(a) Two or more mutual holding companies, at least one of which is a domestic company, may merge or consolidate under the laws of any state into a mutual holding company incorporated under the laws of such state. The resulting company may be a continuing company under the name of one or more of the merged or consolidated companies or a new company. If the continuing or new company is to be a domestic company: (1) It shall be subject to the provisions of sections 38a-156a to 38a-156m, inclusive; (2) its name shall be subject to approval by the commissioner; (3) the members of any mutual holding company whose existence will cease upon the effective date of such merger or consolidation shall become members of the continuing mutual holding company; and (4) all persons with equity rights in any mutual holding company whose existence will cease upon the effectiveness of such merger or consolidation shall have equity rights in the continuing mutual holding company.

(b) (1) Companies merging or consolidating under this section shall enter into a written agreement for such merger or consolidation prescribing the terms and conditions of such merger or consolidation. Such agreement shall be approved by a majority vote of the board of directors of each domestic company participating in such merger or consolidation and shall be subject to the written approval of the commissioner, who shall consider the fairness of the terms and conditions of the agreement, whether the interests of the members of each domestic mutual holding company that is a party to the agreement are protected and whether the proposed merger or consolidation is in the public interest.

(2) If the continuing or new mutual holding company is to be a domestic company, such agreement shall be (A) executed in duplicate by the president and secretary of each company under its corporate seal, (B) accompanied by copies of the resolutions of each company authorizing the merger or consolidation and the execution of the agreement attested by the recording officer of each company, and (C) submitted to the commissioner with the records required under this subdivision. If it appears to the commissioner that each company has complied with the requirements of this section, the commissioner may certify and approve the agreement. The commissioner shall file one of the duplicates of such agreement with the Secretary of the State, who shall record such agreement and issue a certificate of reincorporation to the continuing company or the new company with the powers retained and specified in the agreement. The commissioner shall retain the other duplicate. No such agreement shall take effect until the commissioner has filed such agreement with the Secretary of the State.

(3) If the continuing or new company is to be a foreign company, such agreement and such other information as the commissioner may require shall be filed with the commissioner and shall not be executed until approved by the commissioner. Upon the commissioner's approval, the new or continuing company shall file with the commissioner, in such form as the commissioner may require, documentary evidence showing the date when the merger or the consolidation becomes effective. If the commissioner finds that such agreement has been filed in accordance with this subdivision, the commissioner shall file with the Secretary of the State a certificate setting forth the merger or consolidation, including the effective date of the merger or consolidation. The corporate existence of the domestic mutual holding company shall cease on said effective date.

(4) The companies merging or consolidating shall each call a special members' meeting for the purpose of presenting and holding a vote on such agreement. Such companies shall provide notice of such meeting to members in a manner prescribed by the commissioner. Such agreement shall be approved by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of each such company as are present and voting at such meeting.

(c) If the continuing or new company is a domestic company, upon such merger or consolidation all rights and properties of the several companies shall accrue to and become the rights and properties of the continuing or new company, which shall succeed to all the obligations and liabilities of the merged or consolidated companies in the same manner as if they had been incurred or contracted by such continuing or new company.

(d) No action or proceeding pending in any court of this state at the time of the merger or consolidation in which any such domestic company is or may be a party shall abate or be discontinued by reason of the merger or the consolidation, but may be prosecuted to final judgment in the same manner as if the merger or the consolidation had not taken place. The continuing or new company may be substituted in place of any such domestic company by order of the court in which the action or proceeding is pending.

(e) Nothing in this section shall authorize the merger or consolidation of stock companies with mutual holding companies.

(P.A. 14-123, S. 9.)

History: P.A. 14-123 effective June 6, 2014.