CHAPTER 2. MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY REORGANIZATION
IC 27-14-2
Chapter 2. Mutual Insurance Company Reorganization
IC 27-14-2-1
Prerequisites to reorganization
Sec. 1. (a) A mutual insurance company (MIC) may reorganize
under this chapter as a mutual insurance holding company (MIHC)
with one (1) or more subsidiaries after the following have occurred:
(1) The favorable vote of its board of directors to reorganize.
(2) The filing of an application with the commissioner.
(3) A notice of a public hearing made to its members and the
public.
(4) At least one (1) public hearing conducted by the
commissioner.
(5) The approval of the plan by the commissioner.
(6) A favorable vote of the eligible members of the MIC.
(7) The issuance of an order of completion by the
commissioner.
(b) The subsidiaries of an MIHC:
(1) must include at least one (1) reorganized insurer;
(2) may include one (1) or more stock holding companies; and
(3) may include one (1) or more stock insurance companies, the
policyholders of which are not and do not become members of
the MIHC.
As added by P.L.5-2000, SEC.4.
IC 27-14-2-2
Methods of reorganization
Sec. 2. The reorganization of an MIC or two (2) or more MICs
into an MIHC structure under this chapter may be accomplished by
any means approved by the commissioner, including the following:
(1) The establishment of at least one (1) company.
(2) The amendment or restatement of the articles and bylaws of
any company.
(3) The transfer or acquisition of any or all of the assets and
liabilities or of the stock of any company.
(4) The merger or consolidation of two (2) or more MICs.
(5) The merger or consolidation of two (2) or more stock
holding companies as part of the merger of two (2) or more
MIHCs.
(6) The merger or consolidation of two (2) or more stock
insurance companies.
(7) The merger of an MIC's membership interests into any
existing MIHC, with the continued corporate existence of the
reorganized MIC as a reorganized insurer.
As added by P.L.5-2000, SEC.4.
IC 27-14-2-3
Adoption of plan of reorganization by directors
Sec. 3. (a) A plan of reorganization must be adopted by the board
of directors of the MIC.
(b) For a plan of reorganization to be adopted by the board of
directors of an MIC, at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the
members of the board of directors must vote in favor of the adoption.
As added by P.L.5-2000, SEC.4.
IC 27-14-2-4
Application for reorganization
Sec. 4. Within ninety (90) days after the adoption of a plan of
reorganization and before a vote on the plan by the members, the
company adopting the plan must file with the commissioner an
application containing the following:
(1) A plan of reorganization.
(2) The form of the notices to be sent to members under
sections 8 and 12(b) of this chapter.
(3) A copy of the:
(A) proposed articles of incorporation; and
(B) bylaws;
of each company to be formed under the plan, including the
reorganized insurer in compliance with the requirements of
IC 27-1-6.
(4) If it is necessary to amend the current articles of
incorporation or bylaws of any company that is affected by the
plan, a copy of:
(A) the proposed articles of amendment or amended and
restated articles of incorporation; and
(B) amended or restated bylaws;
of the company, which in the case of each domestic insurance
company must comply with the requirements of IC 27-1-8.
(5) With respect to participating policies and contracts of the
reorganized insurer, a description of:
(A) the current dividend practices of the MIC; and
(B) the dividend practices to be followed by the reorganized
insurer following the effective date of reorganization.
As added by P.L.5-2000, SEC.4.
IC 27-14-2-5
Requirements for plan of reorganization
Sec. 5. A plan of reorganization filed with the commissioner
under this chapter must meet the following requirements:
(1) It must describe all significant terms of the proposed
reorganization.
(2) It must describe in a narrative form any plan to issue stock
that may be proposed in connection with the plan of
reorganization.
(3) It must:
(A) describe the reasons for and purposes of the proposed
reorganization;
(B) describe the manner in which the reorganization is
expected to benefit and serve the best interests of the
members; and
(C) include an analysis of the risks and benefits to the MIC
and its members of the proposed reorganization, and
compare those risks and benefits with the risks and benefits
of reasonable alternatives (including demutualization of the
MIC) to the reorganization.
