Montana Code Annotated 2017

TITLE 33. INSURANCE AND INSURANCE COMPANIES

CHAPTER 4. FARM MUTUAL INSURERS

Part 5. Insurance Operations

Farm Mutual Insurers -- Merger

33-4-521. Farm mutual insurers -- merger. (1) A domestic farm mutual insurer may not merge or consolidate with a stock insurer.

(2) A domestic farm mutual insurer may merge or consolidate with another farm mutual insurer or another domestic mutual insurer if:

(a) the insurers transact similar lines of business;

(b) the insurers agree on a plan for merger or consolidation which must be submitted to all members of each insurer by ballot and approved by two-thirds of the members voting for each respective insurer; and

(c) after submitting the plan for review and opportunity for a hearing, the commissioner provides written approval or denial of the merger or consolidation within a reasonable time.

(3) After opportunity for a hearing in subsection (2), the commissioner may not approve the merger or consolidation if evidence shows that it:

(a) is inequitable to the policyholders of any domestic mutual insurer involved;

(b) would substantially reduce the security of and service to be rendered to policyholders of the domestic mutual insurer; or

(c) is contrary to law.

(4) Sections 33-3-217(5) and 33-3-218 also apply to mergers and consolidations of mutual insurers with farm mutual insurers.

(5) Upon merger or consolidation of a domestic farm mutual insurer with another domestic mutual insurer under this chapter, the corporate charter of the merged or consolidated domestic farm mutual insurer must automatically be extinguished and nullified.

History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 184, L. 2015.