§ 58-10-10.  Mutual to stock insurer conversion.

(a) A domestic mutual insurer may convert to a domestic stock insurer under a plan that is approved in advance by the Commissioner.

(b) The Commissioner shall not approve the plan unless:

(1) It is fair and equitable to the insurer's policyholders.

(2) It is adopted by the insurer's board of directors in accordance with the insurer's bylaws and approved by a vote of not less than two-thirds of the insurer's members voting on it in person, by proxy, or by mail at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the plan, pursuant to reasonable notice and procedure as approved by the Commissioner. If the company is a life insurer, the right to vote may be limited, as its bylaws provide, to members whose policies are other than term or group policies and have been in effect for more than one year.

(3) Each policyholder's equity in the insurer is determinable under a fair and reasonable formula approved by the Commissioner. The equity shall be based upon the insurer's entire statutory surplus after deducting certificates of contribution, guaranty capital certificates, and similar evidences of indebtedness included in an insurer's statutory surplus.

(4) The policyholders entitled to vote on the plan and participate in the purchase of stock and distribution of assets include all policyholders on the date the plan was adopted by the insurer's board of directors.

(5) The plan provides that each policyholder specified in subdivision (4) of this subsection receives a preemptive right to acquire a proportionate part of all of the proposed capital stock of the insurer or of all of the stock of a corporation affiliated with the insurer within a designated reasonable period as the part is determinable under the plan of conversion; and to apply toward the purchase of the stock the amount of the policyholder's equity in the insurer under subdivision (3) of this subsection. The plan must provide for an equitable distribution of fractional interests.

(6) The plan provides for payment to each policyholder of the policyholder's entire equity in the insurer; with that payment to be applied toward the purchase of stock to which the policyholder is entitled preemptively or to be made in cash, or both. The cash payment may not exceed fifty percent (50%) of each policyholder's equity. The stock purchased, together with the cash payment, if any, shall constitute full payment and discharge of the policyholder's equity as an owner of the mutual insurer.

(7) Shares are to be offered to policyholders at a price not greater than that of shares to be subsequently offered to others.

(8) The Commissioner finds that the insurer's management has not, through reduction of volume of new business written, through policy cancellations, or through any other means, sought to (i) reduce, limit, or affect the number or identity of the insurer's members entitled to participate in the plan or (ii) secure for the individuals constituting management any unfair advantage through the plan.

(9) The plan, when completed, provides that the insurer's capital and surplus are not less than the minimum required of a domestic stock insurer transacting the same kinds of insurance, are reasonable in relation to the insurer's outstanding liabilities, and are adequate to meet its financial needs.

(c) With respect to an insurer with a guaranty capital, the conversion plan shall be approved by a vote of not less than two-thirds of the insurer's guaranty capital shareholders and policyholders as provided for in subdivision (b)(2) of this section. The plan may provide for the issuance of stock in exchange for outstanding guaranty capital shares at their redemption value subject to the conditions in subsection (b) of this section.

(d) The Commissioner may schedule a public hearing on the proposed conversion plan.

(e) The Commissioner may retain, at the mutual insurer's expense, any attorneys, actuaries, economists, accountants, or other experts not otherwise a part of the Commissioner's staff as may be reasonably necessary to assist the Commissioner in reviewing the proposed conversion plan.

(f) The corporate existence of the mutual company continues in the stock company created under this section. All assets, rights, franchises, and interests of the former mutual insurer, in and to real or personal property, are deemed to be transferred to and vested in the stock insurer, without any other deed or transfer; and the stock insurer simultaneously assumes all of the obligations and liabilities of the former mutual insurer.

(g) No director, officer, or employee of the insurer shall receive:

(1) Any fee, commission, compensation, or other valuable consideration for aiding, promoting, or assisting in the conversion of the mutual insurer to a domestic stock insurer, other than compensation paid to any director, officer, or employee of the insurer in the ordinary course of business; or

(2) Any distribution of the assets, surplus, or capital of the insurer as part of a conversion.

(h) The Commissioner may adopt rules to carry out the provisions of this section. (1999-369, s. 6; 2001-223, s. 9.5.)