Minnesota Statutes § 60D.17 - ACQUISITION OF CONTROL OF OR MERGER WITH DOMESTIC INSURER

§ Subdivision 1.Filing requirements. (a) No person other than the issuer shall: (1) make a tender offer for or a request or invitation for tenders of, or enter into any agreement to exchange securities for, seek to acquire, or acquire, in the open market or otherwise, any voting security of a domestic insurer if, after the consummation thereof, the person would, directly or indirectly, or by conversion or by exercise of any right to acquire, be in control of the insurer; or (2) enter into an agreement to merge with or otherwise to acquire control of a domestic insurer or any person controlling a domestic insurer unless, at the time the offer, request, or invitation is made or the agreement is entered into, or before the acquisition of the securities if no offer or agreement is involved, the person has filed with the commissioner and has sent to the insurer, a statement containing the information required by this section and the offer, request, invitation, agreement, or acquisition has been approved by the commissioner in the manner prescribed in this section. (b) For purposes of this section, a controlling person of a domestic insurer seeking to divest its controlling interest in the domestic insurer, in any manner, shall file with the commissioner, with a copy to the insurer, confidential notice of its proposed divestiture at least 30 days before the cessation of control. The commissioner shall determine those instances in which the party or parties seeking to divest or to acquire a controlling interest in an insurer will be required to file for and obtain approval of the transaction. (c) With respect to a transaction subject to this section, the acquiring person must also file a preacquisition notification with the commissioner, which must contain the information set forth in section 60D.18, subdivision 3, paragraph (b). A failure to file the notification may be subject to penalties specified in section 60D.18, subdivision 5. (d) For purposes of this section, a domestic insurer includes a person controlling a domestic insurer unless the person, as determined by the commissioner, is either directly or through its affiliates primarily engaged in business other than the business of insurance. For the purposes of this section, "person" does not include any securities broker holding, in the usual and customary broker's function, less than 20 percent of the voting securities of an insurance company or of any person that controls an insurance company. (e) The statement filed with the commissioner pursuant to subdivisions 1 and 2 must remain confidential until the transaction is approved by the commissioner, except that all attachments filed with the statement remain confidential after the approval unless the commissioner, in the commissioner's discretion, determines that confidential treatment of any of this information will interfere with enforcement of this section. § Subd. 2.Content of statement. The statement to be filed with the commissioner shall be made under oath or affirmation and shall contain the following: (a) The name and address of each person by whom or on whose behalf the merger or other acquisition of control referred to in subdivision 1 is to be effected, hereinafter called "acquiring party"; and (1) if the person is an individual, the principal occupation and all offices and positions held during the past five years, and any conviction of crimes other than minor traffic violations during the past ten years; and (2) if the person is not an individual, a report of the nature of its business operations during the past five years or for a lesser period as the person and any predecessors have been in existence; an informative description of the business intended to be done by the person and the person's subsidiaries; and a list of all individuals who are or who have been selected to become directors or executive officers of such person, or who perform or will perform functions appropriate to such positions. The list must include for each individual the information required by clause (1). (b) The source, nature, and amount of the consideration used or to be used in effecting the merger or other acquisition of control, a description of any transaction in which funds were or are to be obtained for this purpose, including any pledge of the insurer's stock, or the stock of any of its subsidiaries or controlling affiliates, and the identity of persons furnishing the consideration, provided, however, that where a source of the consideration is a loan made in the lender's ordinary course of business, the identity of the lender shall remain confidential, if the person filing the statement so requests. (c) Fully audited financial information as to the earnings and financial condition of each acquiring party for the preceding five fiscal years of each acquiring party, or for a lesser period as the acquiring party and any predecessors have been in existence, and similar unaudited information as of a date not earlier than 90 days before the filing of the statement. (d) Any plans or proposals that each acquiring party may have to liquidate the insurer, to sell its assets or merge or consolidate it with any person, or to make any other material change in its business or corporate structure or management. (e) The number of shares of