69O-143.035. Special Provisions Applicable to Election Contests

(1) Applicability. This section shall apply to any solicitation subject to this chapter by any person or group for the purpose of opposing a solicitation subject to this chapter by any other person or group with respect to the election or removal of directors at any annual or special meeting of stockholders.

(2) Participant or Participant in a Solicitation.

(a) For purposes of this section the terms “participant” and “participant in a solicitation” include:

1. The insurer;

2. Any director of the insurer, and any nominee for whose election as a director proxies are solicited;

3. Any other person, acting alone or with one or more other persons, committees or groups, in organizing, directing or financing the solicitation.

(b) For the purposes of this section the term “participant” and “participant in a solicitation” do not include:

1. A bank, broker or dealer who, in the ordinary course of business, lends money or executes orders for the purchase of sale of stock and who is not otherwise a participant;

2. Any person or organization retained or employed by a participant to solicit stockholders or any person who merely transmits proxy soliciting material or performs ministerial or clerical duties;

3. Any person employed in the capacity of attorney, accountant, or advertising, public relations or financial adviser, and whose activities are limited to the performance of his duties in the course of such employment;

4. Any person regularly employed as an officer or employee of the insurer or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates who is not otherwise a participant; or

5. Any officer or director of, or any person regularly employed by any other participant, if such officer, director, or employee is not otherwise a participant.

(3) Filing of Information Required by rule 69O-143.037, F.A.C.

(a) No solicitation subject to this section shall be made by any person other than the management of an insurer unless at least five business days prior thereto, or such shorter period as the Office may authorize upon a showing of good cause therefor, there has been filed with the Office by or on behalf of each participant in such solicitation, a statement in duplicate containing the information specified by rule 69O-143.037, F.A.C., and a copy of any material proposed to be distributed to stockholders in furtherance of such solicitation. Where preliminary copies of any materials are filed, distribution to stockholders should be deferred until the Office’s comments have been received and complied with.

(b) Within five business days after a solicitation subject to this section is made by the management of an insurer, or such longer periods as the Office may authorize upon a showing of good cause therefor, there shall be filed with the Office by or on behalf of each participant in such solicitation, other than the insurer, and by or on behalf of each management nominee for director, a statement in duplicate containing the information specified by rule 69O-143.037, F.A.C.

(c) If any solicitation on behalf of management or any other person has been made, or if proxy material is ready for distribution, prior to a solicitation subject to this section in opposition thereto, a statement in duplicate containing the information specified in rule 69O-143.037, F.A.C., shall be filed with the Office, by or on behalf of each participant in such prior solicitation, other than the insurer, as soon as reasonably practicable after the commencement of the solicitation in opposition thereto.

(d) If, subsequent to the filing of the statements required by paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this subsection, additional persons become participants in a solicitation subject to this rule, there shall be filed with the Office, by or on behalf of each such person, a statement in duplicate containing the information specified by rule 69O-143.037, F.A.C., within three business days after such person becomes a participant, or such longer period as the Office may authorize upon a showing of good cause therefor.

(e) If any material change occurs in the facts reported in any statement filed by or on behalf of any participant, an appropriate amendment to such statement shall be filed promptly with the Office.

(f) Each statement and amendment thereto filed, pursuant to this subsection shall be part of the public files of the Office.

(4) Solicitations Prior to Furnishing Required Proxy Statement. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1) of rule 69O-143.030, F.A.C., a solicitation subject to this section may be made prior to furnishing stockholders a written proxy statement containing the information specified in rule 69O-143.036, F.A.C., with respect to such solicitation, provided that:

(a) The statements required by subsection (3), hereof, are filed by or on behalf of each participant in such solicitation.

(b) No form of proxy is furnished to stockholders prior to the time the written proxy statement required by subsection (1) of rule 69O-143.030, F.A.C., is furnished to such persons; provided, however, that this paragraph (4)(b), shall not apply where a proxy statement then meeting the requirements of rule 69O-143.036, F.A.C., has been furnished to stockholders.

(c) At least the information specified in paragraphs (3)(b) and (c), of the statements required by subsection (3), hereof, to be filed by each participant, or an appropriate summary thereof, are included in each communication sent or given to stockholders in connection with the solicitation.

(d) A written proxy statement containing the information specified in rule 69O-143.036, F.A.C., with respect to a solicitation is sent or given to stockholders at the earliest practicable date.

(5) Solicitations Prior to Furnishing Required Written Proxy Statements – Filing Requirements. Two copies of any soliciting material proposed to be sent or given to stockholders prior to the furnishing of the written proxy statement required by subsection (1) of rule 69O-143.030, F.A.C., shall be filed with the Office in preliminary form at least five business days prior to the date definitive copies of such material are first sent or given to such persons, or such shorter period as the Office may authorize upon a showing of good cause therefor.

(6) Application of this section to Report. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (1) and (2) of rule 69O-143.030, F.A.C., two copies of any portion of the report referred to in subsection (1) of rule 69O-143.030, F.A.C., which comments upon or refers to any solicitation subject to this section, or to any participant in any such solicitation, other than the solicitation by the management, shall be filed with the Office as proxy material subject to this rule. Such portion of the report shall be filed with the Office, in preliminary form, at least five business days prior to the date copies of the report are first sent or given to the stockholders. All filings required by this rule shall be filed electronically at http://www.floir.com/iportal.

Rulemaking Authority 624.308 FS. Law Implemented 624.307(1), 624.424, 628.152 FS. History–New 3-18-65, Repromulgated 12-24-74, Formerly 4-17.10, 4-17.010, 4-143.035, Amended 7-30-17.