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        PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 134                        PRINTER'S NO. 413

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 112 Session of 2007


        INTRODUCED BY EACHUS AND MUNDY, JANUARY 30, 2007

        AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON INSURANCE, HOUSE OF
           REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, FEBRUARY 12, 2007

                                     AN ACT

     1  Amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), entitled "An
     2     act relating to insurance; amending, revising, and
     3     consolidating the law providing for the incorporation of
     4     insurance companies, and the regulation, supervision, and
     5     protection of home and foreign insurance companies, Lloyds
     6     associations, reciprocal and inter-insurance exchanges, and
     7     fire insurance rating bureaus, and the regulation and
     8     supervision of insurance carried by such companies,
     9     associations, and exchanges, including insurance carried by
    10     the State Workmen's Insurance Fund; providing penalties; and
    11     repealing existing laws," further providing, in insurance
    12     holding companies, for definitions, for acquisition of
    13     control of or merger with domestic insurer and for
    14     acquisitions involving insurers not otherwise covered; and
    15     making an inconsistent repeal.

    16     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
    17  hereby enacts as follows:
    18     Section 1.  The definitions of "insurer" and "person" in
    19  section 1401 of the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known
    20  as The Insurance Company Law of 1921, amended December 20, 2000
    21  (P.L.967, No.132), are amended and the section is amended by
    22  adding a definition to read:
    23     Section 1401.  Definitions.--As used in this article, AND FOR  <--


     1  THE PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE ONLY, the following words and
     2  phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this section:
     3     * * *
     4     "Insurer."  Any health maintenance organization, preferred
     5  provider organization, company, association [or], exchange,
     6  hospital plan corporation subject to 40 Pa.C.S. Ch. 61 (relating
     7  to hospital plan corporations) or professional health services
     8  plan corporation subject to 40 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63 (relating to
     9  professional health services plan corporations), authorized by
    10  the Insurance Commissioner to transact the business of insurance
    11  in this Commonwealth except that the term shall not include:
    12     (1)  the Commonwealth or any agency or instrumentality
    13  thereof;
    14     (2)  agencies, authorities or instrumentalities of the United
    15  States, its possessions and territories, the Commonwealth of
    16  Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia or a state or political
    17  subdivision; or
    18     (3)  fraternal benefit societies[; or
    19     (4)  nonprofit medical and hospital service associations].
    20     * * *
    21     "Person."  An individual, an insurer, a corporation, a
    22  partnership, a limited liability company, an association, a
    23  joint stock company, a trust, an unincorporated organization,
    24  any similar entity or any combination of the foregoing acting in
    25  concert. The term shall not include any joint venture
    26  partnership exclusively engaged in owning, managing, leasing or
    27  developing real or tangible personal property.
    28     * * *
    29     "Shareholder."  A record holder or record owner of shares of
    30  an insurer. The term shall also include any of the following:     <--
    20070H0112B0413                  - 2 -     

