1981”.
In Article 101(1) of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981—
for the words “in Northern Ireland a motor vehicle insurance business” there shall be substituted the words “insurance business within group 2 in Part II of Schedule 2 to the Insurance Companies Act 1981” and
for “1974” there shall be substituted “1981”.
Chapter Short Title Extent of Repeal 1967 c. 81. The Companies Act 1967. In section 110(1), the words " or section 36 of the Insurance Companies Act 1974". 1970 c. 10. The Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1970. In section 19(2)(a)(ii), the words from " or of " to " Northern Ireland"; and the words from " or as " to " 1968 ". In section 323(2), in the definition of " insurance company ", and in the definition of " periodical return ", the words from " or " to " 1968 ". 1973 c. 58. The Insurance Companies Amendment Act 1973. In Schedule 1, paragraph 15. 1974 c. 49. The Insurance Companies Act 1974. Sections 1 to 11. In section 12(3), the words from " or in " to " trade unions ". In section 12(4), the words from " or of " to " the Secretary of State ". In section 14(1)(a), the words from " including " to " thereof". Section 23(3) and (4). In section 25(6), the words " made in anticipation of it ". Section 28(2). In section 28(6), the words " 38 or ". Section 29. In section 34(1)(a), the words " (including a valuation of its liabilities)". Section 38. Section 40(3) and (4). Section 42(10). Section 44. In section 56(2), the words from " relevant " to " Act ". In section 56(4), the reference to section 44. Section 58. In section 60(2), the reference to section 38. In section 61(1)(a), the words from " or with" to " 29 above ". Section 64(3). In section 65(1) the words from " or of " to " the Secretary of State ". In section 65(3), the words from the beginning to " cases; and ". In section 68(1)(a) the words from " or of" to " the Secretary of State ". In section 68(4), the words from the beginning to " circumstances; and". In section 73(4) the words from " or the " to " may be " and the words " or managing body ". In section 73(6) the words from " or the" to " may be". In section 73(7) the words from " or the" to " may be". In section 74(1) the words from "and the" to "this Act" and the words from " or of" to "maybe". Section 75(1). Sections 83 and 84. In section 85 the definitions of " authorisation ", " capital redemption business", " hovercraft to which this Act applies ", " hovertrain ", " liability insurance business ", " marine aviation and transport insurance business ", " motor vehicle insurance business ", " pecuniary loss insurance business", " personal accident insurance business" and " property insurance business ". In section 86(2), the words from " and the " to " above ". In section 86(3), the words from " and no " to the end. In Schedule 1, the amendments of section 110(1) of the Companies Act 1967 and section 1 of the Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969. 1975 c. 75. The Policyholders Protection Act 1975. In section 10(1), the words " of either class ". In section 19(9), the words " of either class ". In section 32(2), paragraph (b) and the word " and" preceding it. 1980 c. 25. The Insurance Companies Act 1980. Section 3(2) and (3). In Schedule 1, paragraphs 1 to 5, 6(6), 13, 15(a), 17(e), 19 and 29(a). In Part I of Schedule 2— the words from " The Insurance Companies (Accounts and Forms) Regulations 1968 " to " 1571)."; the entry relating to the Insurance Companies (Accounts and Forms) (Amendment) Regulations 1975; the words from " The Insurance Companies (Accounts and Forms) (Amendment) Regulations 1976" to "869)."; the words from " The Insurance Companies (Accounts and Forms) (Amendment) (No. 3)" to "721)"; and the entry relating to the Lloyd's (General Business) Regulations 1979. In Part II of Schedule 2, paragraphs 1 to 7 and 15. In Schedule 3, paragraphs 5, 7, 8 and 15(a) and (c).
Number Title S.I. 1977 No. 1552. The Insurance Companies (Classes of General Business) Regulations 1977. S.I. 1977 No. 1553. The Insurance Companies (Solvency: General Business) Regulations 1977. S.I. 1978 No. 720. The Insurance Companies (Authorisation and Accounts: General Business) Regulations 1978. S.I. 1978 No. 917. The Insurance Companies (Deposits) Regulations 1978. S.I. 1979 No. 956. The Lloyd's (General Business) Regulations 1979. S.I. 1980 No. 956. The Insurance (Transfer of General Business) Regulations 1980.
