I. – Subject to the provisions of article L. 310-10, the direct insurance operations defined in article L. 310-1 may be carried out in the territory of the French Republic only :
1° by undertakings having their registered office in France, from their registered office or their branches duly established in a Member State of the European Union, when they are authorised in accordance with the provisions of article L. 321-1 ;
2° by foreign companies whose registered office is in a Member State of the European Union, from their registered office or their branches duly established in a Member State of the European Communities, under the conditions laid down in Title VI of this Book;
3° by the foreign undertakings referred to in article L. 310-10-1, from their branches duly established in France, when they are authorised in accordance with the provisions of article L. 321-7 ;
4° by foreign undertakings other than those mentioned in 2° and 3° above, from their branches duly established in France, where they satisfy the conditions laid down by article L. 329-1.
II. – Without prejudice to article L. 143-1, the operations mentioned in this article may also be carried out in the territory of the French Republic by the institutions mentioned in article L. 370-1, under the conditions laid down in Title VII of this Book.
III. – Contracts taken out in breach of this article are null and void. However, this nullity is not enforceable against policyholders, subscribers or beneficiaries acting in good faith.