     1         (1)  A member of a non-stock insurer under 15 Pa.C.S. Ch.
     2     21 (relating to non-stock corporations) or a prior statute.
     3         (2)  A member of a non-profit insurer under 15 Pa.C.S.
     4     Ch. 51 (relating to general provisions) or a prior statute.
     5         (3)  A subscriber of a reciprocal exchange under Article
     6     X or a prior statute.
     7  AN INSURER.                                                       <--
     8         (1)  THE TERM SHALL INCLUDE ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:
     9             (I)  A MEMBER OF AN INSURER THAT IS A DOMESTIC
    10         NONSTOCK CORPORATION UNDER 15 PA.C.S. CH. 21 (RELATING TO
    11         NONSTOCK CORPORATIONS) OR A PRIOR STATUTE.
    12             (II)  A MEMBER, AS DEFINED IN 15 PA.C.S. § 5103
    13         (RELATING TO DEFINITIONS), OF AN INSURER THAT IS A
    14         DOMESTIC NONPROFIT CORPORATION UNDER 15 PA.C.S. CH. 51
    15         (RELATING TO GENERAL PROVISIONS) OR A PRIOR STATUTE.
    16             (III)  A SUBSCRIBER OF AN INSURER THAT IS A DOMESTIC
    17         RECIPROCAL EXCHANGE UNDER ARTICLE X OR A PRIOR STATUTE.
    18         (2)  THE TERM SHALL NOT INCLUDE ANY SUBSCRIBER, INSURED
    19     OR CUSTOMER OF:
    20             (I)  A HOSPITAL PLAN CORPORATION SUBJECT TO 40
    21         PA.C.S. CH. 61 (RELATING TO HOSPITAL PLAN CORPORATIONS);
    22         OR
    23             (II)  A PROFESSIONAL HEALTH SERVICE PLAN CORPORATION
    24         SUBJECT TO 40 PA.C.S. CH. 63 (RELATING TO PROFESSIONAL
    25         HEALTH SERVICES PLAN CORPORATIONS).
    26     * * *
    27     Section 2.  Section 1402 of the act, amended or added
    28  December 18, 1992 (P.L.1519, No.178) and December 21, 1998
    29  (P.L.1108, No.150), is amended to read:
    30     Section 1402.  Acquisition of Control of or Merger or
    20070H0112B0413                  - 3 -     

     1  Consolidation with Domestic Insurer.--(a)  (1)  No person other
     2  than the issuer shall make a tender offer for or a request or
     3  invitation for tenders of, or enter into any agreement to
     4  exchange securities or seek to acquire or acquire in the open
     5  market or otherwise, any voting security of a domestic insurer
     6  if, after the consummation thereof, such person would directly
     7  or indirectly or by conversion or by exercise of any right to
     8  acquire, be in control of such insurer, and no person shall
     9  enter into an agreement to merge or consolidate with or
    10  otherwise to acquire control of a domestic insurer or any person
    11  controlling a domestic insurer unless, at the time any such
    12  offer, request or invitation is made or any such agreement is
    13  entered into or prior to the acquisition of such securities if
    14  no offer or agreement is involved, such person has filed with
    15  the department and has sent to such insurer a statement
    16  containing the information required by this section and such
    17  offer, request, invitation, agreement or acquisition has been
    18  approved by the department in the manner hereinafter prescribed.
    19     (2)  For purposes of this section, a "domestic insurer" shall
    20  include any person controlling a domestic insurer unless such
    21  person as determined by the department is either directly or
    22  through its affiliates primarily engaged in business other than
    23  the business of insurance. Such person shall, however, file a
    24  preacquisition notification with the department containing the
    25  information set forth in section 1403(c)(2) thirty (30) days
    26  prior to the proposed effective date of the acquisition. Failure
    27  to file is subject to section 1403(e)(3). For purposes of this
    28  section, "person" shall not include any securities broker
    29  holding, in the usual and customary manner, less than twenty per
    30  centum (20%) of the voting securities of an insurance company or
    20070H0112B0413                  - 4 -     

     1  of any person which controls an insurance company.
     2     (b)  The statement to be filed with the department under this
     3  section shall be made under oath or affirmation and shall
     4  contain the following information:
     5     (1)  The name and address of each person by whom or on whose
     6  behalf the merger, consolidation or other acquisition of control
     7  referred to in subsection (a) is to be effected, hereinafter
     8  called "acquiring party," and
     9     (i)  if such person is an individual, his principal
    10  occupation and all offices and positions held during the past
    11  five (5) years, and any conviction of crimes other than minor
    12  traffic violations during the past ten (10) years; or
    13     (ii)  if such person is not an individual, a report of the
    14  nature of its business operations during the past five (5) years
    15  or for such lesser period as the person and any predecessors
    16  thereof shall have been in existence; an informative description
    17  of the business intended to be done by the person and the
    18  person's subsidiaries; and a list of all individuals who are or
    19  who have been selected to become directors or executive officers
    20  of the person, or who perform or will perform functions
    21  appropriate to those positions. This list shall include for each
    22  individual the information required by subparagraph (i).
    23     (2)  The source, nature and amount of the consideration used
    24  or to be used in effecting the merger, consolidation or other
    25  acquisition of control, a description of any transaction wherein
    26  funds were or are to be obtained for any such purpose, including
    27  any pledge of the insurer's stock or the stock of any of its
    28  subsidiaries or controlling affiliates, and the identity of
    29  persons furnishing such consideration, provided, however, that
    30  where a source of such consideration is a loan made in the
    20070H0112B0413                  - 5 -     

