| Copyright © King's Printer, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada | Licence Disclaimer |
| This Act is current to August 26, 2025 |
[Prepared for convenience by the Office of Legislative Counsel. Note: This Act has not been revised as part of the Revised Statutes 1996. References in this Act to other Acts may be references to earlier Revised Statutes or to Acts not consolidated in a general revision of statutes, depending on when the provision of this Act containing the reference was enacted or amended.]
Assented to April 14, 1954
WHEREAS a petition has been presented praying for an Act to incorporate a company with the rights, powers, and privileges hereinafter set forth, and it is expedient to grant the prayer of the said petition:
THEREFORE, HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows:—
1 This Act may be cited as the "Universal General Insurance Company Act, 1954."
1954-63-1.
2 George Ronald Brown, of London, England, insurance executive; George Wilson Blackwell, of San Francisco, California, United States of America, insurance executive; and David Sigler, of Vancouver, British Columbia, solicitor, together with such other persons as shall hereafter become shareholders therein, are constituted a body politic and corporate under the name of "Universal General Insurance Company" (hereafter called "the Company").
1954-63-2.
4 The liability of the shareholders shall be limited to the amount (if any) unpaid on the shares respectively held by them.
1954-63-4.
5 The registered office of the Company shall be in such place in the Province of British Columbia as the directors may from time to time determine, and the Company may establish branch offices and agencies at any place within or without the Province.
1954-63-5.
6 The capital of the Company shall be three hundred thousand dollars, divided into three thousand shares of one hundred dollars each: Provided always that the Company in general meeting may, subject to the provisions of section 8 of the "Companies Act," increase its capital from time to time.
1954-63-6.
7 One hundred thousand dollars of the capital of the Company shall be subscribed for and seventy-five thousand dollars shall be paid up thereon in cash before the Company commences business.
1954-63-7.
8 The Company is empowered to carry on business as insurers against loss in respect of all or any of the following classes of insurance, namely:—
(d) Boiler and machinery insurance:
(h) Falling aircraft insurance:
(l) Hail insurance and limited hail insurance:
(m) Impact by vehicles insurance:
(n) Inland transportation insurance:
(q) Personal property insurance:
(u) Sprinkler leakage insurance:
1954-63-8.
9 The Company shall have as ancillary and incidental to the abovementioned objects the powers set forth in section 22 of the "Companies Act," except in so far as any of such powers may be inconsistent with or repugnant to the provisions of the "Insurance Act."
1954-63-9.
10 The Company may invest its funds in such investments as are from time to time authorized for the investment of funds of an insurance company.
1954-63-10.
11 The Company may cause itself to be insured against any risk it has undertaken and against any loss or risk it may incur in the course of its business.
1954-63-11.
12 The persons named in section 2 of this Act shall be the first directors of the Company, and thereafter the directors of the Company shall be such persons as are from time to time elected at the annual meetings of the Company: Provided that any casual vacancy occuring in the board of directors may be filled up by the directors, and the directors shall have power at any time and from time to time to appoint a person as an additional director. The number of directors shall be determined by the Company's by-laws: Provided that the number of directors at any time shall not be less than two.
1954-63-12.
13 The first directors shall have power to receive subscriptions for shares and to do all such other acts, deeds, and things as are advisable or necessary for or incidental to the purposes of organization of the Company.
1954-63-13.
14 The directors may from time to time pass by-laws not inconsistent with this Act for the management, regulation, and procedure of the Company's business in all respects whatsoever, and may alter and amend the same.
1954-63-14.
15 The by-laws of the Company shall bind the Company and its members to the same extent as if they had been respectively signed and sealed by each member and by the Company, and contained covenants on the part of each member, his heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns, to observe all the provisions of the by-laws, subject to the provisions of this Act.
1954-63-15.
16 Any director may accept and hold any office or place of trust or profit under the Company and may enter into or be interested in any contract with the Company and may receive any salary or remuneration for attending to the business of the Company as an officer, employee, agent, solicitor, or otherwise.
1954-63-16.
17 The first general meeting of the Company shall be held not later than one year from the date on which this Act comes into force, and thereafter an annual general meeting of the Company shall be held once at least in every calendar year.
1954-63-17.
18 No failure to elect directors or to hold a first or any annual meeting shall operate as a dissolution of the Company, but anything omitted to be done may afterwards be performed at a meeting called in conformity with the by-laws or at a special general meeting.
1954-63-18.
19 The provisions of the "Companies Clauses Act" shall not apply to this Act.
1954-63-19.
20 (1) The following sections of the "Companies Act" shall mutatis mutandis apply, except in so far as any of them are varied by or inconsistent with or repugnant to the provisions of this Act, in which case the provisions of this Act shall prevail to the extent of such variation, inconsistency, or repugnancy: Sections 7, 8, 11 to 15 (inclusive), 17, 21, 24, 26, 27, 49, 58 to 64 (inclusive), 77 to 95 (inclusive), 97 to 103 (inclusive), 106, 109 to 112 (inclusive), 114, 115, 122 to 126 (inclusive), 128, 135 to 146 (inclusive), 149 to 152 (inclusive), 163, 165 to 170 (inclusive), 214 to 240 (inclusive).
(2) The following sections of the "Companies Act" mentioned in section 5 (2) thereof are hereby expressly exempted and shall not apply: Sections 9, 10, 16, 18, 73 to 75 (inclusive), 104, 105, 108, 113, 129 to 134 (inclusive), 153 to 162 (inclusive), 241 to 266 (inclusive).
1954-63-20.
21 The provisions of this Act and the Company incorporated hereby shall be subject to the provisions of the "Insurance Act."
1954-63-21.
Copyright © King's Printer, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada