2016 Delaware Code
Title 18 - Insurance Code
CHAPTER 49A. DELAWARE INSURANCE COMPANY MUTUAL-TO-STOCK CONVERSION ACT
§ 4975. Required provisions of plan of conversion.

(a) The following provisions shall be included in the plan:

(1) The reasons for proposed conversion.

(2) The effect of conversion on existing policies, including all of the following:

a. A provision that all policies in force on the effective date of conversion continue to remain in force under the terms of the policies, except that the following rights, to the extent they existed in the mutual company, shall be extinguished on the effective date of the conversion:

1. Any voting rights of the policyholders provided under the policies.

2. Except as provided under paragraph (a)(2)b. of this section, any right to share in the surplus of the mutual company, unless such right is expressly provided for under the provisions of the existing policy.

3. Any assessment provisions provided for under certain types of policies.

b. Except as provided in paragraph (a)(2)c. of this section, a provision that holders of participating policies in effect on the date of conversion continue to have a right to receive dividends as provided in the participating policies, if any.

c. Except for the mutual company's life policies, participating guaranteed renewable accident and health policies, and participating guaranteed renewable noncancelable accident and health policies, a provision that upon the renewal date of a participating policy, the converted stock company may issue the insured a nonparticipating policy as a substitute for the participating policy. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to permit the substitution, during the term of a policy, of a nonexperience rated policy for an experience rated policy.

(3) The grant of subscription rights to eligible members, including both of the following:

a. A provision that each eligible member is to receive, without payment, nontransferable subscription rights to purchase the capital stock of the converted stock company and that, in the aggregate, all eligible members shall have the right, prior to the right of any other party, to purchase 100% of the capital stock of the converted stock company, exclusive of any shares of capital stock required to be sold or distributed to the holders of surplus notes, if any, and capital stock purchased by the company's tax-qualified employee stock benefit plan that is in excess of the total price of the capital stock established under subsection (d) of this section, as permitted by § 4977(c) of this title. As an alternative to subscription rights in the converted stock company, the plan may provide that each eligible member is to receive, without payment, nontransferable subscription rights to purchase a portion of the capital stock of one of the following:

1. A corporation or entity organized for the purpose of purchasing and holding all the stock of the converted stock company; provided however, that the Commissioner may, in the Commissioner's discretion, require that such corporation or entity be incorporated or formed in this State;

2. A stock insurer owned by the mutual company into which the mutual company will be merged; or

3. An unaffiliated stock insurer or other corporation or entity that will purchase all the stock of the converted stock company.

For purposes of any plan, the transfer of subscription rights from: (i) an individual to such individual and his or her spouse or children or to a trust or other estate or wealth planning entity established for the benefit of such individual, his or her spouse or children, (ii) an individual to such individual's joint or individual IRA account, or other tax-qualified retirement plan, (iii) an entity to the shareholders, partners or members of such entity, or (iv) the holder of such rights to the mutual insurance company or its proposed holding company, shall not be deemed an unpermitted transfer for purposes of this chapter.

b. A provision that the subscription rights shall be allocated in whole shares among the eligible members using a fair and equitable formula. The formula need not allocate subscription rights to eligible members on a pro rata basis based on premium payments or contributions to surplus, but may take into account how the different classes of policies of the eligible members contributed to the surplus of the mutual company or any other factors that may be fair or equitable. In accordance with § 4973(e) of this title, the Commissioner may retain an independent consultant to assist in the determination that the allocation of subscription rights is fair and equitable.

(b) The plan shall provide a fair and equitable means for allocating shares of capital stock in the event of an oversubscription to shares by eligible members exercising subscription rights received under paragraph (a)(3) of this section.

(c) The plan shall provide that any shares of capital stock not subscribed to by eligible members exercising subscription rights received under paragraph (a)(3) of this section shall be sold in a public offering or to another corporation or entity that is participating in the conversion plan, as provided in paragraph (a)(3)a. of this section. If the number of shares of capital stock not subscribed by eligible members is so small in number or other factors exist that:

(1) Do not warrant the time or expense of a public offering, or

(2) Warrant the participation of standby investors to facilitate completion of the conversion,

the plan of conversion may provide for sale of the unsubscribed shares through a private placement or other alternative method approved by the Commissioner that is fair and equitable to eligible members.

