IN Code § 27-1-23-2 (2021)
2021 Indiana Code|Title 27. Insurance|Article 1. Department of Insurance|Chapter 23. Regulation of Insurance Holding Company Systems|27-1-23-2. Acquisition of Domestic Insurance Company; Statement to Commissioner; Hearings; Notice; Approval; Exceptions; Process

Sec. 2. (a) No person other than the issuer shall commence a tender offer for or a request or invitation for tenders of, or enter into any agreement to purchase or exchange securities for, or otherwise seek to acquire, or acquire, in the open market or otherwise, or solicit proxies relating to, any voting security of a domestic insurer or of any corporation controlling a domestic insurer if, after the consummation thereof, such person would, directly or indirectly (or by conversion or by exercise of any right to acquire), be in control of such insurer, and no person shall enter into an agreement to acquire control of a domestic insurer or of any corporation controlling a domestic insurer unless, at the time any such offer, request, or invitation is commenced or any such agreement is entered into, or any such solicitation is begun, or prior to the acquisition of such securities if no offer or agreement is involved:(1) each acquiring party has filed with the commissioner and has sent to such insurer and any such controlling corporation a statement containing the information required by this section;(2) the offer, request, invitation, agreement, solicitation, or acquisition has been approved by the commissioner; and(3) two (2) business days have elapsed following the commissioner's determination approving the offer, request, invitation, agreement, solicitation, or acquisition;all in the manner prescribed in this section.(b) Unless a statement described in subsection (a) is otherwise filed, the following apply to an acquisition or a divestiture of a person's controlling interest in a domestic insurer:(1) If a controlling person of a domestic insurer seeks to divest the person's controlling interest, the person shall:(A) file with the commissioner a confidential notice of the person's proposed divestiture at least thirty (30) days before the person ceases control; and(B) send a copy of the filing required by clause (A) to the insurer.(2) The commissioner shall determine whether a person:(A) described in subdivision (1); or(B) that seeks to acquire a controlling interest in a domestic insurer;is required to obtain from the commissioner approval of the divestiture or acquisition.(3) Information obtained by the commissioner under this subsection is confidential until the conclusion of the divestiture or acquisition unless the commissioner determines that maintaining confidentiality of the information interferes with enforcement of this section.(c) A statement to be filed with the commissioner under this section shall be made under oath or affirmation and shall contain the following information:(1) The name and address of the acquiring party.(2) If the acquiring party is an individual, the individual's principal occupation and all offices and positions held during the past five (5) years, and any conviction of crimes other than minor traffic violations during the past ten (10) years.(3) If the acquiring party is not an individual, a report of the nature of its business operations during the past five (5) years or for such lesser period as the acquiring party and any predecessors thereof shall have been in existence, including, but not limited to:(A) information relating to the acquisition or disposition of control by the acquiring party of any other person and any subsequent material change in the financial condition, management, organization, or operations of such other person;(B) an informative description of the business intended to be done by the acquiring party and its affiliates;(C) any plans or proposals for the conduct of the business or employment of the assets and surplus of the domestic insurer and any corporation controlling such insurer;(D) an informative description of any transaction in which the acquiring party received, employed, or used any affiliate's assets;(E) an informative description of any transaction or presently proposed transaction between the acquiring party and any of its affiliates in which either such acquiring party or such affiliate has a direct or indirect material interest; however, no information need be given as to any such transaction where the amount involved in the transaction or series of similar transactions, including all periodic payments or installments in the case of any lease or agreement providing for periodic payments or installments, does not or would not exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000); and(F) a list of all individuals who are or who have been selected to become directors or officers of the acquiring party, or who perform or will perform functions appropriate to such positions, such list to include for each such individual the information required by subdivision (2).(4) The source, nature, and amount of the consideration to be used in effecting the acquisition of control, a description of any transaction wherein funds were or are to be obtained for any such purpose (including any pledge of the insurer's stock, or the stock of any of the insurer's subsidiaries or controlling affiliates), all documents evidencing, supporting, referring to, or relating to any such transaction and the identity of persons who are furnishing or who will furnish such consideration.(5) Fully audited financial information as to the earnings and financial condition of the acquiring party for its preceding five (5) fiscal years (or for such lesser period as such acquiring party and any predecessors thereof shall have been in existence), and similar unaudited information as of a date not earlier than ninety (90) days prior to the filing of the statement.