1. A domestic society may consolidate or merge with a domestic society, foreign society, or society chartered under the laws of Canada or a Canadian province or territory, by complying with this section. The society shall file with the commissioner all of the following:

 a. A certified copy of the written contract containing in full the terms and conditions of the consolidation or merger.
 b. A sworn statement by the president and secretary, or corresponding officers of each society, showing the financial condition of the society on a date fixed by the commissioner.
 c. A certificate of each officer submitting a sworn statement pursuant to paragraph “b”, duly verified, that the consolidation or merger contract has been approved by a two-thirds vote of the supreme governing body of each society, the vote having been conducted at a regular or special meeting of each such body, or, if the society’s laws so permit, by mail.
 d. Evidence that at least sixty days prior to the action of the supreme governing body of each society to approve the consolidation or merger contract, the text of the contract has been furnished to all members of each society either by mail or by publication in full in the official publication of each society.

Terms Used In Iowa Code 512B.15

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Certificate: means the document issued as written evidence of the benefit contract. See Iowa Code 512B.2
  • Commissioner: means the commissioner of insurance or the commissioner's designee. See Iowa Code 512B.2
  • Contract: means the same as defined in section 554D. See Iowa Code 554E.1
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Domestic society: means an association organized under the laws of this state. See Iowa Code 512B.2
  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute mean the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Foreign society: means an association organized under the laws of another state or territory of the United States. See Iowa Code 512B.2
  • Laws: means the society's articles of incorporation, constitution, and bylaws, however designated. See Iowa Code 512B.2
  • person: means individual, corporation, limited liability company, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association, or any other legal entity. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • property: includes personal and real property. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • real property: include lands, tenements, hereditaments, and all rights thereto and interests therein, equitable as well as legal. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
  • Society: means a fraternal benefit society, unless otherwise indicated. See Iowa Code 512B.2
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" may include the said district and territories. See Iowa Code 4.1
 2. If the commissioner finds that the contract is in conformity with this section, that the financial statements are correct, and that the consolidation or merger is just and equitable to the members of each society, the commissioner shall approve the contract and issue a certificate to that effect. Upon the commissioner’s approval, the contract shall be in full force and effect unless a society which is a party to the contract is incorporated under the laws of another state. In that event the consolidation or merger shall not become effective unless and until it has been approved as provided by the laws of the other state and a certificate of approval has been filed with the commissioner of this state or, if the laws of the other state contain no equivalent provision for issuing a certificate of consolidation or merger, then the consolidation or merger shall not become effective unless and until it has been approved by the commissioner of the other state and a certificate conforming with the laws of this state has been filed with the commissioner. If the contract is not approved it shall be inoperative, and the fact of submission and its contents shall not be disclosed by the commissioner. For the purposes of this subsection, “state” includes Canada and Canadian provinces and territories.
 3. Upon the consolidation or merger becoming effective, all the rights, franchises, and interests of the consolidated or merged societies in and to every kind of property, real, personal, or mixed, belonging to the societies shall be vested in the successor society without any other instrument, except that conveyances of real property may be evidenced by proper deeds. The title to real property or an interest in real property, vested under the laws of this state in any of the societies consolidated or merged, shall not revert or be in any way impaired by reason of the consolidation or merger, but shall vest absolutely in the successor society.
 4. The affidavit of an officer of the society or of a person authorized by the society to mail a notice or document, stating that the notice or document has been duly addressed and mailed, is prima facie evidence that the notice or document has been furnished the addressees.
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