In this section " manager ", in relation to the applicant, means an employee of the applicant (other than a chief executive) who, under the immediate authority of a director or chief executive of the applicant— not being a person whose functions relate exclusively to business conducted from a place of business outside the United Kingdom.
exercises managerial functions, or
is responsible for maintaining accounts or other records of the applicant,
In this section " main agent", in relation to the applicant, means, subject to such exceptions as may be prescribed by regulations under the 1974 Act, a person appointed by the applicant to be its agent in respect of general business in the United Kingdom, with authority to enter into contracts on behalf of the applicant in any financial year—
without limit on the aggregate amount of premiums ; or
with a limit in excess of 10 per cent, of the premium limit as determined in accordance with Schedule 3 to this Act.
In this section " chief executive ", in relation to the applicant or a body corporate of which it is a subsidiary, means an employee of the applicant or that body corporate, who, either alone or jointly with others, is responsible under the immediate authority of the directors for the conduct of the whole of the insurance business of the applicant or that body corporate.
In this section " associate" in relation to any person means—
the wife or husband or minor son or daughter" of that person;
any company of which that person is a director ;
any person who is an employee or partner of that person;
if that person is a company— and for the purposes of this subsection " son " includes step-son, " daughter " includes step-daughter and " minor ", in relation to Scotland, includes pupil.
any director of that company ;
any subsidiary of that company ;
any director or employee of any such subsidiary ;
The Secretary of State shall not issue an authorisation under section 3 above to an applicant whose head office is in a member State other than the United Kingdom unless the applicant has a representative fulfilling the requirements of section 10 below.
The Secretary of State shall not issue an authorisation under section 3 above to an applicant whose head office is in a member State other than the United Kingdom if it appears to the Secretary of State that any relevant executive or main agent of the applicant is not a fit and proper person to hold the position held by him.
Where an applicant whose head office is in a member State other than the United Kingdom seeks an authorisation under section 3 above restricted to reinsurance business—
the Secretary of State shall not issue the authorisation unless he is satisfied that the applicant is a body corporate entitled under the law of that State to carry on insurance business there ; and .
subsection (2) above shall have effect as if the reference to any relevant executive were a reference to any person who is a director, controller or manager of the applicant or a person within paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (4) below.
In this section " relevant executive" in relation to the applicant means a person who is— and "controller", "manager" and "main agent" have the same meanings as in section 7 above.
the representative referred to in subsection (1) above or the individual representative referred to in section 10(5) below;
an officer or employee of the applicant who, either alone or jointly with others, is responsible for the conduct of the whole of the insurance business carried on by the applicant in the United Kingdom, not being a person who—
is also responsible for the conduct of insurance business carried on by the applicant elsewhere, and
has a subordinate who is responsible for the whole of the insurance business carried on by the applicant in the United Kingdom ; or
an employee of the applicant who, under the immediate authority of a director or of an officer or employee within paragraph (b) above.— not being a person whose functions relate exclusively to business conducted from a place of business outside the United Kingdom;
exercises managerial functions, or
is responsible for maintaining accounts or other records of the applicant,
The Secretary of State shall not issue an authorisation under section 3 above in respect of long term or general business to an applicant whose head office is not in a member State unless he is satisfied— but subject to subsections (2) and (3) below.
that the applicant is a body corporate entitled under the law of the place where its head office is situated to carry on long term or, as the case may be, general business there;
that the applicant has in the United Kingdom assets of such value as may be prescribed ; and
that the applicant has made a deposit of such amount and with such person as may be prescribed ;
Where the applicant seeks to carry on insurance business in the United Kingdom and one or more other member States, the Secretary of State and the supervisory authority in the other State or States concerned may agree that this subsection shall apply to the applicant; and in that event—
paragraph (b) of subsection (1) above shall have effect as if the reference to the United Kingdom were a reference to the member States concerned taken together ; and
paragraph (c) of that subsection shall have effect as if the reference to such person as may be prescribed were a reference to such person as may be agreed between the Secretary of State and the other supervisory authority or authorities concerned.
Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) above shall not apply where the authorisation sought is one restricted to reinsurance.
The Secretary of State shall not issue an authorisation under section 3 above to an applicant whose head office is not in a member State unless the applicant has a representative fulfilling the requirements of section 10 below.
The Secretary of State shall not issue an authorisation under section 3 above to an applicant whose head office is not in a member State if it appears to the Secretary of State that— is not a fit and proper person to hold the position held by him.
the representative of the applicant referred to in subsection (4) above or the individual representative referred to in section 10(5) below, or
any director, controller or manager of the applicant, or
a main agent of the applicant,
In this section "controller", "manager" and "main agent" have the same meanings as in section 7 above, except that for the purposes of this section the controllers of the applicant shall be taken to include any officer or employee who, either alone or jointly with others, is responsible for the conduct of the whole of the insurance business carried on by the applicant in the United Kingdom, not being a person who—
is also responsible for the conduct of insurance business carried on by it elsewhere ; and
has a subordinate who is responsible for the whole of the insurance business carried on by the applicant in the United Kingdom.
Regulations under the 1974 Act may make such provision as to deposits under this section as appears to the Secretary of State to be necessary or expedient, including provision for the deposit of securities instead of money, and, in relation to deposits with the Accountant General of the Supreme Court, provision applying (with or without modification) any of the provisions of the rules for the time being in force under section 7 of the Administration of Justice Act 1965.
The requirements referred to in sections 8(1) and 9(4) above are those set out in the following provisions of this section.
The representative must be a person resident in the United Kingdom who has been designated as the applicant's representative for the purposes of this section.
The representative must be authorised to act generally, and to accept service of any document, on behalf of the applicant.
The representative must not be an auditor, or a partner or employee of an auditor, of the accounts of any business carried on by the applicant.
If the representative is not an individual, it must be a company as defined in section 455 of the Companies Act 1948 or section 399 of the Companies Act (Northern Ireland) 1960 with its head office in the United Kingdom and must itself have an individual representative resident in the United Kingdom who is authorised to act generally, and to accept service of any document, on behalf of the company in its capacity as representative of the applicant.
The Secretary of State may, at the request of the company or on any grounds set out in subsection (2) below, direct that an insurance company authorised under section 3 or 4 above to carry on insurance business shall cease to be authorised to effect contracts of insurance, or contracts of any description specified in the direction.
The grounds referred to in subsection (1) above are—
that it appears to the Secretary of State that the company has failed to satisfy an obligation to which it is subject by virtue of the 1974 Act or this Act;
that there exists a ground on which he would be prohibited by section 7, 8 or 9 above from issuing an authorisation to the company;
that the company has ceased to be authorised to effect contracts of insurance, or contracts of a particular description, in a member State where it has its head office or where it has in accordance with section 9(2) above made a deposit.
After giving a direction under this section otherwise than at the request of the company concerned the Secretary of State shall inform the company in writing of his reasons for giving the direction.
A direction under this section shall not prevent a company from effecting a contract of insurance in pursuance of a term of a subsisting contract of insurance.
Where a direction under this section has been given in respect of a company which has its head office, or has in accordance with section 9(2) above made a deposit, in a member State other than the United Kingdom, the Secretary of State may revoke or vary the direction if after consultation with the supervisory authority in that member State he considers it appropriate to do so.
Subject to subsection (5) above a direction given under this section in respect of any insurance company may not be revoked or varied; but if the Secretary of State subsequently issues to the company under section 3 above an authorisation to carry on insurance business of a class to which the direction relates, the direction shall cease to have effect in relation to such business.
Before giving a direction under section 11 above otherwise than at the request of the company concerned the Secretary of State shall serve on the company a written notice stating—
that he is considering giving a direction and the ground on which he is considering it; and
that the company may, within the period of one month from the date of service of the notice, make written representations to the Secretary of State and, if the company so requests, oral representations to an officer of the Department of Trade appointed for the purpose by the Secretary of State.
Before giving a direction under section 11 above in respect of a company on the ground that he would be prohibited by section 7(3), 8(2) or 9(5) from issuing an authorisation to the company, the Secretary of State shall serve on the person whose fitness is in question a written notice stating—
that he is considering giving a direction on that ground ; and
that the person on whom the notice is served may, within the period of one month from the date of service of the notice, make written representations to the Secretary of State and, if that person so requests, oral representations to an officer of the Department of Trade appointed for the purpose by the Secretary of State.
Subject to subsection (4) below, the Secretary of State shall consider any representations made in response to a notice under subsection (2) above before serving a notice under subsection (1) above.
Subsection (3) above shall not apply where the position held by the person on whom the notice under subsection (2) above is served, and whose fitness for that position is in question, is controller of a company.
A notice under subsection (1) or (2) above shall give particulars of the ground on which the Secretary of State is considering giving a direction.
Where representations are made in response to a notice under subsection (1) or (2) above, the Secretary of State shall take them into consideration before giving a direction.
Any notice to be served on a person under subsection (1) or (2) above may be served by post, and a letter containing the notice shall be deemed to be properly addressed if it is addressed to that person at his last known residence or last known place of business in the United Kingdom.
After giving a direction under section 11 above the Secretary of State shall publish notice of it in the London, Edinburgh and Belfast Gazettes and in such other ways as appear to him expedient for notifying the public.
Where an insurance company ceases to carry on in the United Kingdom any insurance business, or insurance business of any class, the Secretary of State may direct that it shall cease to be authorised under section 3 or 4 above to carry on insurance business, or insurance business of that class.
If a body authorised under section 3 above to carry on insurance business of any class has not at any time carried on business of that class, and at least twelve months have elapsed since the issue of the authorisation, the Secretary of State may direct that it shall cease to be authorised to carry on business of that class.
A direction under this section is without prejudice to the subsequent issue of an authorisation to carry on insurance business of a class to which the direction relates.
A person who carries on business in contravention of this Part of this Act shall be guilty of an offence.
A person who for the purpose of obtaining the issue of an authorisation furnishes information which he knows to be false in a material particular or recklessly furnishes information which is false in a material particular shall be guilty of an offence.
A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable— and for the purposes of the application of this subsection in Northern Ireland, the provisions of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 which relate to the sum mentioned in paragraph (b)(i) above shall extend to Northern Ireland.
on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to a fine, or to both ;
on summary conviction—
in England and Wales and Northern Ireland, to a fine not exceeding £1,000 or, if it is greater, the prescribed sum within the meaning of section 32 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 ;
in Scotland, to a fine not exceeding £1,000 or, if it is greater, the prescribed sum within the meaning of section 289B of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975;
An insurance company to which Part II of the 1974 Act applies shall not carry on any activities, in the United Kingdom or elsewhere, otherwise than in connection with or for the purposes of its insurance business.
For the purposes of subsection (1) above any activities of an insurance company that are excluded from the definition of insurance business by section 34(c)(ii) below shall be treated as carried on in connection with its insurance business.
Part II of the 1974 Act shall not apply to an insurance company whose insurance business is restricted to general business consisting in the effecting and carrying out of contracts of such descriptions as may be prescribed, being contracts under which the benefits provided by the insurer are exclusively or primarily benefits in kind.
Section 14 of the 1974 Act shall be amended as follows.
In subsection (1)(a) (which requires an actuarial investigation of a company's long term business at least once in every three years) for the words from " three years " to " byelaws " there shall be substituted the words " period of twelve months " , and the words from " including " to " thereof " shall be omitted.
After subsection (1) there shall be inserted—.
