(a) The governing body may adopt a plan of conversion that does not rely in whole or in part upon issuing nontransferable subscription rights to members to purchase stock of the converted stock company if the Commissioner finds that the plan does not prejudice the interests of the members, is fair and equitable, and is not inconsistent with the purpose and intent of this chapter. Subject to a finding of the Commissioner that an alternative plan is fair and equitable and is not inconsistent with the purpose and intent of this chapter, an alternative plan may:

(1) Include the merger of a domestic mutual insurer into a domestic or foreign stock insurer.

(2) Provide for issuing transferable or redeemable subscription rights.

(3) Provide for issuing stock, cash, policyholder credits, or other consideration, or any combination of the foregoing, to policyholders instead of subscription rights.

(4) Provide for partial conversion of the mutual company and formation of a mutual holding company in accordance with subsection (b) of this section.

(5) Set forth another plan containing any other provisions approved by the Commissioner.

(b) The Commissioner may approve a partial conversion and formation of a mutual holding company provided that the mutual insurer is not insolvent or in hazardous financial condition according to information supplied in its most recent annual or quarterly statement filed with the Commissioner or as determined by a financial examination performed by the Commissioner pursuant to § 318 of this title. The Commissioner may retain, at the mutual company’s expense, any qualified expert, including counsel and financial advisors, not otherwise a part of the Commissioner’s staff to assist in reviewing whether the plan may be approved by the Commissioner.

(c) Conversion of mutual holding company. — (1) Any mutual holding company may convert to stock form only in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Solely for purposes of establishing the process for and enabling and facilitating any conversion of a mutual holding company to stock form, references in this chapter to a mutual company shall be deemed to refer to a mutual holding company and other provisions of this chapter shall be interpreted accordingly.

(2) Any stock issued by a subsidiary insurance company or subsidiary holding company of a mutual holding company to persons other than the parent mutual holding company shall be exchanged for the stock issued by the parent mutual holding company in connection with the conversion of the parent mutual holding company to stock form or any corporation participating in the conversion of the mutual holding company pursuant to § 4975(a)(3)a. of this title. The parent mutual holding company and the subsidiary holding company or insurance company must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Commissioner that the basis for the exchange is fair and reasonable.

(3) If a subsidiary holding company or insurance company has issued shares to an entity other than the mutual holding company, the conversion of the mutual holding company to stock form may not be consummated unless a majority of the shares issued to the entities other than the mutual holding company vote in favor of the conversion. This requirement applies in addition to any otherwise required policyholder or shareholder votes.

77 Del. Laws, c. 466, § 2; 78 Del. Laws, c. 313, § 5.