West Virginia Code 33-31-1 – Definitions

As used in this article, unless the context requires otherwise:

Terms Used In West Virginia Code 33-31-1

Affiliated company: means any company in the same corporate system as a parent, an industrial insured or a member organization by virtue of common ownership, control, operation or management. See West Virginia Code 33-31-1
Alien captive insurance company: means any insurance company formed to write insurance business for its parents and affiliates and licensed pursuant to the laws of a country other than the United States which imposes statutory or regulatory standards in a form acceptable to the commissioner on companies transacting the business of insurance in such jurisdiction. See West Virginia Code 33-31-1
Association: means any legal association of individuals, corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, associations or other entities that has been in continuous existence for at least one year, the member organizations of which, or which does itself, whether or not in conjunction with some or all of the member organizations:
(A) Own, control or hold with power to vote all of the outstanding voting securities of an association captive insurance company incorporated as a stock insurer. See West Virginia Code 33-31-1
Association captive insurance company: means any company that insures risks of the member organizations of the association, and their affiliated companies. See West Virginia Code 33-31-1
Branch captive insurance company: means any alien captive insurance company licensed by the commissioner to transact the business of insurance in this state through a business unit with a principal place of business in this state. See West Virginia Code 33-31-1
Captive insurance company: means any pure captive insurance company, association captive insurance company, sponsored captive insurance company, industrial insured captive insurance company or risk retention group formed or licensed under the provisions of this article. See West Virginia Code 33-31-1
Controlled unaffiliated business: means any company:
(A) That is not in the corporate system of a parent and affiliated companies. See West Virginia Code 33-31-1
Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
Industrial insured: means an insured:
(A) Who procures the insurance of any risk or risks by use of the services of a full-time employee acting as an insurance manager or buyer. See West Virginia Code 33-31-1
Industrial insured captive insurance company: means any company that insures risks of the industrial insureds that comprise the industrial insured group and their affiliated companies. See West Virginia Code 33-31-1
Industrial insured group: means any group of industrial insureds that collectively:
(A) Own, control or hold with power to vote all of the outstanding voting securities of an industrial insured captive insurance company incorporated as a stock insurer. See West Virginia Code 33-31-1
Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
Member organization: means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity that belongs to an association. See West Virginia Code 33-31-1
Mutual corporation: means a corporation organized without stockholders and includes a nonprofit corporation with members. See West Virginia Code 33-31-1
Parent: means a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, other entity, or individual that directly or indirectly owns, controls or holds with power to vote more than fifty percent of the outstanding voting:
(A) Securities of a pure captive insurance company organized as a stock corporation. See West Virginia Code 33-31-1
Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
Pure captive insurance company: means any company that insures risks of its parent and affiliated companies or controlled unaffiliated business. See West Virginia Code 33-31-1
Risk retention group: means a captive insurance company organized under the laws of this state pursuant to the Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986, 15 U. See West Virginia Code 33-31-1
State: when applied to a part of the United States and not restricted by the context, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" also include the said district and territories. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10

(1) "Affiliated company" means any company in the same corporate system as a parent, an industrial insured or a member organization by virtue of common ownership, control, operation or management.

(2) "Alien captive insurance company" means any insurance company formed to write insurance business for its parents and affiliates and licensed pursuant to the laws of a country other than the United States which imposes statutory or regulatory standards in a form acceptable to the commissioner on companies transacting the business of insurance in such jurisdiction.

(3) "Association" means any legal association of individuals, corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, associations or other entities that has been in continuous existence for at least one year, the member organizations of which, or which does itself, whether or not in conjunction with some or all of the member organizations:

(A) Own, control or hold with power to vote all of the outstanding voting securities of an association captive insurance company incorporated as a stock insurer;

(B) Have complete voting control over an association captive insurance company incorporated as a mutual insurer; or

(4) "Association captive insurance company" means any company that insures risks of the member organizations of the association, and their affiliated companies.

(5) "Branch business" means any insurance business transacted by a branch captive insurance company in this state.

(6) "Branch captive insurance company" means any alien captive insurance company licensed by the commissioner to transact the business of insurance in this state through a business unit with a principal place of business in this state.

(7) "Branch operations" means any business operations of a branch captive insurance company in this state.

(8) "Captive insurance company" means any pure captive insurance company, association captive insurance company, sponsored captive insurance company, industrial insured captive insurance company or risk retention group formed or licensed under the provisions of this article. For purposes of this article, a branch captive insurance company shall be a pure captive insurance company with respect to operations in this state, unless otherwise permitted by the commissioner.

(9) Commissioner" means the Insurance Commissioner of West Virginia.

(10)"Controlled unaffiliated business" means any company:

(A) That is not in the corporate system of a parent and affiliated companies;

(B) That has an existing contractual relationship with a parent or affiliated company; and

(11) "Industrial insured" means an insured:

(A) Who procures the insurance of any risk or risks by use of the services of a full-time employee acting as an insurance manager or buyer;

(B )Whose aggregate annual premiums for insurance on all risks total at least $25,000; and

(12) "Industrial insured captive insurance company" means any company that insures risks of the industrial insureds that comprise the industrial insured group and their affiliated companies. (13 )"Industrial insured group" means any group of industrial insureds that collectively:

(A) Own, control or hold with power to vote all of the outstanding voting securities of an industrial insured captive insurance company incorporated as a stock insurer;

(B) Have complete voting control over an industrial insured captive insurance company incorporated as a mutual insurer; or

(14) "Member organization" means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity that belongs to an association.

(15) "Mutual corporation" means a corporation organized without stockholders and includes a nonprofit corporation with members.(16) "Parent" means a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, other entity, or individual that directly or indirectly owns, controls or holds with power to vote more than fifty percent of the outstanding voting:

(A) Securities of a pure captive insurance company organized as a stock corporation; or

(B) Membership interests of a pure captive insurance company organized as a nonprofit corporation.

(17) "Pure captive insurance company" means any company that insures risks of its parent and affiliated companies or controlled unaffiliated business.

(18) "Risk retention group" means a captive insurance company organized under the laws of this state pursuant to the Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986, 15 U.S.C. § 3901, et seq., as amended, as a stock or mutual corporation, a reciprocal or other limited liability entity.

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