A. No security or investment (other than property or shares acquired pursuant to Sections 1612, 1616 or 1624 of this article) shall be eligible for acquisition unless it is interest bearing or interest accruing or dividend or income paying, is not then in default in any respect, and the insurer is entitled to receive for its exclusive account and benefit the interest or income accruing thereon. Defaults in interest or income occurring subsequent to acquisition of an investment shall not affect allowance thereof as an asset.

B. No security or investment shall be eligible for purchase at a price above its market value.

C. No provision of this article shall prohibit the acquisition by an insurer of other or additional securities or property if received as a dividend or as a lawful distribution of assets, or if acquired pursuant to a lawful and bona fide agreement of bulk reinsurance, merger, or consolidation. Any investment so acquired through bulk reinsurance, merger, or consolidation, which is not otherwise eligible under this article, shall be disposed of pursuant to Section 1625 of this article.