For subsection (2) there shall be substituted—.
In section 18(3) of the 1974 Act (signature of documents deposited with Secretary of State) for paragraphs (a) and (b) there shall be substituted the words " by such persons as may be prescribed ".
After section 22 of the 1974 Act there shall be inserted—.
In subsection (1) of section 24 of the 1974 Act (assets of long term business to be applied only for purposes of that business) after the words " long term business " there shall be inserted " (a) " , and at the end there shall be added the words and.
After subsection (2) of that section (which authorises the distribution of surpluses of assets over liabilities) there shall be inserted—.
Section 25 of the 1974 Act shall be amended as follows.
For subsections (1) and (2) there shall be substituted—.
In subsection (3)(a) after the words " to make " there shall be inserted the words " no allocation or ".
In subsection (6)—
for the words " that surplus " there shall be substituted the words " the next established surplus in respect of which an amount is allocated to eligible policy holders generally "; and
after the words " any surplus " there shall be added the words " in respect of which such an allocation is made "; and
the words " made in anticipation of it" shall cease to have effect.
After subsection (7) there shall be added—.
After section 26 of the 1974 Act there shall be inserted—.
Notwithstanding anything in section 28 of the 1974 Act (grounds for intervention), the powers conferred on the Secretary of State by sections 31 and 32 of that Act shall not be exercisable in relation to an insurance company except—
where the Secretary of State has given (and not revoked) a direction in respect of the company under section 11 above; or
on the ground that it appears to the Secretary of State that the company has failed to satisfy an obligation to which it is subject by virtue of section 26B, 26C or 26D of the 1974 Act; or
where the ground for intervention arises out of the submission by the company to the Secretary of State of an account or statement specifying, as the amount of any liabilities of the company, an amount appearing to the Secretary of State to have been determined otherwise than in accordance with valuation regulations or, where no such regulations are applicable, generally accepted accounting concepts, bases and policies or other generally accepted methods appropriate for insurance companies.
In section 28 of the 1974 Act
in paragraph (b)(i) of subsection (1), at the end, there shall be added the words " or the Insurance Companies Act 1981 ";
in paragraph (c) of that subsection, at the end, there shall be added the words " or any provision of the Insurance Companies Act 1981 ";
in paragraph (e) of that subsection for the words " section 7 above " there shall be substituted the words " section 7, 8 or 9 of the Insurance Companies Act 1981 "; and
after that paragraph there shall be added—; and
subsection (2) shall cease to have effect.
Section 29 of the 1974 Act (restrictions on new business) shall cease to have effect.
At the end of section 30 of the 1974 Act (requirements about investments) there shall be added—.
In subsection (5) of section 31 of the 1974 Act (maintenance of assets in the United Kingdom) for the words from " arising " to the end there shall be substituted the words " of the business carried on by the company in the United Kingdom ".
At the end of section 37 of the 1974 Act (residual power) there shall be added—.
In section 110(1) of the Companies Act 1967 (search warrants in respect of documents whose production has been required under section 109 of that Act or section 36 of the 1974 Act) the words " or section 36 of the Insurance Companies Act 1974 " shall cease to have effect.
Where it is proposed to execute an instrument by which an insurance company to which Part II of the 1974 Act applies (" the transferor ") is to transfer to another body (" the transferee") all its rights and obligations under such general policies, or general policies of such descriptions, as may be specified in the instrument, the transferor may apply to the Secretary of State for his approval of the transfer.
The Secretary of State shall not determine an application made under subsection (1) above unless he is satisfied that—
a notice approved by him for the purpose has been published in the London, Edinburgh and Belfast Gazettes and, if he thinks fit, in two national newspapers which have been so approved; and
except in so far as he has otherwise directed, a copy of the notice has been sent to every affected policy holder and every other person who claims an interest in a policy included in the transfer and has given written notice of his claim to the transferor; and
copies of a statement setting out particulars of the transfer and approved by him for the purpose have been available for inspection at one or more places in the United Kingdom for a period of not less than thirty days beginning with the date of the first publication of the notice in accordance with paragraph (a) above.