     1  lender's ordinary course of business, the identity of the lender
     2  shall remain confidential if the person filing such statement so
     3  requests.
     4     (3)  Fully audited financial information as to the earnings
     5  and financial condition of each acquiring party for the
     6  preceding five (5) fiscal years of each such acquiring party, or
     7  for such lesser period as such acquiring party and any
     8  predecessors thereof shall have been in existence, and similar
     9  unaudited information as of a date not earlier than ninety (90)
    10  days prior to the filing of the statement.
    11     (4)  Any plans or proposals which each acquiring party may
    12  have to liquidate such insurer, to sell its assets or merge or
    13  consolidate it with any person or to make any other material
    14  change in its business or corporate structure or management.
    15     (5)  The number of shares of any security referred to in
    16  subsection (a) which each acquiring party proposes to acquire,
    17  and the terms of the offer, request, invitation, agreement or
    18  acquisition referred to in subsection (a), and a statement as to
    19  the method by which the fairness of the proposal was arrived.
    20     (6)  The amount of each class of any security referred to in
    21  subsection (a) which is beneficially owned or concerning which
    22  there is a right to acquire beneficial ownership by each
    23  acquiring party.
    24     (7)  A full description of any contracts, arrangements or
    25  understandings with respect to any security referred to in
    26  subsection (a) in which any acquiring party is involved,
    27  including, but not limited to, transfer of any of the
    28  securities, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or
    29  calls, guarantees of loans, guarantees against loss or
    30  guarantees of profits, division of losses or profits, or the
    20070H0112B0413                  - 6 -     

     1  giving or withholding of proxies. Such description shall
     2  identify the persons with whom such contracts, arrangements or
     3  understandings have been entered into.
     4     (8)  A description of the purchase of any security referred
     5  to in subsection (a) during the twelve calendar months preceding
     6  the filing of the statement, by any acquiring party, including
     7  the dates of purchase, names of the purchasers and consideration
     8  paid or agreed to be paid therefor.
     9     (9)  A description of any recommendations to purchase any
    10  security referred to in subsection (a) made during the twelve
    11  calendar months preceding the filing of the statement, by any
    12  acquiring party, or by anyone based upon interviews or at the
    13  suggestion of such acquiring party.
    14     (10)  Copies of all tender offers for, requests or
    15  invitations for tenders of, exchange offers for and agreements
    16  to acquire or exchange any securities referred to in subsection
    17  (a) and, if distributed, of additional soliciting material
    18  relating thereto.
    19     (11)  The term of any agreement, contract or understanding
    20  made with or proposed to be made with any broker-dealer as to
    21  solicitation of securities referred to in subsection (a) for
    22  tender and the amount of any fees, commissions or other
    23  compensation to be paid to broker-dealers with regard thereto.
    24     (12)  Such additional information as the department may by
    25  rule or regulation prescribe as necessary or appropriate for the
    26  protection of policyholders of the insurer or in the public
    27  interest.
    28     (c)  If the person required to file the statement referred to
    29  in subsection (a) is a partnership, limited partnership,
    30  syndicate or other group, the department may require that the
    20070H0112B0413                  - 7 -     