(d) The plan shall set the dollar amount of the capital stock for which subscription rights must be granted pursuant to paragraph (a)(3) of this section equal to the estimated pro forma market value of the converted stock company based upon an independent evaluation by a qualified expert. This pro forma market value may be that value that is estimated to be necessary to attract full subscription for the shares, as indicated by the independent evaluation, and may be stated as a range of pro forma market value.

(e) The plan shall set the purchase price per share of capital stock equal to any reasonable amount. However, the minimum subscription amount required of any eligible member cannot exceed $500, but the plan may provide that the minimum number of shares any person may purchase pursuant to the plan is 25 shares. The purchase price per share at which capital stock is offered to persons who are not eligible members may be greater than but not less than the purchase price per share at which capital stock is offered to eligible members.

(f) The plan shall provide that any person or group of persons acting in concert shall not acquire, in the public offering or pursuant to the exercise of subscription rights, more than 5% of the capital stock of the converted stock company or the stock of another corporation that is participating in the conversion plan, as provided in paragraph (a)(3)a. of this section, except with the approval of the Commissioner. This limitation does not apply to any entity that is to purchase 100% of the capital stock of the converted stock company as part of the plan of conversion approved by the Commissioner or to any person that acts as a standby investor of the capital stock of the converted stock company for an amount equal to 10% or more of the capital stock of the converted stock company, provided that in each case such purchase by a standby investor of 10% or more of the capital stock of the converted stock company is approved by the Commissioner in accordance with the provisions of Delaware law following the filing of an acquisition of control statement pursuant to § 5003 of this title.

(g) The plan shall provide that no director or officer or person acting in concert with a director or officer of the mutual company shall acquire any capital stock of the converted stock company or the stock of another corporation that is participating in the conversion plan, as provided in paragraph (a)(3)a. of this section, for 3 years after the effective date of the plan, except through a broker-dealer, without the permission of the Commissioner. This provision does not prohibit the directors and officers from:

(1) Making block purchases of 1% or more of the outstanding common stock other than through a broker-dealer if approved in writing by the Department;

(2) Exercising subscription rights received under the plan; or

(3) Participating in a stock benefit plan permitted by § 4977(c) of this title, or approved by shareholders pursuant to § 4982(b) of this title.

(h) The plan shall provide that no director or officer may sell stock purchased pursuant to this section, or § 4977(a) of this title within 1 year after the effective date of the conversion, except that nothing contained in this section shall be deemed to restrict a transfer of stock by such director or officer if the stock is the stock of a corporation that is participating in the conversion plan as provided in paragraph (a)(3)a.3. of this section and has a class of stock registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (15 U.S.C. § 78a et seq.), or if the transfer is to the spouse or minor children of such director or officer, or a to a trust or other estate or wealth planning entity established for the benefit of such director or officer, or the spouse or minor children of such director or officer.

(i) The plan shall provide that the rights of a holder of a surplus note to participate in the conversion, if any, shall be governed by the terms of the surplus note.

(j) The plan shall provide that, without the prior approval of the Commissioner, no converted stock company, or any corporation participating in the conversion plan pursuant to paragraph (a)(3)a.1. or (a)(3)a.2. of this section, shall, for a period of 3 years from the date of the completion of the conversion, repurchase any of its capital stock from any person, except that this restriction shall not apply to either:

(1) A repurchase on a pro rata basis pursuant to an offer made to all shareholders of the converted stock company, or any corporation participating in the conversion plan pursuant to paragraph (a)(3)a.1. or (a)(3)a.2. of this section; or

(2) A purchase in the open market by a tax-qualified, or nontax-qualified employee stock benefit plan in an amount reasonable and appropriate to fund the plan.

77 Del. Laws, c. 466, § 2; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 313, § 4.;