any security referred to in subdivision 1 that each acquiring party proposes to acquire, and the terms of the offer, request, invitation, agreement, or acquisition referred to in subdivision 1 and a statement as to the method by which the fairness of the proposal was arrived at. (f) The amount of each class of any security referred to in subdivision 1 that is beneficially owned or concerning which there is a right to acquire beneficial ownership by each acquiring party. (g) A full description of any contracts, arrangements, or understandings with respect to any security referred to in subdivision 1 in which any acquiring party is involved, including but not limited to, transfer of any of the securities, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guarantees of loans, guarantees against loss or guarantees of profits, division of losses or profits, or the giving or withholding of proxies. The description must identify the persons with whom the contracts, arrangements, or understandings have been entered into. (h) A description of the purchase of any security referred to in subdivision 1 during the 12 calendar months preceding the filing of the statement, by any acquiring party, including the dates of purchase, names of the purchasers, and consideration paid or agreed to be paid for it. (i) A description of any recommendations to purchase any security referred to in subdivision 1 made during the 12 calendar months preceding the filing of the statement, by any acquiring party, or by anyone based upon interviews or at the suggestion of the acquiring party. (j) Copies of all tender offers for, requests, or invitations for tenders of, exchange offers for, and agreements to acquire or exchange any securities referred to in subdivision 1 and, if distributed, of additional soliciting material relating to them. (k) The term of any agreement, contract, or understanding made with or proposed to be made with any broker-dealer as to solicitation of securities referred to in subdivision 1 for tender, and the amount of any fees, commissions, or other compensation to be paid to broker-dealers with regard to it. (l) An agreement by the person required to file the statement referred to in subdivision 1 that it will provide the annual report, specified in section 60D.19, subdivision 11a, for so long as control exists. (m) A consent by the person required to file the statement referred to in subdivision 1 that the person and all subsidiaries within its control in the insurance holding company system will provide information to the commissioner upon request as necessary to evaluate enterprise risk to the insurer. (n) Additional information the commissioner may by rule prescribe as necessary or appropriate for the protection of policyholders of the insurer or in the public interest. If the person required to file the statement referred to in subdivision 1 is a partnership, limited partnership, syndicate, or other group, the commissioner may require that the information called for by paragraphs (a) to (n) must be given with respect to each partner of the partnership or limited partnership, each member of the syndicate or group, and each person who controls the partner or member. If a partner, member, or person is a corporation, or the person required to file the statement referred to in subdivision 1 is a corporation the commissioner may require that the information called for by paragraphs (a) to (n) be given with respect to the corporation, each officer and director of the corporation, and each person who is directly or indirectly the beneficial owner of more than ten percent of the outstanding voting securities of the corporation. If any material change occurs in the facts set forth in the statement filed with the commissioner and sent to the insurer pursuant to this section, an amendment setting forth the change, together with copies of all documents and other material relevant to the change, must be filed with the commissioner and sent to the insurer within two business days after the person learns of the change. § Subd. 3.Alternative filing materials. If any offer, request, invitation, agreement, or acquisition referred to in subdivision 1 is proposed to be made by means of a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, or in circumstances requiring the disclosure of similar information under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or under a state law requiring similar registration or disclosure, the person required to file the statement referred to in subdivision 1 may utilize these documents in furnishing the information called for by that statement. § Subd. 4.Approval by commissioner; hearings. (a) The commissioner shall approve any merger or other acquisition of control referred to in subdivision 1 unless, after a public hearing, the commissioner finds that: (1) after the change of control, the domestic insurer referred to in subdivision 1 would not be able to satisfy the requirements for the issuance of a license to write the line or lines of insurance for which it is presently licensed, unless the domestic insurer is in rehabilitation or other court-ordered supervision and the acquiring party commits to a plan that would enable the domestic insurer to satisfy the requirements for the issuance of a license within a reasonable amount of time; (2) 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 