(1) In addition to other investments eligible under this part, a title insurer may invest and have invested an amount not exceeding the greater of $300,000 or 50 percent of that part of its surplus as to policyholders which exceeds the minimum surplus required by s. 624.408 in its abstract plant and equipment, in loans secured by mortgages on abstract plants and equipment, and, with the consent of the office, in stocks of abstract companies. If the insurer transacts kinds of insurance in addition to title insurance, for the purposes of this section its paid-in capital stock shall be prorated between title insurance and such other insurances upon the basis of the reserves maintained by the insurer for the various kinds of insurance; but the capital so assigned to title insurance shall in no event be less than $100,000.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a business trust insurer. Such an insurer may invest and have invested not exceeding the greater of $300,000 or 50 percent of its net trust fund in excess of the reserve provided for under s. 625.111 in abstract plants, stock in abstract companies, or corporations controlled by the business trust and created for developing and servicing abstract plants.

(3) Investments authorized by this section shall not be credited against the insurer’s required unearned premium or guaranty fund reserve provided for under s. 625.111.

History.—s. 155, ch. 59-205; ss. 13, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 70-436; s. 1, ch. 70-439; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 113, 122, 809(1st), ch. 82-243; ss. 187, 188, ch. 91-108; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 25, ch. 93-410; s. 887, ch. 2003-261.