33-28-306. Conversion to or merger with reciprocal insurer. (1) An association captive insurance company or industrial insured group formed as a stock or mutual corporation may be converted to or merged with a reciprocal insurer in accordance with the provisions of this section.
     (2) A plan for conversion or merger must:
     (a) be fair and equitable to the shareholders, in the case of a stock insurer, or the policyholders, in the case of a mutual insurer; and
     (b) provide for the purchase of the shares of any nonconsenting shareholder of a stock insurer or the policyholder interest of any nonconsenting policyholder of a mutual insurer.
     (3) In order to convert to a reciprocal insurer, the conversion must be accomplished under a reasonable plan and procedure approved by the commissioner. The commissioner may not approve the plan unless it:
     (a) provides for a hearing upon notice to the insurer, directors, officers, and stockholders or policyholders who have the right to appear at the hearing, unless the commissioner waives or modifies the requirements for the hearing;
     (b) provides for the conversion of the existing stockholder or policyholder interests into subscriber interests in the resulting reciprocal insurer proportionate to stockholder or policyholder interests;
     (c) (i) in the case of a stock insurer, is approved, by a majority of the shareholders who are entitled to vote and who are represented at a regular or special meeting at which a quorum is present either in person or by proxy; or
     (ii) in the case of a mutual insurer, by a majority of the voting interests of the policyholders who are represented at a regular or special meeting at which a quorum is present either in person or by proxy; and
     (d) meets the requirements of 33-28-105.
     (4) If the commissioner approves a plan of conversion, the certificate of authority for the converting insurer must be amended to state that it is a reciprocal insurer. The conversion is effective and the corporate existence of the converting entity ceases to exist upon the date on which the amended certificate is issued to the attorney-in-fact of the reciprocal insurer. The resulting reciprocal insurer shall notify the secretary of state of the conversion.
     (5) The commissioner may not approve a plan for a merger unless it:
     (a) meets the requirements of:
     (i) 33-3-217, with respect to the merger with a captive stock insurer; or
     (ii) 33-3-218, with respect to the merger with a captive mutual insurer; and
     (b) meets the requirements of 33-28-105.

     History: En. Sec. 6, Ch. 383, L. 2003.