     1  information called for by subsection (b)(1) through (12) shall
     2  be given with respect to each partner of such partnership or
     3  limited partnership, each member of such syndicate or group and
     4  each person who controls such partner or member. If any such
     5  partner, member or person is a corporation or the person
     6  required to file the statement referred to in subsection (a) is
     7  a corporation, the department may require that the information
     8  called for by subsection (b)(1) through (12) shall be given with
     9  respect to such corporation, each officer and director of such
    10  corporation and each person who is directly or indirectly the
    11  beneficial owner of more than ten per centum (10%) of the
    12  outstanding voting securities of such corporation.
    13     (d)  If any material change occurs in the facts set forth in
    14  the statement filed with the department and sent to such insurer
    15  pursuant to this section, an amendment setting forth such
    16  change, together with copies of all documents and other material
    17  relevant to such change, shall be filed with the department and
    18  sent to such insurer within two (2) business days after the
    19  person learns of such change.
    20     (e)  If any offer, request, invitation, agreement or
    21  acquisition referred to in subsection (a) is proposed to be made
    22  by means of a registration statement under the Securities Act of
    23  1933 (48 Stat. 74, 15 U.S.C. § 77a et seq.), or in circumstances
    24  requiring the disclosure of similar information under the
    25  Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (48 Stat. 881, 15 U.S.C. § 78a
    26  et seq.), or under a State law requiring similar registration or
    27  disclosure, the person required to file the statement referred
    28  to in subsection (a) may utilize such documents in furnishing
    29  the information called for by that statement.
    30     (f)  (1)  The department shall approve any merger,
    20070H0112B0413                  - 8 -     

     1  consolidation or other acquisition of control referred to in
     2  subsection (a) unless it finds any of the following:
     3     (i)  After the change of control, the domestic insurer
     4  referred to in subsection (a) would not be able to satisfy the
     5  requirements for the issuance of a license to write the line or
     6  lines of insurance for which it is presently licensed.
     7     (ii)  The effect of the merger, consolidation or other
     8  acquisition of control would be to substantially lessen
     9  competition in insurance in this Commonwealth or tend to create
    10  a monopoly therein. In applying the competitive standard in this
    11  subparagraph:
    12     (A)  the informational requirements of section 1403(c)(2) and
    13  the standards of section 1403(d)(2) shall apply;
    14     (B)  the merger, consolidation or other acquisition shall not
    15  be disapproved if the department finds that any of the
    16  situations meeting the criteria provided by section 1403(d)(3)
    17  exist; and
    18     (C)  the department may condition the approval of the merger,
    19  consolidation or other acquisition on the removal of the basis
    20  of disapproval within a specified period of time.
    21     (iii)  The financial condition of any acquiring party is such
    22  as might jeopardize the financial stability of the insurer or
    23  prejudice the interest of its policyholders.
    24     (iv)  The plans or proposals which the acquiring party has to
    25  liquidate the insurer, sell its assets or consolidate or merge
    26  it with any person, or to make any other material change in its
    27  business or corporate structure or management, are unfair and
    28  unreasonable to policyholders of the insurer and not in the
    29  public interest.
    30     (v)  The competence, experience and integrity of those
    20070H0112B0413                  - 9 -     

     1  persons who would control the operation of the insurer are such
     2  that it would not be in the interest of policyholders of the
     3  insurer and of the public to permit the merger, consolidation or
     4  other acquisition of control.
     5     (vi)  The acquisition is likely to be hazardous or
     6  prejudicial to the insurance buying public.
     7     (vii)  The merger, consolidation or other acquisition of
     8  control is not in compliance with the laws of this Commonwealth,
     9  including Article VIII-A.
    10     (2)  If the merger, consolidation or other acquisition of
    11  control is approved, the department shall so notify the person
    12  filing the statement and the insurer [whose stock] that is
    13  proposed to be acquired, and such a determination is hereafter
    14  referred to as an approving determination. Notice shall also be
    15  given by the department of any determination which is not an
    16  approving determination. If an approving determination is made
    17  by the department and not otherwise, the proposed offer and
    18  acquisition may thereafter be made and consummated on the terms
    19  and conditions and in the manner described in the statement and
    20  subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by the
    21  department as hereinafter provided. An approving determination
    22  by the department shall be deemed to extend to offers or
    23  acquisitions made pursuant thereto within one year following the
    24  date of determination. The department may, as a condition of its
    25  approving determination, require the inclusion in any offer of
    26  provisions requiring the offer to remain open a specified
    27  minimum length of time, permitting withdrawal of shares
    28  deposited prior to the time the offeror becomes bound to
    29  consummate the acquisition and requiring pro rata acceptance of
    30  any shares deposited pursuant to the offer. The department shall
    20070H0112B0413                 - 10 -     

