Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 23 - PUBLIC UTILITIES AND REGULATED INDUSTRIES (§§ 23-1-101 — 23-119-105) › Subtitle 3 - INSURANCE (§§ 23-60-101 — 23-103-417) › Chapter 63 - INSURANCE COMPANIES GENERALLY (§§ 23-63-101 — 23-63-2010) › Subchapter 5 - INSURANCE HOLDING COMPANY REGULATORY ACT (§§ 23-63-501 — 23-63-532) › Section 23-63-510 - Control of or merger with domestic insurer - Approval by commissioner - Hearing

(a)
The Insurance Commissioner shall approve any merger or other acquisition of control referred to in §
23-63-506
unless, after a public hearing thereon, he or she finds that:
(1)
After change of control, the domestic insurer referred to in §
23-63-506
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;
(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;
(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 or the interests of any remaining security holders who are unaffiliated with the acquiring party;
(4)
The terms of the offer, request, invitation, agreement, or acquisition referred to in §
23-63-506
are unfair and unreasonable to the security holders of the insurer;
(5)
The plans or proposals which 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; or
(6)
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.
(b)
(1)
The public hearing referred to in subsection (a) of this section shall be held within thirty (30) days after the statement required by §
23-63-506
is filed, and at least twenty (20) days' notice of the hearing shall be given by the commissioner to the person filing the statement.
(2)
Not less than seven (7) days' notice of the public hearing shall be given by the person filing the statement to the insurer and to the other persons as may be designated by the commissioner.
(3)
(A)
The commissioner shall make a determination within the sixty-day period preceding the effective date of the proposed transaction.
(B)
In connection with the change in control of the insurer, any determination by the commissioner that the person acquiring control of a domestic insurer shall be required to maintain or restore the capital of the insurer to the level required by the laws and rules of this state shall be made not later than sixty (60) calendar days after the date of notification of the change in control submitted pursuant to §
23-63-506(b)
.
(4)
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 thereby 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 is presently allowed in the courts of this state.
(5)
All discovery proceedings shall be concluded not later than three (3) days prior to the commencement of the public hearing.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 315,§ 2628, eff. 7/24/2019.
Acts 1971, No. 288, § 5; A.S.A. 1947, § 66-5005; Acts 1993, No. 901, § 10; 2001, No. 1604, § 34.