33-2-1105. Approval by commissioner -- hearings -- notice. (1) The commissioner shall approve any merger or other acquisition or divestiture of control referred to in 33-2-1104 unless, after a public hearing, the commissioner finds that:

(a) after the change of control, the domestic insurer referred to in 33-2-1104 would not be able to satisfy the requirements for the issuance of a license to write the line or lines of insurance for which the domestic insurer is presently licensed;

(b) the effect of the merger or other acquisition of control would be substantially to lessen competition in insurance in this state or tend to create a monopoly;

(c) the financial condition of any acquiring party might jeopardize the financial stability of the insurer or prejudice the interest of the insurer's policyholders or the interests of any remaining securityholders who are unaffiliated with the acquiring party;

(d) the terms of the offer, request, invitation, agreement, or acquisition referred to in 33-2-1104 are unfair and unreasonable to the securityholders of the insurer;

(e) the plans or proposals that the acquiring party has to liquidate the insurer, to sell its assets or consolidate or merge it with any person, or to make any other material change in its business or corporate structure or management are unfair and unreasonable to policyholders of the insurer and not in the public interest;

(f) the competence, experience, and integrity of those persons who would control the operation of the insurer are of the nature that the change in control would not be in the interest of policyholders of the insurer and of the public; or

(g) the acquisition is likely to be hazardous or prejudicial to the insurance-buying public.

(2) The public hearing referred to in subsection (1) must be held within 30 days after the statement required by 33-2-1104(1) is filed, and at least 20 days' notice of the hearing must be given by the commissioner to the person filing the statement. Not less than 7 days' notice of the public hearing must be given by the person filing the statement to the insurer and to other persons as may be designated by the commissioner. The insurer shall give notice to its securityholders. The commissioner shall make a determination within 30 days after the conclusion of the hearing. At the hearing, the person filing the statement, the insurer, any person to whom notice of hearing was sent, and any other person whose interests may be affected has the right to present evidence, examine and cross-examine witnesses, and offer oral and written arguments and to conduct discovery proceedings in the same manner that is presently allowed in the district court of this state. All discovery proceedings must be concluded not later than 3 days prior to the commencement of the public hearing.

(3) All statements, amendments, or other material filed pursuant to 33-2-1104(1) through (5) and all notices of public hearings held pursuant to subsection (1) of this section must be mailed by the insurer to its shareholders within 5 business days after the insurer has received the statements, amendments, other material, or notices. The expenses of mailing must be borne by the person making the filing. As security for the payment of the expenses, the person shall file with the commissioner an acceptable bond or other deposit in an amount to be determined by the commissioner.

(4) The commissioner may retain at the expense of the acquiring or divesting party any attorneys, actuaries, accountants, and other experts not otherwise a part of the commissioner's staff as may be reasonably necessary to assist the commissioner in reviewing the proposed acquisition of control.

History: En. Sec. 3, Ch. 64, L. 1971; R.C.M. 1947, 40-5511(d), (e); amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 620, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 1091, Ch. 56, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 25, Ch. 370, L. 2015; amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 9, L. 2017.