N.J. Admin. Code § 11:2-9.13 - Exemption from N.J.S.A 17:17B-2-acquisitions of shares of stock and stock options under certain stock bonus, stock option or similar plans

(a) Any acquisition of shares of stock (other than stock acquired upon the exercise of an option, warrant or right) pursuant to a stock bonus, profit sharing, retirement, incentive, thrift, savings or similar plan; or any acquisition of a qualified or a restricted stock option pursuant to a qualified or a restricted stock option plan; or a stock option pursuant to an employee stock purchase plan; by a director or officer of an insurer issuing such stock or stock option shall be exempt from the operation of 17:17B-2 if the plan meets the conditions as set forth in (b) through (e) below.

(b) The plan has been approved, directly or indirectly, in one of the following ways;

1. By the affirmative votes of the holders of a majority of the securities of such insurer present, or represented, and entitled to vote at a meeting duly held in accordance with the applicable laws of the State of New Jersey; or

2. By the written consent of the holders of a majority of the securities of such insurer entitled to vote.

(c) If such vote or written consent as stated in (b) above was not solicited substantially in accordance with the proxy rules and regulations prescribed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, if any, in effect at the time of such vote or written consent, the insurer shall furnish in writing to the holders of record of the securities entitled to vote for the plan substantially the same information concerning the plan which would be required by any such rules and regulations so prescribed and in effect at the time such information is furnished, if proxies to be voted with respect to the approval or disapproval of the plan were then being solicited, on or prior to the date of the first annual meeting of security holders held subsequent to the later of:

1. The date of the Act first applies to such insurer; or

2. The acquisition of an equity security for which exemption is claimed.

(d) Written information as required by (c) above may be furnished by mail to the last known address of the security holders of record within 30 days prior to the date of mailing. Four copies of such written information shall be filed with, or mailed for filing to, the Commissioner not later than the date on which it is first sent or given to security holders of the insurer. For the purposes of this subsection, the term "insurer" includes a predecessor corporation if the plan or obligations to participate thereunder were assumed by the insurer in connection with the succession.

(e) If the selection of any director or officer of the insurer to whom stock may be allocated; or to whom qualified, restricted or employee stock purchase plan stock options may be granted pursuant to the plan; or the determination of the number or maximum number of shares of stock which may be allocated to any such director or officer or which may be covered by qualified, restricted or employee stock purchase plan stock options granted to any such director or officer is subject to the discretion of any person, then such discretion shall be exercised only as follows:

1. With respect to the participation of directors:

i. By the board of directors of the insurer, a majority of which board and a majority of the directors acting in the matter are disinterested persons;

ii. By, or only in accordance with the recommendations of a committee of three or more persons having full authority to act in the matter, all of the members of which committee are disinterested persons; or

iii. Otherwise in accordance with the plan, if the plan:

(1) Specifies the number or maximum number of shares of stock which directors may acquire or which may be subject to qualified, restricted or employee stock purchase plan stock options granted to directors and the terms upon which, and the times at which, or the periods within which, such stock may be acquired or such options may be acquired and exercised; or

(2) Sets forth, by formula or otherwise, effective and determinable limitations with respect to the foregoing based upon earnings of the insurer, dividends paid, compensation received by participants, option prices, market value of shares, outstanding shares or percentages thereof outstanding from time to time, or similar factors.

2. With respect to the participation of officers who are not directors:

i. By the board of directors of the insurer, or by a committee of three or more directors; or

ii. By, or only in accordance with the recommendations of a committee of three or more persons having full authority to act in the matter, all of the members of which committee are disinterested persons.

3. For the purpose of (e)2 above, a director or committee member shall be deemed to be a disinterested person only if such person is not, at the time such discretion is exercised, eligible, and has not at any time within one year prior thereto been eligible for selection as a person to whom stock may be allocated; or to whom qualified, restricted or employee stock purchase plan stock options may be granted pursuant to the plan or any other plan of the insurer or any of its affiliates entitling the participants therein to acquire stock or qualified, restricted or employee stock purchase plan stock options of the insurer or any of its affiliates.

4. The provisions of (e)3 above shall not apply with respect to any option granted, or other equity security acquired, prior to the date that the Act first became applicable with respect to any class of equity securities of any insurer.

(f) As to each participant or as to all participants, the plan effectively limits the aggregate dollar amount or the aggregate number of shares of stock which may be allocated, or which may be subject to qualified, restricted, or employee stock purchase plan stock options granted, pursuant to the plan. The limitations may be established on an annual basis or for the duration of the plan, whether or not the plan has a fixed termination date, and may be determined either by fixed or maximum dollar amounts, or by fixed or maximum numbers of shares, or by formulas based upon earnings of the insurer, dividends paid, compensation received by participants, option prices, market value of shares, outstanding shares or percentages thereof outstanding from time to time, or similar factors which will result in an effective and determinable limitation. Such limitations may be subject to any provisions for adjustment of the plan, or of stock allocable, or of options outstanding thereunder to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights.

(g) Unless the context otherwise requires, all terms used in this section shall have the same meaning as in the Act and in 11:2-9.1. In addition, the following definitions apply:

1. The term "plan" includes any plan, whether or not set forth in any formal written document or documents, and whether or not approved in its entirety at one time;

2. The definition of the terms "qualified stock option" and "employee stock purchase plan" that are set forth in Sections 422 and 423 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, are to be applied to those terms where used in this Section. The term "restricted stock option" as defined in Section 424(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, shall be applied to that term as used in this Section, provided however, that for the purposes of this Section an option which meets all of the conditions of Section 424(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, other than the date of issuance shall be deemed to be a "restricted stock option."

Notes

N.J. Admin. Code § 11:2-9.13

Amended by R.1996 d.3, effective 1/2/1996.
See: 27 New Jersey Register 3278(b), 28 New Jersey Register 152(b).