Chapter 644

644.18(1) (1) Liability. Sections 181.0850 to 181.0855, except s. 181.0855 (2) (c), apply to mutual holding companies.

644.18(2) (2) Indemnification. Sections 181.0871 to 181.0881 and 181.0889 apply to mutual holding companies.

644.18(3) (3) Insurance. Section 181.0883 applies to mutual holding companies.

644.18(4) (4) Derivative actions. Sections 181.0740 to 181.0747 apply to mutual holding companies.

644.18 History History: 1997 a. 227; 1999 a. 30.

644.19 644.19 Executive compensation.

644.19(1) (1) General. Section 611.63 (4) and (5) applies to mutual holding companies.

644.19(2) (2) Approval by members. A benefit plan or amendment to a benefit plan that proposes to provide benefits in the form of stock or stock options of a converted insurance company or any intermediate stock holding company to the directors or officers of the converted insurance company, intermediate stock holding company or mutual holding company may not take effect unless it is submitted to a vote of the members of the mutual holding company and approved by a majority of the members voting. Notice of a meeting at which a vote under this subsection will be taken shall be given in accordance with s. 644.14 (1) or (2).

644.19(3) (3) Notice to commissioner. The commissioner may by rule require that any action taken by the board of a mutual holding company, or the board of any intermediate stock holding company, on any of the subjects specified in s. 181.0302 (11) to (14) be reported to the commissioner within 30 days after the action is taken.

644.19 History History: 1997 a. 227; 1999 a. 30.

644.20 644.20 Management contract services. A mutual holding company may not be a party to a contract that has the effect of delegating to a person, to the substantial exclusion of the board, the authority to exercise any management control of the mutual holding company or of any of its major corporate functions.

644.20 History History: 1997 a. 227.

644.21 644.21 Annual report of domestic mutual holding company. Each mutual holding company domiciled in this state shall file such annual report as may be prescribed by the commissioner by rule.

644.21 History History: 1997 a. 227.

644.22 644.22 Securities regulation. A membership interest in a domestic mutual holding company shall not constitute a security, as defined in s. 551.102 (28).

644.22 History History: 1997 a. 227; 2007 a. 196.

644.23 644.23 Authority to issue mutual bonds and contribution notes. Section 611.33 (2) (a), (b), (c) and (e) applies to mutual holding companies. In the event of dissolution under this chapter, unpaid amounts of principal and interest on contribution notes shall be subordinated to the payment of principal and interest on any mutual bonds issued by the mutual holding company at any time.

644.23 History History: 1997 a. 227.

644.24 644.24 Subsequent restructuring. A mutual holding company, in conjunction with the converted insurance company and any intermediate stock holding company, may merge together and convert into a mutual insurance company if the requirements of ss. 611.72 and 611.75 are met and the members of the mutual holding company vote to approve the merger and conversion into a mutual insurance company.

644.24 History History: 1997 a. 227.

644.25 644.25 Conversion of domestic mutual holding company into a stock corporation.

644.25(1) (1) Conversion permitted and procedures. A mutual holding company formed by a converted insurance company under this chapter may convert into a stock corporation organized under ch.180. Subject to this section, s. 611.76 (1) to (3) and (5) to (11) applies to mutual holding companies.

644.25(2) (2) Plan of conversion.

644.25(2)(a) (a) In this subsection, “net premium” means gross premium less return premium and dividends paid.

644.25(2)(b) (b) The board of a domestic mutual holding company may adopt a plan of conversion that specifies all of the following:

644.25(2)(b)1. 1. The number of shares proposed to be authorized for the new stock corporation, their par value and the price at which they will be offered to members, which price may not exceed 50 percent of the median equitable share of all members under subd. 2.

644.25(2)(b)2. 2. That each member who has been a policyholder of a converted insurance company and has paid premiums within 5 years prior to the resolution passed by the board related to the conversion under this section shall be entitled without additional payment to so much common stock of the new stock corporation as his or her equitable share of the value of the converting mutual holding company will purchase.

644.25(2)(b)3. 3. That each member’s equitable share shall be determined by the ratio that the net premium paid by such member to the converted insurance company during the 5 years immediately preceding the resolution specified in subd. 2. bears to the total net premium received by the converted insurance company during the same period.

644.25(2)(b)4. 4. That, if a member’s equitable share is sufficient only for the purchase of a fraction of a share of stock, the member shall have the option either to receive the value of the fractional share in cash or to purchase a full share by paying the balance in cash.

644.25(2)(b)5. 5. That, notwithstanding subds. 2. to 4., each member who was a policyholder of a converted life insurance company on the date of the resolution specified in subd. 2. or within 5 years prior to that date shall be entitled to an equitable share based on a formula that fairly reflects the policyholder’s interest in the company and the policies and contracts issued by the company to the policyholder, and that takes into account premiums paid, cash surrender values, policy loans, reserves, surplus benefits payable and other relevant factors.

644.25(2)(b)6. 6. That a member’s equitable share shall be provided to the member on a uniform basis approved by the commissioner in the form of common stock, cash, increased benefits or lower premiums or a combination of those forms.

644.25(2)(b)7. 7. The procedure for stock subscriptions, which shall include a written offer to each such member indicating his or her individual equitable share and the terms of subscription.

644.25(2)(b)8. 8. That no common stock under subd. 2. may be issued to persons other than the members under subd. 2. until all subscriptions by the members have been filled and that thereafter any new issue of stock for 5 years after the conversion shall first be offered to the persons who have become shareholders under subd. 2. in proportion to their interests under subd. 2.