(6) Any plans or proposals which the acquiring party may have to liquidate such domestic insurer or such controlling corporation, to sell its assets or merge or consolidate it with any person, or to make any other material change in its investment policy, business, corporate structure, or management.(7) The number of shares of any security referred to in subsection (a) which the acquiring party proposes to acquire, the terms of the proposed offer, request, invitation, agreement, or acquisition referred to in subsection (a), and a statement as to the method by which the terms of the proposal were arrived at.(8) The amount of each class of any security referred to in subsection (a) which is beneficially owned or concerning which there is a right to acquire beneficial ownership by the acquiring party.(9) A full description of any contracts, arrangements, or understandings with respect to any security referred to in subsection (a) in which the acquiring party proposes to be or 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. Such description shall identify the persons with whom such contracts, arrangements, or understandings have been or will be entered into.(10) A description of the purchase of any security referred to in subsection (a) during the twelve (12) calendar months preceding the filing of the statement by the acquiring party, including the dates of purchase, names of the purchasers, and consideration paid or agreed to be paid therefor.(11) A description of any recommendations to purchase any security referred to in subsection (a) made during the twelve (12) calendar months preceding the filing of the statement by the acquiring party, or by anyone, based upon interviews or at the suggestion of such acquiring party.(12) Copies of the proposed forms 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 subsection (a), and of the proposed form of additional soliciting material relating thereto.(13) The terms of any agreement, contract, or understanding made or proposed to be made with any broker-dealer as to solicitation of securities referred to in subsection (a) for tender, and the amount of any fees, commissions, or other compensation paid or to be paid to broker-dealers with regard thereto.(14) A full description of any existing or proposed contracts, arrangements, or understandings between the acquiring party and any present or former director, officer, or employee of the domestic insurer or of any corporation controlling such insurer. Such description shall identify the persons with whom such contracts, arrangements, or understandings have been or will be entered into.(15) Copies of all studies, analyses, and reports which were prepared by or for the acquiring party or any affiliate of the acquiring party for the purpose of evaluating or analyzing the proposed acquisition of control with respect to market shares, competition, competitors, markets, and potential for growth or expansion into product or geographic markets.(16) If the acquiring party or any affiliate of the acquiring party is an insurer:(A) the amount of any premiums, deposits, or annuity considerations received by the insurer during each of the last five (5) fiscal years (calculated on an accrual basis) for each line of insurance business conducted in any section of this state, and copies of annual statements for each of the last five (5) fiscal years filed by any such insurer with the insurance regulatory authority of its domiciliary jurisdiction;(B) a full and complete description of any direct or indirect reinsurance relationship between the acquiring party or any affiliate of the acquiring party and the domestic insurer or any affiliate of the domestic insurer, together with copies of any treaties or contracts relating to that relationship; and(C) such additional information as the commissioner may by rule or order prescribe as necessary or appropriate to enable the commissioner to make the determination required by subsection (f)(2).(17) An agreement that a person required to obtain the commissioner's approval of a statement described in subsection (a) will file an annual enterprise risk report described in section 3(l) of this chapter as long as the person continues to hold a controlling interest in the domestic insurer.(18) An acknowledgment that:(A) a person described in subdivision (17); and(B) any subsidiary in the insurance holding company system that is within the person's control;will, upon the commissioner's request, provide to the commissioner information that the commissioner considers necessary to evaluate enterprise risk to the domestic insurer.(19) Such additional information as the commissioner may by rule or order prescribe as necessary or appropriate for the protection of policyholders or in the public interest.If any material change occurs in the facts set forth in a statement filed with the commissioner and sent to the insurer and any controlling corporation under this section, an amendment made under oath or affirmation setting forth the change, together with copies of all documents and other material relevant to the change, shall be filed with the commissioner and sent to the insurer and any controlling corporation within two (2) business days after any acquiring party learns of this change.(d) If any acquiring party is a partnership, limited partnership, syndicate, or other group, the commissioner may require that the information called for by subsection (c)(1) through (c)(19) shall be given with respect to each partner of such partnership or limited partnership, each member of such syndicate or group, and each person who controls such partner or member. If any such partner, member, person, or acquiring party is a corporation, the commissioner may require that the information called for by subsection (c)(1) through (c)(19) shall be given with respect to all individuals who are or have been selected to become directors or officers of any such corporation or who perform or will perform functions appropriate to these positions.