     1  hold a hearing before making the determination required by this
     2  subsection if, within ten (10) days following the filing with
     3  the department of the statement, written request for the holding
     4  of such hearing is made either by the person proposing to make
     5  the acquisition, by the insurer [whose stock] that is proposed
     6  to be acquired or, if [such] the issuer of stock proposed to be
     7  acquired is not an insurer, by the [insurance company] insurer
     8  controlled by such issuer. Otherwise, the department shall
     9  determine in its discretion whether such a hearing shall be
    10  held. Thirty (30) days' notice of any such hearing shall be
    11  given to the person proposing to make the acquisition, to the
    12  issuer whose stock is proposed to be acquired and, if such
    13  issuer is not an insurer, to the insurance company controlled by
    14  such issuer. Notice of any such hearing shall also be given to
    15  such other persons, if any, as the department may determine.
    16     (3)  The department may retain at the acquiring person's
    17  expense any attorneys, actuaries, accountants and other experts
    18  not otherwise a part of the department's staff as may be
    19  reasonably necessary to assist the department in reviewing the
    20  proposed acquisition of control.
    21     (g)  The provisions of this section shall not apply to any
    22  offer, request, invitation, agreement or acquisition which the
    23  department by order shall exempt therefrom as:
    24     (1)  not having been made or entered into for the purpose and
    25  not having the effect of changing or influencing the control of
    26  a domestic insurer; or
    27     (2)  as otherwise not comprehended within the purposes of
    28  this section.
    29     (h)  The following shall constitute a violation of this
    30  section:
    20070H0112B0413                 - 11 -     

     1     (1)  the failure to file any statement, amendment or other
     2  material required to be filed pursuant to subsection (a) or (b);
     3     (2)  the effectuation or any attempt to effectuate an
     4  acquisition of control of or merger or consolidation with a
     5  domestic insurer unless the department has given its approval
     6  thereto; or
     7     (3)  a violation of section 819-A.
     8     Section 3.  Section 1403(a), (b) and (d), added December 18,
     9  1992 (P.L.1519, No.178), are amended to read:
    10     Section 1403.  Acquisitions Involving Insurers not Otherwise
    11  Covered.--(a)  As used in this section the following words and
    12  phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
    13  subsection:
    14     "Acquisition."  Any agreement, arrangement or activity the
    15  consummation of which results in a person acquiring, directly or
    16  indirectly, the control of another person and includes, but is
    17  not limited to, the acquisition of voting securities, the
    18  acquisition of assets, bulk reinsurance [and], mergers and
    19  consolidations.
    20     "Involved insurer."  Includes an insurer which either
    21  acquires or is acquired, is affiliated with an acquirer or
    22  acquired or is the result of a merger or consolidation.
    23     (b)  (1)  Except as exempted in paragraph (2), this section
    24  applies to any acquisition in which there is a change in control
    25  of an insurer authorized to do business in this Commonwealth.
    26     (2)  This section shall not apply to any of the following:
    27     (i)  An acquisition subject to approval or disapproval by the
    28  department pursuant to section 1402.
    29     (ii)  A purchase of securities solely for investment purposes
    30  so long as such securities are not used by voting or otherwise
    20070H0112B0413                 - 12 -     