644.25(2)(b)9. 9. That no member, other than a member who is a policyholder of a converted life insurance company, may receive a distribution of shares valued in excess of the amount to which he or she is entitled under s. 645.72 (4) (b). Any excess over that amount shall be distributed in shares to the state treasury for the benefit of the common school fund. After 5 years the shares may be sold by the treasurer at his or her discretion and the proceeds credited to the common school fund.

644.25(2)(b)10. 10. That, except with the approval of the commissioner, during the first 5 years after the conversion under this section the directors and officers of a mutual holding company with a converted life insurance company subsidiary and persons acting in concert with them may not, in the aggregate, acquire control over more than 5 percent of the common stock of the converted mutual holding company or any other corporation that acquires control of more than 5 percent of the common stock of the converted mutual holding company.

644.25(3) (3) After conversion. Upon the conversion of a mutual holding company under this section, this chapter no longer applies to the mutual holding company, any intermediate stock holding company or the converted insurance company.

644.25 History History: 1997 a. 227.

644.26 644.26 Transfer of business or assets of mutual holding companies.

644.26(1) (1) A sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of less than substantially all of the property and assets of a mutual holding company, and the mortgage or pledge of any or all property and assets of a mutual holding company, whether or not made in the usual and regular course of its affairs, may be made upon the terms and conditions authorized by the mutual holding company’s board of directors. Unless otherwise provided by the articles of incorporation, consent of the members is not required for a sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of property, or for a mortgage or pledge of property, authorized under this subsection.

644.26(2) (2) A sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the property and assets of a mutual holding company may be made upon such terms and conditions as may be authorized in the following manner:

644.26(2)(a) (a) If the articles of incorporation give members the right to vote on the sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the mutual holding company’s property and assets, the board of directors shall adopt a resolution recommending the sale, lease, exchange or other disposition and directing that it be submitted to a vote at an annual or special meeting of the members. Written notice stating that the purpose, or one of the purposes, of the meeting is to consider the sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the mutual holding company shall be given to each member entitled to vote at the meeting, within the time and in the manner provided by this chapter for providing notice of member meetings. At the meeting, the members may authorize the sale, lease, exchange or other disposition and may authorize the board of directors to fix any or all of the terms and conditions of the sale, lease, exchange or other disposition. The authorization shall be by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the members present or represented by proxy at the meeting. After the authorization by a vote of the members, the board of directors, nevertheless, in its discretion, may abandon the sale, lease, exchange or other disposition, subject to the rights of 3rd parties under any contracts relating thereto, without further action or approval by the members.

644.26(2)(b) (b) If the articles of incorporation do not give members the right to vote on the sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of a mutual holding company’s property and assets, the sale, lease, exchange or other disposition may be authorized by the vote of the majority of the directors in office.

644.26 History History: 1997 a. 227; 1999 a. 30.

644.27 644.27 Merger and consolidation of mutual holding companies. Section 611.73 applies to mutual holding companies.

644.27 History History: 1997 a. 227.

644.28 644.28 Voluntary dissolution of domestic mutual holding companies.

644.28(1) (1) Plan of dissolution. Subject to this section, ss. 181.1401 to 181.1407 apply to mutual holding companies.

644.28(2) (2) Approval by the commissioner.

644.28(2)(a) (a) At least 60 days prior to the submission to members of any proposed voluntary dissolution of a mutual holding company under s. 181.1401, the plan shall be filed with the commissioner. The commissioner may require the submission of additional information relevant to the effect of the proposed dissolution on the solvency of the converted insurance company. The commissioner shall approve the dissolution unless, after a hearing, the commissioner finds that dissolution of the mutual holding company would cause the converted insurance company to become insolvent, would be unfair or inequitable to the members of the mutual holding company or would not be in the best interests of the policyholders of the converted insurance company or the public.

644.28(2)(b) (b) The acquisition of the converted insurance company and any other insurance company owned directly or indirectly by a dissolving mutual holding company shall be subject to ss. 611.71 and 611.72 and ch. 617.

644.28(3) (3) Revocation of voluntary dissolution. If the mutual holding company revokes the voluntary dissolution proceedings under s. 181.1404, a copy of the resolution revoking the voluntary dissolution proceedings adopted under s. 181.1404 shall be filed with the commissioner.

644.28(4) (4) Filing and recording articles of dissolution and effect thereof. Upon approval by the commissioner under sub. (2) and by the members under s. 181.1401, the mutual holding company shall file articles of dissolution with the commissioner. When the articles are filed, the existence of the mutual holding company shall cease, except for the purpose of suits, other proceedings and appropriate corporate action of members, directors and officers as provided in this chapter and in ss. 181.1401 to 181.1407. Upon the filing of the articles, the commissioner may issue a certificate of dissolution.

644.28(5) (5) Distribution of assets. No distribution may be made to members of a mutual holding company in excess of the amounts to which they would be entitled under s. 645.72 (4) (b) had the converted insurance company not reorganized and formed a mutual holding company. Any excess over such amounts shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the common school fund.

644.28 History History: 1997 a. 227; 1999 a. 30.

644.29 644.29 Involuntary dissolution of domestic mutual holding companies. A mutual holding company may at any time during a voluntary dissolution under ss. 181.1401 to 181.1407 apply to the commissioner to have dissolution continued under the commissioner’s supervision. Any distribution to members shall be limited in the same manner as under s. 644.28 (5) and any excess over such amounts shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the common school fund.

644.29 History History: 1997 a. 227; 1999 a. 30.