(e) If the proposed acquisition of control referred to in subsection (a) requires the filing of a registration statement under the federal Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77a-15 U.S.C. 77aa) or requires the disclosure of similar information under the federal Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a-15 U.S.C. 78kk) or under a state law requiring similar registration or disclosure, an acquiring party may utilize such documents in furnishing the information called for by the statement.(f) The commissioner shall hold a public hearing on the proposed acquisition of control referred to in subsection (a) and shall thereafter approve such acquisition of control only if the commissioner finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, that:(1) the acquisition of control would not tend to affect adversely the contractual obligations of the domestic insurer or its ability and tendency to render service in the future to its policyholders and the public;(2) the effect of the acquisition of control would not be substantially to lessen competition in any line of insurance business in any section of this state or tend to create a monopoly therein;(3) the financial condition of any acquiring party is not such as might jeopardize the financial stability of the domestic insurer or of any corporation controlling such insurer, or prejudice the interest of its policyholders;(4) the plans or proposals which any acquiring party has to liquidate the domestic insurer or any such controlling corporation, sell its assets or consolidate or merge it with any person, or to make any other material change in its investment policy, business, corporate structure, or management are fair and reasonable to policyholders of the domestic insurer and in the public interest; and(5) the competence, experience, and integrity of those persons who would control the operation of the domestic insurer are such that the acquisition of control would not tend to affect adversely the general capacity or intention of the domestic insurer to transact the business of insurance in a safe and prudent manner.(g) For the purposes of the commissioner's application of the competitive standard set forth in subsection (f)(2) to a proposed acquisition:(1) the acquiring person must file a pre-acquisition notification that meets the requirements set forth in section 2.5(e) of this chapter;(2) the commissioner shall apply the provisions of section 2.5(h) of this chapter; and(3) the commissioner may not disapprove the acquisition based upon the application of subsection (f)(2) if the commissioner finds that either of the conditions set forth in section 2.5(i) of this chapter applies to the proposed acquisition.(h) The public hearing referred to in subsection (f) shall be held within sixty (60) days after all statements required by subsection (a) are filed, or within such longer period after the statements are filed as the commissioner determines upon a showing of good cause therefor, in the city of Indianapolis at such place, date, and time as the commissioner shall specify. At least thirty (30) days written notice of the hearing shall be given by the commissioner to each acquiring party, the domestic insurer, any corporation controlling such insurer, and to other persons as the commissioner may designate. In the event that an amendment to any such statement is filed, the hearing shall be postponed for a further period not to exceed sixty (60) days after the filing of such amendment, or for such longer period after the amendment is filed as the commissioner determines upon a showing of good cause therefor. If the proposed acquisition of control requires the approval of the commissioners of more than one (1) state, the public hearing may be held on a consolidated basis upon the request of the person that files the statement described in subsection (a). The person shall file the statement with the NAIC not more than five (5) days after the person makes the request for a public hearing. The commissioner of a state may opt out of a consolidated hearing by notifying the person not more than ten (10) days after receiving the statement described in subsection (a). A hearing conducted on a consolidated basis must be public and held in the United States before the commissioners of the domiciliary states of the insurers. The commissioners shall hear and receive evidence and may attend in person or by telecommunication.(i) The commissioner shall give notice of the hearing by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the city of Indianapolis, and in the city wherein is located the principal office of the domestic insurer, and in such other city or cities as the commissioner may deem appropriate. Any policyholder of the domestic insurer who makes a written request to the commissioner is entitled to a copy of all statements, amendments, or other material filed with the commissioner by any acquiring party.(j) The commissioner may retain at the acquiring party'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. All hearing expenses, including transcript costs, expenses of publication and of preparing and mailing material to policyholders, shall be borne equally by each acquiring party. As security for the payment of such expenses, each acquiring party shall file with the commissioner an acceptable bond or other deposit in an amount to be determined by the commissioner.