H.B. 965

VETOES

1.       describes investment objectives and risk constraints, such
as counterparty exposure amounts AND COLLATERAL ARRANGEMENTS SUPPORTING
DERIVATIVE TRANSACTIONS;

2.       defines permissible transactions identifying the risks to be
hedged, the assets or liabilities being replicated; and

3.       requires compliance with internal control procedures that
demonstrate the intended hedging characteristics and the ongoing effectiveness of the
derivative transaction or combination of the transactions through cash flow testing or
other appropriate analyses.

(iii) Whenever the derivative transactions entered into under this
subsection are not in compliance with this subsection or, if continued, may now or
subsequently, create a hazardous financial condition to the insurer that affects its
policyholders, creditors, or the general public, the Commissioner may, after notice and
an opportunity for a hearing, order the insurer to take any action as may be
reasonably necessary to:

1.       rectify a hazardous financial condition; or

2.       prevent an impending hazardous financial condition from
occurring.

(3)     An insurer may enter into hedging transactions under this subsection
if, as a result of and after giving effect to the transaction:

(i) the aggregate statement value of options, caps, floors, and
warrants not attached to another financial instrument purchased and used in
hedging transactions does not exceed 7.5% of its admitted assets;

(ii) the aggregate statement value of options, caps, and floors
written in hedging transactions does not exceed 3% of its admitted assets; and

(iii) the aggregate potential exposure of collars, swaps, forwards,
and futures used in hedging transactions does not exceed 6.5% of its admitted assets.

(4)     An insurer shall include all counterparty exposure amounts in
determining compliance with the limitations of § 5-507 of this subtitle.

(5)     Each derivative instrument shall be:
(i) traded on a securities exchange;

(ii) entered into with, or guaranteed by, a business entity;

(iii) issued or written by or entered into with the issuer of the
underlying interest on which the derivative instrument is based; or

(iv) in the case of futures, traded through a broker that is registered
as a futures commission merchant under the Commodity Exchange Act or that has
received exemptive relief from registration under Rule 30.10 adopted under the
Commodity Exchange Act.

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