17B:32-55. Transfers, obligations deemed fraudulent

25. a. Every transfer made or suffered and every obligation incurred by an insurer within one year prior to the filing of a successful petition for rehabilitation or liquidation under this act shall be fraudulent as to then existing and future creditors if made or incurred without fair consideration, or with actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud either existing or future creditors. A transfer made or an obligation incurred by an insurer ordered to be rehabilitated or liquidated under this act, which is fraudulent under this section, may be avoided by the receiver, except as to a person who in good faith is a purchaser, lienholder or obligee for a present fair equivalent value, and except that any purchaser, lienholder or obligee, who in good faith has given a consideration which is less than fair for that transfer, lien or obligation, may retain the property, lien or obligation as security for repayment. The court may, on due notice, order any such transfer or obligation to be preserved for the benefit of the estate, and in that event, the receiver shall succeed to and may enforce the rights of the purchaser, lienholder or obligee.

b. (1) A transfer of property other than real property shall be deemed to be made or suffered when it becomes so far perfected that no subsequent lien obtainable by legal or equitable proceedings on a simple contract could become superior to the rights of the transferee under subsection c. of section 27 of this act.

(2) A transfer of real property shall be deemed to be made or suffered when it becomes so far perfected that no subsequent bona fide purchaser from the insurer could obtain rights superior to the rights of the transferee.

(3) A transfer which creates an equitable lien shall not be deemed to be perfected if there are available means by which a legal lien could be created.

(4) Any transfer not perfected prior to the filing of a petition for liquidation shall be deemed to be made immediately before the filing of the successful petition.

(5) The provisions of this subsection apply whether or not there are or were creditors who might have obtained any liens or persons who might have become bona fide purchasers.

c. Any transaction of the insurer with a reinsurer shall be deemed fraudulent and may be avoided by the receiver under subsection a. of this section if:

(1) The transaction consists of the termination, adjustment or settlement of a reinsurance contract in which the reinsurer is released from any part of its duty to pay the originally specified share of losses that had occurred prior to the time of the transactions, unless the reinsurer gives a present fair equivalent value for the release; and

(2) Any part of the transaction took place within one year prior to the date of filing of the petition through which the receivership was commenced.

d. Every director, officer, employee, stockholder, policyholder and any other person acting on behalf of the insurer who is concerned in any fraudulent transfer and every person receiving any property from the insurer or any benefit thereof which is a fraudulent transfer under subsection a. of this section shall be personally liable therefor and shall be bound to account to the liquidator.

L.1992,c.65,s.25.