Section 215 ILCS 5/167 - Rights of dissenting shareholders of domestic company(1) If a shareholder entitled to vote of (a) a domestic company which is a party to a merger or consolidation or (b) a domestic insurance company to be acquired under a plan of exchange files with such company, prior to or at the meeting of shareholders at which the agreement of merger or consolidation or plan of exchange is submitted to a vote, a written objection to such agreement or plan, and does not vote in favor thereof, and such shareholder, within 20 days after the merger or consolidation or plan of exchange has become effective in this State makes written demand on the surviving or new company or on the domestic insurance company to be acquired under a plan of exchange for payment of the fair value of his shares as of the day prior to the date on which the vote of shareholders was taken approving the merger or consolidation or plan of exchange, such surviving or new company or domestic insurance company shall pay to such shareholder upon surrender of his certificate or certificates representing such shares, the fair value thereof. Any shareholder who makes such objection and demand shall cease to be a shareholder and shall have no rights with respect to such shares except the right to receive payment therefor. If within 30 days after the effective date, the value of such shares is agreed upon between the shareholder and the surviving or new company or the domestic insurance company to be acquired under a plan of exchange, as the case may be, and such agreement is approved in writing by the Director, payment therefor shall be made within 90 days after the effective date. If within 30 days after the effective date the surviving or new company or the domestic insurance company to be acquired under a plan of exchange, as the case may be, and the shareholders do not so agree, or any agreement as to value is not approved in writing by the Director, either such company or the shareholder may, within 90 days after the effective date, petition the circuit court of the county in which the principal office of the surviving or new company or domestic insurance company is located, to appraise the value of such shares. In the event the surviving or new company has no office in this State, then such petition may be filed in the circuit court of the county in which the principal office of the company in which such shareholder holds shares was located, immediately prior to such merger or consolidation. A copy of the petition shall be delivered or mailed by registered mail to the Director within 5 days after the filing thereof and proof of such delivery or mailing shall be filed with the court. The Director has the right to appear through the Attorney General and be heard upon all questions and issues in the proceeding. The practice, procedure and judgment in the circuit court upon such petition shall be the same, so far as practicable, as that under the eminent domain laws in this State.(2) Payment of the appraised value of such shares shall be made within 60 days after the entry of the judgment or order finding such appraised value and the judgment shall be payable only upon and simultaneously with the surrender to the surviving or new company or the domestic insurance company to be acquired under a plan of exchange of the certificate or certificates representing such shares. The right of a dissenting shareholder to be paid the fair value of his shares as herein provided shall cease if and when the Director revokes the approval to the merger or consolidation, as provided in Section 168, or if the merger or consolidation or plan of exchange be abandoned.(3) Every shareholder who did not vote in favor of such merger or consolidation or plan of exchange and who does not object in writing and demand payment of the value of his shares at the time and in the manner aforesaid, or does not file a petition within the time herein limited, is conclusively presumed to have assented to such merger or consolidation or plan of exchange and shall be bound by the terms thereof.(4) All shares of dissenting shareholders so acquired by a domestic insurance company party to a plan of exchange shall be cancelled by the board of directors of such company upon the plan of exchange becoming effective or at any time thereafter, and the capital stock of the company shall be decreased in accordance with Section 33.