The notice referred to in subsection (2) above shall include a statement that written representations concerning the transfer may be sent to the Secretary of State before a specified day, which shall not be earlier than sixty days after the day of the first publication of the notice in accordance with paragraph (a) above; and the Secretary of State shall not determine the application until after considering any representations made to him before the specified day.
The Secretary of State shall not approve a transfer on an application under subsection (1) above unless he is satisfied that— and unless in his opinion the transferee's financial resources and the other circumstances of the case justify the giving of his approval.
every policy included in the transfer evidences a contract which—
was entered into before the date of the application ; and
imposes on the insurer obligations the performance of which will constitute the carrying on of insurance business in the United Kingdom; and
the transferee is, or immediately after the approval will be, authorised under section 3 or 4 above to carry on in the United Kingdom insurance business of the appropriate class or classes ;
On determining an application made under subsection (1) above, the Secretary of State shall— and if he refuses the application he shall inform the transferor and the transferee in writing of the reasons for his refusal.
publish a notice of his decision in the London, Edinburgh and Belfast Gazettes and in such other manner as he may think fit, and
send a copy of that notice to the transferor, the transferee and every person who made representations in accordance with the notice referred to in subsection (2) above ;
Any notice or other document authorised or required to be given or served under this section or section 26 below may, without prejudice to any other method of service, be served by post; and a letter containing the notice or other document shall be deemed to be properly addressed if it is addressed to that person at his last known residence or last known place of business in the United Kingdom.
In this section " general policy " means a policy evidencing a contract the effecting of which constituted the carrying on of general business ; and for the purposes of this section a policy holder is an " affected policy holder " in relation to a proposed transfer if—
his policy is included in the transfer, or
his policy is with the transferor and the Secretary of State has certified, after consulting the transferor, that in the opinion of the Secretary of State the policy holder's rights and obligations under the policy will or may be materially affected by the transfer.
Subject to subsection (2) below, an instrument giving effect to a transfer approved by the Secretary of State under section 25 above shall be effectual in law— notwithstanding the absence of any agreements or consents which would otherwise be necessary for it to be effectual in law for those purposes.
to transfer to the transferee all the transferor's rights and obligations under the policies included in the instrument, and
if the instrument so provides, to secure the continuation by or against the transferee of any legal proceedings by or against the transferor which relate to those rights or obligations,
Except in so far as the Secretary of State may otherwise direct, a policy holder whose policy is included in such an instrument shall not be bound by it unless he has been given written notice of its execution by the transferor or the transferee.
Section 42 of the 1974 Act (sanction of court for transfer of long term business) shall be amended as follows.
In subsection (1) after the words " carried on " there shall be inserted the words " in the United Kingdom ".
In subsection (2) for the word " entertain " there shall be substituted the word " determine ".
In subsection (3)—
in paragraph (a) for the words " is to be " there shall be substituted the words " has been ";
in paragraph (d) for the words from " on which " to the end there shall be substituted the words " of the first publication of a notice in accordance with paragraph (a) above ".
In subsection (6) for the words " section 3 above " there shall be substituted the words " section 3 or 4 of the Insurance Companies Act 1981 ".
Subsection (10) shall cease to have effect.
In relation to an insurance company whose head office is in a member State other than the United Kingdom, excluding a company whose business in the United Kingdom is restricted to reinsurance.—
section 52 of the 1974 Act shall have effect as if the references to a managing director or chief executive were references to a principal United Kingdom executive ;
section 53 of that Act shall not apply ;
section 54 of that Act shall have effect as if references to a director or manager were references to a principal United Kingdom executive, an employee within section 8(4)(c) above or an authorised United Kingdom representative.
In relation to any other insurance company whose head office is outside the United Kingdom_
section 52 of the 1974 Act shall have effect as if the references to a chief executive included references to a principal United Kingdom executive ; and
section 54 of that Act shall have effect as if the references to a director included references to a principal United Kingdom executive and to an authorised United Kingdom representative.
