Securities Act of 1933
Section 2(a)(1)

September 9, 2013

Response of the Office of Chief Counsel
Division of Corporation Finance

Based on the facts presented, the Division will not recommend enforcement action to the Commission if, in reliance on your opinion of counsel that membership interests in Holdings are not securities within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, Florida Blue causes its current and future policyholders to become members of Holdings in connection with and after the Reorganization without registration under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act. Capitalized terms have the same meanings as defined in your letter.

In reaching this position, we particularly note that:

• the Reorganization will be effected under Florida law permitting the formation of mutual insurance holding companies by mutual insurance companies;
   
• with the Reorganization, Florida Blue’s policyholders will automatically become members of Holdings;
   
• membership interests in Holdings will be substantially the same as membership interests in Florida Blue, will not be transferable and will be extinguished once a member is no longer a policyholder;
   
• Holdings will not pay dividends or make other distributions or payments of income or profits to members, except in the event of a dissolution or liquidation or as otherwise approved by the OIR;
   
• the Reorganization was subject to approval by the OIR after notice to policyholders and a public hearing where policyholders were entitled to appear;
   
• the OIR approved the Reorganization after finding that it was fair and equitable to Florida Blue’s policyholders; and
   
• Holdings will be subject to regulation by the OIR at a level substantially equivalent to that applicable to Florida Blue before the Reorganization.

This position is based on the representations made to the Division in your letter. Any different facts or conditions might require the Division to reach a different conclusion. Further, this response expresses the Division’s position on enforcement action only and does not express any legal conclusion on the question presented.

Incoming Letter:

The Incoming Letter is in Acrobat format.

http://www.sec.gov/divisions/corpfin/cf-noaction/2013/blue-cross-blue-shield-florida-090913-2a1.htm