Fla. Stat. 628.371
Dividends to stockholders


(1)

A domestic stock insurer shall not pay any dividend or distribute cash or other property to stockholders except out of that part of its available and accumulated surplus funds which is derived from realized net operating profits on its business and net realized capital gains.

(2)

Dividend payments or distributions to stockholders, without prior written approval of the office, shall not exceed the larger of:The lesser of 10 percent of surplus or net gain from operations (life and health companies) or net income (property and casualty companies), not including realized capital gains, plus a 2-year carryforward for property and casualty companies;Ten percent of surplus, with dividends payable constrained to unassigned funds minus 25 percent of unrealized capital gains;The lesser of 10 percent of surplus or net investment income (net gain before capital gains for life and health companies) plus a 3-year carryforward (2-year carryforward for life and health companies) with dividends payable constrained to unassigned funds minus 25 percent of unrealized capital gains.

(a)

The lesser of 10 percent of surplus or net gain from operations (life and health companies) or net income (property and casualty companies), not including realized capital gains, plus a 2-year carryforward for property and casualty companies;

(b)

Ten percent of surplus, with dividends payable constrained to unassigned funds minus 25 percent of unrealized capital gains;

(c)

The lesser of 10 percent of surplus or net investment income (net gain before capital gains for life and health companies) plus a 3-year carryforward (2-year carryforward for life and health companies) with dividends payable constrained to unassigned funds minus 25 percent of unrealized capital gains.

(3)

In lieu of the provisions in subsection (2), an insurer may pay a dividend or make a distribution without the prior written approval of the office when:The dividend is equal to or less than the greater of:
Ten percent of the insurer’s surplus as to policyholders derived from realized net operating profits on its business and net realized capital gains; or
The insurer’s entire net operating profits and realized net capital gains derived during the immediately preceding calendar year; and
The insurer will have surplus as to policyholders equal to or exceeding 115 percent of the minimum required statutory surplus as to policyholders after the dividend or distribution is made; andThe insurer has filed notice with the office at least 10 business days prior to the dividend payment or distribution, or such shorter period of time as approved by the office on a case-by-case basis. Such notice shall not create a right in the office to approve or disapprove a dividend otherwise properly payable hereunder; andThe notice includes a certification by an officer of the insurer attesting that after payment of the dividend or distribution the insurer will have at least 115 percent of required statutory surplus as to policyholders.

(a)

The dividend is equal to or less than the greater of:Ten percent of the insurer’s surplus as to policyholders derived from realized net operating profits on its business and net realized capital gains; orThe insurer’s entire net operating profits and realized net capital gains derived during the immediately preceding calendar year; and
1. Ten percent of the insurer’s surplus as to policyholders derived from realized net operating profits on its business and net realized capital gains; or
2. The insurer’s entire net operating profits and realized net capital gains derived during the immediately preceding calendar year; and

(b)

The insurer will have surplus as to policyholders equal to or exceeding 115 percent of the minimum required statutory surplus as to policyholders after the dividend or distribution is made; and

(c)

The insurer has filed notice with the office at least 10 business days prior to the dividend payment or distribution, or such shorter period of time as approved by the office on a case-by-case basis. Such notice shall not create a right in the office to approve or disapprove a dividend otherwise properly payable hereunder; and

(d)

The notice includes a certification by an officer of the insurer attesting that after payment of the dividend or distribution the insurer will have at least 115 percent of required statutory surplus as to policyholders.

(4)

The office shall not approve a dividend or distribution in excess of the maximum amount allowed in subsection (1) unless, considering the following factors, it determines that the distribution or dividend would not jeopardize the financial condition of the insurer:The liquidity, quality, and diversification of the insurer’s assets and the effect on its ability to meet its obligations.Reduction of investment portfolio and investment income.Effects on the written premium to surplus ratios as required by the Florida Insurance Code.Industrywide financial conditions.Prior dividend distributions of the insurer.Whether the dividend is only a “pass-through” dividend from a subsidiary of the insurer.

(a)

The liquidity, quality, and diversification of the insurer’s assets and the effect on its ability to meet its obligations.

(b)

Reduction of investment portfolio and investment income.

(c)

Effects on the written premium to surplus ratios as required by the Florida Insurance Code.

(d)

Industrywide financial conditions.

(e)

Prior dividend distributions of the insurer.

(f)

Whether the dividend is only a “pass-through” dividend from a subsidiary of the insurer.

(5)

A dividend or distribution by a not-for-profit insurance company subsidiary to its mutual insurance holding company, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediate holding companies, pursuant to part III of this chapter, which meets the requirements of this section and which applies to a stock insurer, is permitted under this section.

Source: Section 628.371 — Dividends to stockholders, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0628.­371 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

628.011
Scope of part
628.021
“Stock insurer” defined
628.031
“Mutual insurer” defined
628.041
Applicability of general corporation statutes
628.051
Application for permit to form insurer
628.061
Investigation of proposed organization
628.071
Granting, denial of permit
628.081
Incorporation of domestic insurer
628.091
Filing, approval of articles of incorporation
628.101
Amendment of certificate of incorporation
628.111
Amendment of articles of incorporation
628.121
Capital stock
628.131
Limitation on organization and stock sales expenses
628.151
Insurance business exclusive
628.152
Domestic stock insurers
628.161
Initial qualifications
628.171
Formation of mutual insurer
628.221
Bylaws of mutual insurer
628.231
Directors
628.251
Management and exclusive agency contracts
628.255
Person with effective control cannot receive commission unless contract approved
628.261
Notice of change of director or officer
628.271
Office and records
628.281
Exceptions to requirement that office, records, and assets be maintained in this state
628.291
Unauthorized transactions in other states
628.301
Membership in mutual insurer
628.341
Nonassessable policies
628.351
Nonassessable policies
628.361
Participating policies
628.371
Dividends to stockholders
628.381
Dividends to mutual policyholders
628.391
Illegal dividends
628.401
Borrowed surplus
628.411
Impairment of capital or assets
628.421
Assessment of stockholders or members
628.431
Mutualization of stock insurers
628.441
Converting mutual insurer
628.451
Merger or share exchange of stock insurers and other entities
628.461
Acquisition of controlling stock
628.471
Mergers
628.481
Bulk reinsurance
628.491
Mergers and consolidations
628.501
Mutual member’s share of assets on liquidation
628.511
Ownership or transfer of securities without physical delivery of certificates
628.520
Change of domicile of a foreign insurer
628.525
Change of domicile of a domestic insurer
628.530
Effects of redomestication
628.535
Authority to adopt rules
628.4615
Specialty insurers

Current through Fall 2025

§ 628.371. Dividends to stockholders's source at flsenate​.gov