(1) Subject to the provisions of RCW 48.08.080, relating to the mutualization of stock insurers, RCW 48.09.350, relating to the conversion or reinsurance of mutual insurers, and RCW 48.10.330, relating to the consolidation or conversion of reciprocal insurers, a domestic insurer may merge or consolidate with another insurer, subject to the following conditions:

(a) The plan of merger or consolidation must be submitted to and be approved by the commissioner in advance of the merger or consolidation.

(b) The commissioner shall not approve any such plan unless, after a hearing, pursuant to such notice as the commissioner may require, he or she finds that it is fair, equitable, consistent with law, and that no reasonable objection exists. If the commissioner fails to approve the plan, he or she shall state his or her reasons for such failure in his or her order made on such hearing. The insurers involved in the merger shall bear the expense of the mailing of the notice of hearing and of the order on hearing.

(c) No director, officer, member, or subscriber of any such insurer, except as is expressly provided by the plan of merger or consolidation, shall receive any fee, commission, other compensation or valuable consideration whatsoever, for in any manner aiding, promoting or assisting in the merger or consolidation.

(d) Any merger or consolidation as to an incorporated domestic insurer shall in other respects be governed by the general laws of this state relating to business corporations. Except, that as to domestic mutual insurers, approval by two-thirds of its members who vote thereon pursuant to such notice and procedure as was approved by the commissioner shall constitute approval of the merger or consolidation as respects the insurer's members.

(2) Reinsurance of all or substantially all of the insurance in force of a domestic insurer by another insurer shall be deemed a consolidation for the purposes of this section.

Severability—1973 1st ex.s. c 107: See note following RCW 48.17.540.