In this section—
" principal United Kingdom executive " means an officer or employee within section 8(4)(6) or 9(6) above; and
" authorised United Kingdom representative" means a representative fulfilling the requirements of section 10 above or an individual representative of the kind described in subsection (5) of that section.
After section 54 of the 1974 Act there shall be inserted—.
In section 72(9) of the 1974 Act (special report by auditor on certain apportionments between industrial assurance business and other business) for the words from "expenses" to " apportioned " there shall be substituted the words " apportionment is made " and after the word " company " there shall be inserted the words " in respect of management expenses, income from investments, gains or losses on the disposal of investments, appreciation or depreciation in the value of investments, or taxation ".
Subject to such modifications as may be prescribed by regulations under the 1974 Act, and to any determination made by the Secretary of State in accordance with such regulations, sections 26A, 26B and 26D of that Act shall apply to the members of Lloyd's taken together as they apply to an insurance company to which Part II of that Act applies and whose head office is in the United Kingdom.
The powers conferred on the Secretary of State by sections 30 to 33, 36 and 37 of the 1974 Act shall be exercisable in relation to the members of Lloyd's if there is a breach of an obligation imposed by virtue of subsection (1) above.
Sections 25 and 26 above and sections 42 and 43 of the 1974 Act shall apply in relation to transfers to and from members of Lloyd's if, and only if, the conditions specified in subsection (2) below are satisfied.
The conditions referred to in subsection (1) above are—
that the transfer is not one where both the transferor and the transferee are members of Lloyd's;
that the Committee of Lloyd's have by resolution authorised one person to act in connection with the transfer for the members concerned as transferor or transferee ;
that a copy of the resolution has been given to the Secretary of State.
Where sections 25 and 26 above or sections 42 and 43 of the 1974 Act apply in relation to a transfer to or from members of Lloyd's, they shall apply as if—
references to insurance companies to which Part II of the 1974 Act applies, or to persons authorised under section 3 or 4 of this Act, included references to members of Lloyd's; and
anything done in connection with the transfer by the person authorised in accordance with subsection (2)(b) above had been done by the members for whom he acted.
In section 78 of the 1974 Act, at the end of subsection (3) there shall be added the words " and for the purposes of different enactments ".
In section 86 of the 1974 Act, after subsection (1) there shall be inserted—
For the purposes of this Act and the 1974 Act " insurance business " includes—
the effecting and carrying out, by a person not carrying on a banking business, of contracts for fidelity bonds, performance bonds, administration bonds, bail bonds or customs bonds or similar contracts of guarantee, being contracts effected by way of business (and not merely incidentally to some other business carried out by the person effecting them) in return for the payment of one or more premiums ;
the effecting and carrying out of tontines ;
the effecting and carrying out, by a body (not being a body carrying on a banking business) that carries on business which is insurance business apart from this paragraph, of—
capital redemption contracts;
contracts to manage the investments of pension funds (other than funds solely for the benefit of its own officers or employees and their dependants or, in the case of a company, partly for the benefit of those persons and partly for the benefit of officers or employees and their dependants of its subsidiary or holding company or a subsidiary of its holding company);
the effecting and carrying out of contracts to pay annuities on human life.
In this Act—
" the 1974 Act" means the Insurance Companies Act 1974;
" holding company " shall be construed in accordance with section 154 of the Companies Act 1948 or section 148 of the Companies Act (Northern Ireland) 1960;
Except where the context otherwise requires, expressions used in this Act and in the 1974 Act have the same meanings in this Act as in that Act.
Schedule 4 to this Act shall have effect.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
This Act shall come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may appoint by order made by statutory instrument, and different days may be so appointed for different purposes.
An order under this section may contain such savings and transitional provisions as appear to the Secretary of State to be necessary or expedient.
This Act may be cited as the Insurance Companies Act 1981.
This Act extends to Northern Ireland.