33-2-1351. Fraudulent transfers prior to petition. - Montana Statutes

     33-2-1351. Fraudulent transfers prior to petition. (1) Every transfer made or suffered and every obligation incurred by an insurer within 1 year prior to the filing of a successful petition for rehabilitation or liquidation under this part is 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 part which is fraudulent under this section may be avoided by the receiver, except as to a person who in good faith is a purchaser, lienor, or obligee for a present fair equivalent value, and except that any purchaser, lienor, or obligee who in good faith has given a consideration less than fair for such 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 succeeds to and may enforce the rights of the purchaser, lienor, or obligee.
     (2) (a) A transfer of property other than real property is considered 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 33-2-1353(3).
     (b) A transfer of real property is considered 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.
     (c) A transfer which creates an equitable lien is not considered to be perfected if there are available means by which a legal lien could be created.
     (d) Any transfer not perfected prior to the filing of a petition for liquidation is considered to be made immediately before the filing of the successful petition.
     (e) 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.
     (3) Any transaction of the insurer with a reinsurer is considered fraudulent and may be avoided by the receiver under subsection (1) if:
     (a) 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 transaction, unless the reinsurer gives a present fair equivalent value for the release; and
     (b) any part of the transaction took place within 1 year prior to the date of filing of the petition through which the receivership was commenced.

     History: En. Sec. 26, Ch. 383, L. 1979.