     1  to cause or attempt to cause the substantial lessening of
     2  competition in any insurance market in this Commonwealth. If a
     3  purchase of securities results in a presumption of control as
     4  described in the definition of "control" in section [1301] 1401,
     5  it is not solely for investment purposes unless the insurance
     6  department of the insurer's state of domicile accepts a
     7  disclaimer of control or affirmatively finds that control does
     8  not exist and such disclaimer action or affirmative finding is
     9  communicated by the domiciliary insurance department to the
    10  Insurance Department of the Commonwealth.
    11     (iii)  The acquisition of a person by another person when
    12  both persons are neither directly nor through affiliates
    13  primarily engaged in the business of insurance, if
    14  preacquisition notification is filed with the department in
    15  accordance with subsection (c)(2) thirty (30) days prior to the
    16  proposed effective date of the acquisition. However, such
    17  preacquisition notification is not required for exclusion from
    18  this section if the acquisition would otherwise be excluded from
    19  this section by this paragraph.
    20     (iv)  The acquisition of already affiliated persons.
    21     (v)  An acquisition if, as an immediate result of the
    22  acquisition:
    23     (A)  in no market would the combined market share of the
    24  involved insurers exceed five per centum (5%) of the total
    25  market;
    26     (B)  there would be no increase in any market share; or
    27     (C)  in no market would:
    28     (I)  the combined market share of the involved insurers
    29  exceeds twelve per centum (12%) of the total market; and
    30     (II)  the market share increases by more than two per centum
    20070H0112B0413                 - 13 -     

     1  (2%) of the total market.
     2  For the purpose of this subparagraph, a market means direct
     3  written insurance premium in this Commonwealth for a line of
     4  business as contained in the annual statement required to be
     5  filed by insurers licensed to do business in this Commonwealth.
     6     (vi)  An acquisition for which a preacquisition notification
     7  would be required pursuant to this section due solely to the
     8  resulting effect on the ocean marine insurance line of business.
     9     (vii)  An acquisition of an insurer whose domiciliary
    10  insurance department affirmatively finds that such insurer is in
    11  failing condition; there is a lack of feasible alternative to
    12  improving such condition; the public benefits of improving such
    13  insurer's condition through the acquisition exceed the public
    14  benefits that would arise from not lessening competition; and
    15  such findings are communicated by the domiciliary insurance
    16  department to the Insurance Department of the Commonwealth.
    17     (3)  Sections 1409(b) and (c) and 1411 shall not apply to
    18  acquisitions provided for in this subsection.
    19     * * *
    20     (d)  (1)  The department may enter an order under subsection
    21  (e)(1) with respect to an acquisition if there is substantial
    22  evidence that the effect of the acquisition may be substantially
    23  to lessen competition in any line of insurance in this
    24  Commonwealth or tend to create a monopoly therein or if the
    25  insurer fails to file adequate information in compliance with
    26  subsection (c).
    27     (2)  In determining whether a proposed acquisition would
    28  violate the competitive standard of paragraph (1), the
    29  department shall consider the following:
    30     (i)  Any acquisition covered under subsection (b) involving
    20070H0112B0413                 - 14 -     

     1  two or more insurers competing in the same market is prima facie
     2  evidence of violation of the competitive standards as follows:
     3     (A)  if the market is highly concentrated and the involved
     4  insurers possess the following shares of the market:
     5               Insurer A           Insurer B
     6                    4%               4% or more
     7                   10%               2% or more
     8                   15%               1% or more; or
     9     (B)  if the market is not highly concentrated and the
    10  involved insurers possess the following shares of the market:
    11               Insurer A           Insurer B
    12                    5%               5% or more
    13                   10%               4% or more
    14                   15%               3% or more
    15                   19%               1% or more.
    16  A highly concentrated market is one in which the share of the
    17  four largest insurers is seventy-five per centum (75%) or more
    18  of the market. Percentages not shown in the tables are
    19  interpolated proportionately to the percentages that are shown.
    20  If more than two insurers are involved, exceeding the total of
    21  the two columns in the table is prima facie evidence of
    22  violation of the competitive standard in paragraph (1). For the
    23  purpose of this subparagraph, the insurer with the largest share
    24  of the market shall be deemed to be insurer A.
    25     (ii)  There is a significant trend toward increased
    26  concentration when the aggregate market share of any grouping of
    27  the largest insurers in the market, from the two largest to the
    28  eight largest, has increased by seven per centum (7%) or more of
    29  the market over a period of time extending from any base year
    30  five (5) to ten (10) years prior to the acquisition up to the
    20070H0112B0413                 - 15 -     

