644.11 Restructuring of domestic or foreign mutual with existing domestic mutual holding company.

(1) Definition. In this section, “existing domestic mutual holding company" means a mutual holding company formed under this chapter.

(2) Domestic mutual reorganization.

(a) Merger with existing domestic mutual holding company. A domestic mutual insurance company organized under ch. 611 may restructure by merging its policyholders' membership interests into an existing domestic mutual holding company in accordance with this section and any rules promulgated by the commissioner. The restructuring shall continue the corporate existence of the converting insurance company as a stock insurance company subsidiary of the existing domestic mutual holding company or as a stock insurance company subsidiary of an intermediate stock holding company.

(b) Procedures applicable to converting insurance company. Sections 644.04 (3) and (4) and 644.07 (2) to (6), (8), (9), (10) (b) to (f), (10m) and (11) apply to a domestic mutual insurance company restructuring under this subsection.

(c) Procedures applicable to existing domestic mutual holding company.

1. The board of the existing domestic mutual holding company into which the converting insurance company's policyholders' membership interests are proposed to be merged under this subsection shall adopt a resolution approving the proposed plan of merger and directing that it be submitted to the commissioner for approval and to its members for a vote at a regular or special meeting. The existing domestic mutual holding company shall provide written notice of the meeting to each member in the manner provided under s. 644.07 (8) for notice to policyholders of a meeting for a vote on approval of a mutual holding company plan.

2. The commissioner may hold a hearing on the plan of merger prior to the meeting at which a vote of the members will be taken. A hearing under this subdivision may be combined with the hearing required under par. (b). The existing domestic mutual holding company shall provide written notice of the hearing to each member in the manner provided under s. 644.07 (6) (b) 1. for notice to policyholders of the hearing under s. 644.07 (6).

3. The commissioner shall approve the proposed plan of merger unless he or she finds that the plan is not fair and equitable to members or is contrary to the interests of members.

4. The proposed plan of merger shall be approved by the members of the existing domestic mutual holding company upon the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of those members voting in person or by proxy at the meeting required under subd. 1.

(d) Commissioner issues new certificate of authority if approved. If under par. (b) the policyholders of the converting insurance company approve the plan of restructuring and under par. (c) the members of the existing domestic mutual holding company approve the plan of merger, the commissioner shall issue a new certificate of authority to the converting insurance company. The issuance of the certificate of authority shall be conclusive evidence of compliance with this subsection.

(e) Effect of restructuring. On the effective date of the restructuring described in this subsection, all of the following shall occur:

1. The converting insurance company shall at once become a stock corporation organized and operating under ch. 611 and is no longer a mutual.

2. All membership interests and rights in surplus of the converting insurance company shall be extinguished and the members of the converting insurance company shall become members of the existing domestic mutual holding company in accordance with this chapter and the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the existing domestic mutual holding company.

3. All shares of the voting stock of the converting insurance company shall be acquired and retained by the existing domestic mutual holding company or any intermediate stock holding company, 51 percent or more of whose voting stock is owned by the existing domestic mutual holding company.

4. The converted insurance company shall be considered to have been organized at the time that the converting insurance company was organized.

5. Except as otherwise provided in the plan, the trustees, directors, officers, agents and employees of the converting insurance company shall continue in like capacity with the converted insurance company.

(3) Foreign mutual reorganization. A foreign mutual insurance company organized under the laws of any other state that, if a domestic corporation, would be organized under ch. 611 may restructure by merging its policyholders' membership interests into an existing domestic mutual holding company in accordance with rules promulgated by the commissioner and in compliance with the requirements of any other law or regulation that is applicable to the foreign mutual. The restructuring shall continue the corporate existence of the converting insurance company as a foreign stock insurance company subsidiary of the existing domestic mutual holding company or as a foreign stock insurance company subsidiary of an intermediate stock holding company. The restructuring foreign mutual insurance company may remain a foreign insurer after the restructuring and may be admitted to do business in this state if it meets the applicable requirements of ch. 618. A foreign mutual insurance company that is a party to the restructuring may at the same time redomesticate to this state by complying with the applicable requirements of this state and its state of domicile.

History: 1997 a. 227.