376.143.  Stock company may acquire its own shares to be held in trust for mutual — appointment, powers and duties of trustees. — 1.  If a domestic stock life insurance corporation determines to become a mutual life insurance corporation, it may, in carrying out any plan to that end under section 376.142, acquire any shares of its own stock by gift, bequest, or purchase.  Until all of such shares are acquired, any shares so acquired, or acquired pursuant to section 376.144, shall be acquired in trust for the corporation as provided in subsection 2, and shall be assigned and transferred on the books of the corporation to not less than three nor more than five trustees.  Such shares shall be held by them in trust and be voted by such trustees at all corporate meetings at which stockholders have the right to vote, until all of the capital stock of such corporation is acquired, at which time the entire capital stock shall be retired and cancelled and the corporation shall become, thereupon, a mutual life insurance corporation without capital stock.

  2.  The trustees provided for in subsection 1 shall be appointed and vacancies shall be filled by the director of the department of commerce and insurance.  Such trustees shall be qualified directors of the corporation at the time of such appointment and shall continue as such trustees until the purpose of the trust is accomplished or abandoned, unless they are removed for cause by the director.  Said trustees shall file with the director a verified acceptance of their appointment and a declaration that they will faithfully discharge their duties as trustees.  Such trustees shall give and file with the director bonds in such an amount as under the circumstances the director deems proper, with sureties thereon approved by the director.  All dividends and other sums received by said trustees on the shares of stock held by them shall be immediately repaid to said corporation.  The necessary expenses of executing the trust shall be paid by the corporation.  All shares held by such trustees are considered as admitted assets of such corporation at their par value.

  3.  Neither the retirement of the corporation's capital stock nor the amendment of its articles of incorporation shall affect existing suits, rights, or contracts of such corporation.  The deposit of securities made by such corporation, pursuant to sections 376.010 to 376.670, shall be retained by the director in trust for the benefit and security of all of the members and policyholders of such corporation.