A domestic insurer shall have the right to purchase or otherwise acquire, hold, pledge, transfer or dispose of its own issued shares. An insurer may acquire any such shares by purchase, exchange or disposition of its assets only from earned surplus as defined by rule, that is not otherwise restricted or, with the prior written approval of the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, from other of its surplus. [1967 c.359 § 180; 1987 c.846 § 8]