(4) It must provide that:
(A) a member's interest in the MIC becomes a member's
interest in the MIHC;
(B) the members' surplus protection principle will govern the
actions of the MIHC and its subsidiaries;
(C) a member's interest in the MIHC may not be transferred,
assigned, pledged, or alienated in any manner except in
connection with a transfer, assignment, pledge, or alienation
of the policy from which the member's interest is derived;
and
(D) any member's interest in an MIHC will automatically
terminate upon the lapse or other termination of the policy
from which the member's interest is derived.
(5) It must describe how the plan of reorganization is to be
effected, including a description of a contemplated transfer,
acquisition, or assumption of assets, rights, franchises, interests,
debts, liabilities, or other obligations of the applicant and any
other company affected by the plan or reorganization.
(6) It must describe the:
(A) establishment of companies;
(B) amendment or restatement of the articles of
incorporation and bylaws of a company; and
(C) merger of companies;
that will take place under the plan of reorganization.
(7) It must provide a list of:
(A) all individuals who are or have been selected to become
directors or officers of the MIHC or any company that is a
subsidiary of the MIHC; and
(B) other individuals who perform or will perform duties
customarily performed by a director or officer.
(8) The list prepared under subdivision (7) must include, for
each individual on the list:
(A) the individual's principal occupation;
(B) all offices and positions the individual has held in the
preceding five (5) years;
(C) any crime of which the individual has been convicted
(other than traffic violations) in the preceding ten (10) years;
(D) information concerning any personal bankruptcy of the
individual or the individual's spouse during the previous
seven (7) years;
(E) information concerning the bankruptcy of any
corporation of which the individual was an officer or
director during the previous seven (7) years;
(F) information concerning any state or federal securities
law allegations against the individual that within the
previous ten (10) years resulted in a:
(i) determination that the individual violated the state or
federal securities law;
(ii) plea of nolo contendere; or
(iii) consent decree;
(G) information concerning the revocation during the
previous ten (10) years of any state or federal license issued
to the individual; and
(H) information as to whether the individual was refused a
performance or other bond during the previous ten (10)
years.
(9) It must provide that any policy of any reorganized insurer
that goes into force after the effective date of the
reorganization, will provide that:
(A) the owner of the policy; or
(B) another person or persons specified in the:
(i) policy; or
(ii) MIHC's articles of incorporation or bylaws;
becomes a member of the MIHC. However, a plan of
reorganization may provide that any person who becomes an
owner of a policy or who would otherwise become a member
under a policy issued during a particular period of not more
than three (3) years immediately after the effective date of the
plan of reorganization will not become a member until after the
expiration of that period.
(10) It must provide that, with regard to a policy of the MIC in
force on the effective date of the plan of reorganization:
(A) the policy continues to remain in force under the policy's
terms as the policy of a reorganized insurer;
(B) the holder of a participating policy continues to have the
right to receive policy dividends as provided for in the
policy; and
(C) the policyholder's right to benefits, values, guarantees,
and other contractual obligations of the MIC continues after
the effective date of the plan of reorganization as obligations
of the reorganized insurer.
(11) It must describe the nature and content of the report and
financial statement to be sent annually to each member
following the reorganization.
(12) It must provide that, in the event of proceedings under
IC 27-9 involving a reorganized insurer, the assets of the MIHC
that is affiliated with the reorganized insurer are available to
satisfy the policyholder obligations of the reorganized insurer.
(13) It must provide that the name of the reorganized insurer
does not include the term "mutual", except as approved by the
commissioner as not being misleading to the policyholders or
the public.
(14) It must provide any additional information that the
commissioner may request.
As added by P.L.5-2000, SEC.4.
IC 27-14-2-6
Amendment or termination of plan of reorganization
Sec. 6. (a) A plan of reorganization that is adopted by the board
of directors of the applicant may be:
(1) amended by the board of directors of the applicant:
(A) in response to the comments or recommendations of the
commissioner, or any other state or federal agency or entity,
before any solicitation of proxies from the members to vote
on the plan of reorganization; and
(B) otherwise, with the consent of the commissioner; or
(2) terminated by the board of directors of the applicant:
(A) before notice is sent to the members under section 8 of
this chapter; or
(B) with the consent of the commissioner.
