(1) If a domestic stock insurer’s capital, as represented by the aggregate par value of its outstanding capital stock, becomes impaired, or if the assets of a mutual insurer are less than the sum of its liabilities and the minimum amount of surplus required to be maintained by it, the office shall at once determine the amount of deficiency and serve notice upon the insurer to make good the deficiency within 90 days after service of such notice.

(2) The deficiency may be made good in cash or in assets eligible for the investment of the insurer’s funds; or by amendment of the insurer’s certificate of authority to cover only such kind or kinds of insurance thereafter for which the insurer has sufficient paid-in capital, if a stock insurer, or surplus, if a mutual insurer, under this code; or, if a stock insurer, by reduction of the insurer’s authorized capital stock through amendment of its certificate of incorporation, to an amount of paid-in capital stock not below the minimum required for the kinds of insurance thereafter to be transacted.

(3) After any such reduction of authorized capital stock the insurer shall have the right to require the return of the original certificate of stock held by each stockholder in exchange for new certificates to be issued in lieu thereof for such number of shares as the stockholder is entitled to in the proportion that the reduced capital bears to the original capital.

(4) If the deficiency is not made good and proof thereof filed with the office within such 90-day period, the insurer shall be deemed insolvent and the office shall institute delinquency proceedings against it under chapter 631; except that if such deficiency exists because of increased loss reserves required by the office, or because of disallowance by the office of certain assets or reduction of the value at which carried in the insurer’s accounts, the office may, in its discretion and upon application and good cause shown, and if it finds that the establishment or maintenance of such inadequate reserves or overvalued assets was not willful on the part of the insurer, extend for not more than an additional 60 days the period within which such deficiency may be so made good and such proof thereof so filed.

History.—s. 661, ch. 59-205; ss. 13, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 660, 665, 809(1st), ch. 82-243; ss. 187, 188, ch. 91-108; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 1278, ch. 2003-261.