(k) At such hearing, each acquiring party, the domestic insurer, any corporation controlling such insurer, policyholders of the domestic insurer, and any other person whose interests may be affected by the proposed acquisition of control shall have the right to appear and become party to the proceeding. Each such person shall have the right to present evidence, examine and cross-examine witnesses, and offer oral and written arguments and in connection therewith shall be entitled to conduct discovery proceedings in the same manner as provided in the Indiana Rules of Trial Procedure. The commissioner may employ any sanction or power granted courts in the Indiana Rules of Trial Procedure, excluding the power of contempt, to enforce the commissioner's discovery rulings or orders. The commissioner shall make a determination within thirty (30) days after the conclusion of such hearing and shall immediately upon making that determination notify all persons who appeared and became parties to the proceeding of that determination. To permit an aggrieved party to perfect an appeal under IC 27-1-23-12, no offer, request, invitation, agreement, or acquisition referred to in subsection (a) may be commenced, entered into, or consummated until two (2) business days have elapsed following the commissioner's determination approving an acquisition of control.(l) If the commissioner determines that a person acquiring control of a domestic insurer is required to maintain or restore the capital of the insurer to the level required by Indiana law, the person shall, not later than sixty (60) days after the closing date of the acquisition, file with the commissioner evidence that the capital has been maintained or restored to that level.(m) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the hearing and the determination made therein shall be subject to IC 4-21.5-3.(n) The provisions of this section shall not apply to the following:(1) Any transaction to be undertaken under a statutory procedure for the purchase of dissenting shareholder's stock.(2) Any transaction to be undertaken under a judicially approved reorganization.(3) Any offer, request, invitation, agreement, solicitation, or acquisition respecting any security of a domestic insurer or of any corporation controlling such insurer if any acquiring party, immediately prior to such offer, request, invitation, agreement, solicitation, or acquisition being commenced, entered into, begun, or consummated, beneficially owns more than fifty percent (50%) of all the outstanding voting securities of such domestic insurer or corporation controlling such insurer.(4) Any solicitation of proxies respecting any security of a domestic insurer or of any corporation controlling a domestic insurer that is undertaken by the management or the board of directors of the issuer of the security for purposes other than effecting, directly or indirectly, a transaction that would otherwise be subject to the requirements of this section.(5) Any offer, request, invitation, agreement, solicitation, or acquisition respecting a security of a non-insurance corporation controlling one (1) or more domestic insurers if all of the following conditions are met:(A) the offer, request, invitation, agreement, solicitation, or acquisition has been approved by the insurance regulatory authority of any state or territory of the United States of America other than Indiana, and the insurance regulatory authority of the state or territory has been accredited by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners;(B) the domestic insurer or insurers meet all of the following conditions, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles:(i) the investments in and advances to the domestic insurer or insurers by the controlling non-insurance corporation and its other subsidiaries equal less than ten percent (10%) of the total assets of the controlling non-insurance corporation and all of its subsidiaries consolidated as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year;(ii) the proportionate share of the controlling non-insurance corporation and its other subsidiaries in the total assets (after intercompany eliminations) of the domestic insurer or insurers equals less than ten percent (10%) of the total assets of the controlling non-insurance corporation and all of its subsidiaries consolidated as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year; and(iii) the equity of the controlling non-insurance corporation and its other subsidiaries in the income from continuing operations before income taxes, extraordinary items, and the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle of the domestic insurer or insurers is less than ten percent (10%) of the income of that corporation and all of its subsidiaries consolidated for the end of the most recently completed fiscal year; and(C) the commissioner has not determined that the application of this section to the offer, request, invitation, agreement, solicitation, or acquisition is necessary or appropriate for the protection of policyholders of the domestic insurer or insurers.(6) Any acquisition of stock of a former mutual by a parent company, as those terms are defined in IC 27-15-1, that occurs in connection with the conversion of a mutual insurance company to a stock insurance company under IC 27-15, provided that no person acquires control of the parent company.(o) The courts of this state are hereby vested with jurisdiction over every acquiring party not resident, domiciled, or authorized to do business in this state, and over all actions involving each such acquiring party arising out of violations of this section, and each such acquiring party shall be deemed to have performed acts equivalent to and constituting an appointment by the acquiring party of the commissioner to be the acquiring party'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 such lawful process shall be served on the commissioner and transmitted by registered or certified mail by the commissioner to such acquiring party at the acquiring party's last known address.Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.387, SEC.1. As amended by Acts 1979, P.L.252, SEC.1; Acts 1981, P.L.244, SEC.2; P.L.2-1987, SEC.38; P.L.26-1991, SEC.9; P.L.130-1994, SEC.30; P.L.116-1994, SEC.40; P.L.94-1999, SEC.2; P.L.81-2012, SEC.13.