(b) For a plan of reorganization to be:
(1) amended; or
(2) terminated;
by the board of directors of an MIC, at least seventy-five percent
(75%) of the members of the board of directors must vote in favor of
the amendment or termination.
As added by P.L.5-2000, SEC.4.
IC 27-14-2-7
Public hearing
Sec. 7. (a) The commissioner shall, as soon as practicable after a
plan of reorganization is filed with the commissioner but not more
than ninety (90) days (or a longer period after the plan is filed as the
commissioner determines for good cause), conduct a public hearing
under IC 4-22-2-26 to afford interested persons an opportunity to
present information, views, arguments, or comments about the plan.
(b) At least thirty (30) days before a hearing held under this
section, the commissioner shall publish notice of the hearing in a
newspaper of general circulation in:
(1) the city of Indianapolis;
(2) the city in which the principal office of the applicant is
located; and
(3) other cities or towns that the commissioner considers
appropriate.
The commissioner may provide written notice of the hearing by other
means and to other persons that the commissioner considers
appropriate.
(c) The notice provided under this section must:
(1) refer to the applicable statutory provisions;
(2) state the date, time, and location of the hearing; and
(3) include a brief statement of the subject of the hearing.
(d) At the discretion of the commissioner or the commissioner's
appointee, testimony may be taken under oath or by affirmation at a
public hearing under this article.
As added by P.L.5-2000, SEC.4.
IC 27-14-2-8
Notice of hearing to members and policyholders
Sec. 8. The applicant shall, at least thirty (30) days before the
public hearing required under this chapter, mail notice of the public
hearing to the last known address of each member and policyholder
of the MIC as shown on the books of the MIC. The notice must
achieve a minimum score of forty (40) on the Flesch reading ease test
or an equivalent score on a comparable test approved by the
commissioner. The notice must include the following:
(1) Reference to the applicable statutory provisions.
(2) A statement of the date, time, and location of the hearing.
(3) A brief statement of the subject of the hearing, including
specific notice to the member that the member's interest in the
MIC will be affected by the reorganization.
As added by P.L.5-2000, SEC.4.
IC 27-14-2-9
Prerequisites to approval of plan of reorganization
Sec. 9. The commissioner may not approve a plan of
reorganization submitted under this article unless the applicant has
shown, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the plan of
reorganization:
(1) complies with the law;
(2) includes the disclosures and notices required under this
article;
(3) is fair, reasonable, and equitable to the members and
policyholders of the MIC; and
(4) complies with the members' surplus protection principle.
As added by P.L.5-2000, SEC.4.
IC 27-14-2-10
Approval or disapproval of plan of reorganization by
commissioner
Sec. 10. (a) Not more than one hundred eighty (180) days after the
filing of the application and submission of all other information
requested by the commissioner relative to the plan, or a longer period
if extended by the commissioner for good cause, the commissioner
shall approve or disapprove the plan of reorganization. The
commissioner's approval of the plan must be conditioned upon:
(1) the approval of the plan by the eligible members under this
chapter; and
(2) the requirements of sections 16 and 17 of this chapter.
(b) The commissioner shall fully consider any comments received
at the public hearing under IC 4-22-2-27 before issuing an order
under subsection (a).
As added by P.L.5-2000, SEC.4.
IC 27-14-2-11
Notice of approval or disapproval
Sec. 11. The commissioner shall notify the applicant upon
reaching a decision on a plan of reorganization.
As added by P.L.5-2000, SEC.4.
IC 27-14-2-12
Submitting plan of reorganization to members
Sec. 12. (a) A plan of reorganization of an MIC must be submitted
for approval by the eligible members of the MIC after approval of the
application by the commissioner under section 10 of this chapter. A
vote by the eligible members to approve the plan must be made at a
special or annual meeting held under IC 27-1-7-7 and this chapter.
(b) The eligible members must be sent notice of the meeting at
which a plan of reorganization will be submitted for approval by
eligible members. The notice must:
(1) be mailed at least thirty (30) days before the meeting;
(2) refer to the applicable statutory provisions;
(3) state the date, time, and location of the meeting;
(4) include or be accompanied by a brief statement of the
subject of the meeting, including specific notice to the member
that the member's interest in the MIC will be affected by the
reorganization;
(5) include or be accompanied by a copy of the plan or a
summary of the plan; and
(6) describe the member's right to attend and participate in the
meeting.