therein in applying the competitive standard in this subdivision: (i) the informational requirements of section 60D.18, subdivision 3, paragraph (b), and the standards of section 60D.18, subdivision 4, paragraph (c), shall apply; (ii) the merger or other acquisition shall not be disapproved if the commissioner finds that any of the situations meeting the criteria provided by section 60D.18, subdivision 4, paragraph (c), exist; and (iii) the commissioner may condition the approval of the merger or other acquisition on the removal of the basis of disapproval within a specified period of time; (3) the financial condition of any acquiring party is such as might jeopardize the financial stability of the insurer, or prejudice the interest of its policyholders; (4) the plans or proposals that the acquiring party has to liquidate the insurer, 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; (5) the competence, experience, and integrity of those persons who would control the operation of the insurer are such that it would not be in the interest of policyholders of the insurer and of the public to permit the merger or other acquisition of control; or (6) the acquisition is likely to be hazardous or prejudicial to the insurance buying public. (b) The public hearing referred to in paragraph (a) must be held 30 days after the statement required by subdivision 1 is filed, and at least 20 days' notice of it shall be given by the commissioner to the person filing the statement. Not less than seven days notice of the public hearing shall be given by the person filing the statement to the insurer and to other persons designated by the commissioner. 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 interest may be affected by it may present evidence, examine and cross-examine witnesses, and offer oral and written arguments and may conduct discovery proceedings in the same manner as is presently allowed in the district courts of this state. All discovery proceedings must be concluded not later than three days before the start of the public hearing. (c) If the proposed acquisition of control will require the approval of more than one commissioner, the public hearing referred to in paragraph (b) may be held on a consolidated basis upon request of the person filing the statement referred to in subdivision 1. The person shall file the statement referred to in subdivision 1 with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) within five days of making the request for a public hearing. A commissioner may opt out of a consolidated hearing, and shall provide notice to the applicant of the opt-out within ten days of the receipt of the statement referred to in subdivision 1. A hearing conducted on a consolidated basis must be public and must be held within the United States before the commissioners of the states in which the insurers are domiciled. The commissioners shall hear and receive evidence. A commissioner may attend the hearing, in person or by telecommunication. In this paragraph, the term "commissioner" when used in reference to an official from a state other than Minnesota means the state official charged with the responsibility of supervising the business of insurance in that state. (d) In connection with a change of control of a domestic insurer, any determination by the commissioner that the person acquiring control of the insurer shall be required to maintain or restore the capital of the insurer to the level required by the laws and regulations of this state shall be made not later than 60 days after the date of notification of the change in control submitted pursuant to section 60D.17, subdivision 1. (e) The commissioner may retain at the acquiring person's expense 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. § Subd. 5.Exemptions. This section does not apply to: (1) Any transaction that is subject to section 60A.16, dealing with the merger or consolidation of two or more insurers. (2) Any offer, request, invitation, agreement, or acquisition that the commissioner by order exempts from this section as (i) not having been made or entered into for the purpose and not having the effect of changing or influencing the control of a domestic insurer, or (ii) as otherwise not comprehended within the purposes of this section. § Subd. 6.Violations. The following are violations of this section: (1) the failure to file any statement, amendment, or other material required to be filed pursuant to subdivision 1 or 2; or (2) the effectuation or any attempt to effectuate an acquisition of control of, divestiture of, or merger with, a domestic insurer unless the commissioner has approved it. § Subd. 7.Jurisdiction, consent to service of process. The courts of this state have jurisdiction over every person not resident, domiciled, or authorized to do business in this state who files a statement with the commissioner under this section, and overall actions involving the person arising out of violations of this section, and the person is deemed to have performed acts equivalent to and constituting an appointment by the person of the commissioner to be the person's true and lawful attorney upon whom may be served all lawful process in any action, suit, or proceeding arising out of violations of this section. Copies of all lawful process shall be served on the commissioner in compliance with section 45.028, subdivision 2.