     1  time of the acquisition. Any acquisition [or merger], merger or
     2  consolidation covered under subsection (b) involving two or more
     3  insurers competing in the same market is prima facie evidence of
     4  violation of the competitive standard in paragraph (1) if:
     5     (A)  there is a significant trend toward increased
     6  concentration in the market;
     7     (B)  one of the insurers involved is one of the insurers in a
     8  grouping of such large insurers showing the requisite increase
     9  in the market share; and
    10     (C)  another involved insurer's market is two per centum (2%)
    11  or more.
    12     (iii)  For the purposes of this paragraph:
    13     (A)  The term "insurer" includes any company or group of
    14  companies under common management, ownership or control.
    15     (B)  The term "market" means the relevant product and
    16  geographical markets. In determining the relevant product and
    17  geographical markets, the department shall give due
    18  consideration to, among other things, the definitions or
    19  guidelines, if any, promulgated by the NAIC and to information,
    20  if any, submitted by parties to the acquisition. In the absence
    21  of sufficient information to the contrary, the relevant product
    22  market is assumed to be the direct written insurance premium for
    23  a line of business, such line being that used in the annual
    24  statement required to be filed by insurers doing business in
    25  this Commonwealth and the relevant geographical market is
    26  assumed to be this Commonwealth.
    27     (C)  The burden of showing prima facie evidence of violation
    28  of the competitive standard rests upon the commissioner.
    29     (iv)  Even though an acquisition is not prima facie violative
    30  of the competitive standard under subparagraphs (i) and (ii),
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     1  the department may establish the requisite anticompetitive
     2  effect based upon other substantial evidence. Even though an
     3  acquisition is prima facie violative of the competitive standard
     4  under subparagraphs (i) and (ii), a party may establish the
     5  absence of the requisite anticompetitive effect based upon other
     6  substantial evidence. Relevant factors in making a determination
     7  under this paragraph include, but are not limited to, the
     8  following: market shares, volatility of ranking of market
     9  leaders, number of competitors, concentration, trend of
    10  concentration in the industry and ease of entry and exit into
    11  the market.
    12     (3)  An order may not be entered under subsection (e)(1) if:
    13     (i)  the acquisition will yield substantial economies of
    14  scale or economies in resource utilization that cannot be
    15  feasibly achieved in any other way, and the public benefits
    16  which would arise from such economies exceed the public benefits
    17  which would arise from not lessening competition; or
    18     (ii)  the acquisition will substantially increase the
    19  availability of insurance, and the public benefits of such
    20  increase exceed the public benefits which would arise from not
    21  lessening competition.
    22     * * *
    23     Section 4.  The act of December 19, 1990 (P.L.834, No.198),
    24  known as the GAA Amendments Act of 1990, is repealed insofar as
    25  it is inconsistent with this act.
    26     SECTION 5.  THIS ACT SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY MERGER,            <--
    27  CONSOLIDATION OR OTHER ACQUISITION OF CONTROL MADE OR
    28  CONSUMMATED PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION AND, IF
    29  REQUIRED, FOLLOWING THE ISSUANCE OF AN APPROVING DETERMINATION.
    30     Section 5 6.  This act shall take effect immediately.          <--
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