33-4-521. Farm mutual insurers -- merger. (1) A domestic farm mutual insurer may not merge or consolidate with a stock insurer.

(2) A domestic farm mutual insurer may merge or consolidate with another farm mutual insurer or another domestic mutual insurer if:

(a) the insurers transact similar lines of business;

(b) the insurers agree on a plan for merger or consolidation which must be submitted to all members of each insurer by ballot and approved by two-thirds of the members voting for each respective insurer; and

(c) after submitting the plan for review and opportunity for a hearing, the commissioner provides written approval or denial of the merger or consolidation within a reasonable time.

(3) After opportunity for a hearing in subsection (2), the commissioner may not approve the merger or consolidation if evidence shows that it:

(a) is inequitable to the policyholders of any domestic mutual insurer involved;

(b) would substantially reduce the security of and service to be rendered to policyholders of the domestic mutual insurer; or

(c) is contrary to law.

(4) Sections 33-3-217(5) and 33-3-218 also apply to mergers and consolidations of mutual insurers with farm mutual insurers.

(5) Upon merger or consolidation of a domestic farm mutual insurer with another domestic mutual insurer under this chapter, the corporate charter of the merged or consolidated domestic farm mutual insurer must automatically be extinguished and nullified.