(c) The notice sent under this section must achieve a minimum
score of forty (40) on the Flesch reading ease test or an equivalent
score on a comparable test approved by the commissioner.
As added by P.L.5-2000, SEC.4.
IC 27-14-2-13
Voting on plan of reorganization
Sec. 13. Notwithstanding IC 27-1-7-9, with respect to a vote under
section 12 of this chapter, an eligible member:
(1) may vote in person or by proxy if the proxy soliciting
material:
(A) includes reference to the applicable statutory provisions;
(B) states the date, time, and location of the meeting;
(C) contains a brief statement of the subject of the meeting,
including specific notice that the member's interest in the
MIC will be affected by the reorganization;
(D) was solicited and obtained from the member after the
commissioner has approved the plan of reorganization under
this article; and
(E) was found to be sufficient in the reasonable
determination of the commissioner for the eligible members
to make an informed decision about the plan of
reorganization; and
(2) is entitled to cast only one (1) vote on the proposed plan of
reorganization, regardless of the number of policies or the
amount of insurance that the member has with the MIC or any
affiliate of the MIC.
As added by P.L.5-2000, SEC.4.
IC 27-14-2-14
Approval of plan of reorganization by members
Sec. 14. For a plan of reorganization to be approved by the
members of an MIC:
(1) the plan of reorganization must be approved at a meeting at
which at least ten percent (10%) of the eligible members are
represented in person or by proxy; and
(2) at least two-thirds (2/3) of the eligible members voting in
person or by proxy must vote in favor of the plan.
As added by P.L.5-2000, SEC.4.
IC 27-14-2-15
Filing minutes of meeting at which plan approved
Sec. 15. Not later than thirty (30) days after members have
approved a plan of reorganization at a special or annual meeting of
members under this chapter, an applicant must file with the
commissioner the minutes of the meeting at which the plan of
reorganization was approved.
As added by P.L.5-2000, SEC.4.
IC 27-14-2-16
Issuance of permit for completion of organization
Sec. 16. (a) Before the commissioner issues a permit for
completion of organization under subsection (b):
(1) a public hearing must have been conducted under this
chapter;
(2) the commissioner must have issued notice to the applicant
that the commissioner has approved the plan of reorganization
of the applicant under section 10 of this chapter; and
(3) the commissioner must have received the minutes of the
meeting of the members at which the plan was approved
reflecting that the plan of reorganization was on the agenda and
the plan was approved.
(b) After the events referred to in subsection (a), the
commissioner shall issue:
(1) a permit for completion of organization of the MIHC; and
(2) in the case of:
(A) a newly organized domestic insurance company, a
permit for completion of organization as provided in
IC 27-1-6-11; or
(B) amended articles of incorporation of a domestic
insurance company, an amended certificate of authority as
provided in IC 27-1-8-9.
As added by P.L.5-2000, SEC.4.
IC 27-14-2-17
Effectiveness of plan of reorganization
Sec. 17. A plan of reorganization is effective when each
reorganized insurer and MIHC affected by the plan has filed:
(1) its articles of incorporation or, if appropriate, its articles of
amendment; and
(2) the certificate of authority and any amended certificate of
authority issued to the company by the commissioner under this
chapter;
in the office of the county recorder of the county in which the
principal office of the company is located, or at any later date
specified in the plan of reorganization.
As added by P.L.5-2000, SEC.4.
IC 27-14-2-18
Organization of insurer under plan of reorganization
Sec. 18. The organization of a domestic insurance company under
a plan of reorganization under this article must be conducted under
IC 27-1-6 concerning the formation of domestic insurance
companies.
As added by P.L.5-2000, SEC.4.
IC 27-14-2-19
Amendment of articles of incorporation of insurer under plan of
reorganization
Sec. 19. The amendment of the articles of incorporation of a
domestic insurance company under a plan of reorganization under
this article must be conducted in compliance with IC 27-1-8.
As added by P.L.5-2000, SEC.4.