Delivery by an insurer of a policy superseding a policy previously issued by the insurer at the end of the previously issued policy period is not a refusal to renew when it is delivered by:

(1)        The same insurer; or

(2)        An affiliate or subsidiary, as those terms are defined in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-19-5, that has a financial strength rating, issued by an industry-recognized independent insurance rating company, which financial strength rating is at least as good as the insurer issuing the superseded policy. The provisions of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-36-110 and N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-36-85 apply to the affiliate or subsidiary as if it were the same insurer issuing the policy. ?(2015-264, s. 44.5(a); 2016-78, s. 6.2.)