E7-2242. Grant of Individual Exemption Involving The Bear Stearns Companies, Inc. (BS), Bear Stearns Asset Management Inc. (BSAM), and Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. (BSC) (Collectively, the Applicants) Located in New York, NY
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AGENCY:
Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.
ACTION:
Grant of individual exemption.
SUMMARY:
This document contains a final exemption issued by the Department of Labor (the Department) that provides relief from certain prohibited transaction restrictions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (the Act) and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code). The exemption permits the purchase of certain securities (the Securities), by an asset management affiliate of BS from any person other than such asset management affiliate of BS or any affiliate thereof, during the existence of an underwriting or selling syndicate with respect to such Securities, where a broker-dealer affiliated with BS (the Affiliated Broker-Dealer) is a manager or member of such syndicate and the asset management affiliate of BS purchases such Securities, as a fiduciary: (a) On behalf of an employee benefit plan or employee benefit plans (Client Plan(s)); or (b) on behalf of Client Plans, and/or in-house plans (In-House Plans) which are invested in a pooled fund or in pooled funds (Pooled Fund(s)); provided certain conditions as set forth, below are satisfied (An affiliated underwriter transaction (AUT)).[1] The exemption affects Client Plans and In-House Plans and their participants and beneficiaries.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This exemption is effective as of the date it is published in the Federal Register.
Start Further InfoFOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Angelena C. Le Blanc, Office of Exemption Determinations, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, telephone (202) 693-8540. (This is not a toll-free number.)
End Further Info End Preamble Start Supplemental InformationSUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
On November 24, 2006, the Department published a Notice of Proposed Exemption (the Notice) in the Federal Register at 71 FR 67904. The document contained a proposed individual exemption from the restrictions of section 406 of the Act and section 4975(c)(1)(A) through (F) of the Code. The proposed exemption had been requested in an application filed by the Applicants, pursuant to section 408(a) of the Act, and in accordance with the procedures set forth in 29 CFR Part 2570, Subpart B (55 FR 32836, August 10, 1990). Effective December 31, 1978, section 102 of Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1978 (43 FR 47713, October 17, 1978) transferred the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to issue exemptions of the type requested to the Secretary of Labor. Accordingly, this exemption is being issued solely by the Department.
The proposed exemption gave interested persons an opportunity to comment and to request a hearing. In this regard, all interested persons were invited to submit written comments or requests for a hearing on the pending exemption on or before January 8, 2007.
The Applicants informed the Department in a letter dated January 5, 2007, that the Notice along with the supplemental statement (the Supplemental Statement), described at 29 CFR 2570.43(b)(2) of the Department's regulations, was sent by December 9, 2006, via first class mail to all Interested Persons with the exception of two (2) such Interested Persons. The Applicant further informed the Department that the Notice and the Supplemental Statement was sent by December 13, 2006, via first class mail to these two (2) remaining Interested Persons. In light of the fact that notification to these Interested Persons was delayed and in order to allow such Interested Persons the benefit of the full thirty (30) day comment period, the Department required, and the Applicants agreed to, an extension of the deadline within which these two (2) Interested Persons could comment or request a hearing on the proposed exemption. In this regard, in accordance with the Department's instructions, the Applicants sent a letter on December 19, 2006, to these Interested Persons notifying them that the comment period was extended until January 15, 2007. All comments were made part of the record.
During the comment period, the Department received no requests for a hearing. The Department did receive a comment letter from the Applicants. The written comments and the responses are discussed below.
Written Comments
In a letter dated, January 5, 2007, the Applicants’ suggested revisions of the language in paragraph 19 of the Summary of Facts and Representations, as published in the Notice at 71 FR 67907, column 1, lines 58-69, and column 2, lines 1-22, in order to reflect changes in the law regarding “hot issues.”
The Department concurs with the Applicants' suggested revisions. In this regard, paragraph 19 of the Summary of Facts and Representations, as set forth in the Notice, should have read as follows:
19. Assuming that the marketing efforts have produced sufficient indications of interest, the Applicants represent that the issuer of the securities and the selling syndicate managers together will set the price of the securities and ask the SEC to declare the registration effective. After the registration statement becomes effective and the underwriting agreement is executed, the underwriters contact those investors that have indicated an interest in purchasing securities in the offering to execute the sales. The Applicants represent that offerings are often oversubscribed, and many have an over-allotment option that the underwriters can exercise to acquire additional shares from the issuer. Where an offering is oversubscribed, the underwriters decide how to allocate the securities among the potential purchasers. However, pursuant to the National Association of Securities Dealers Rule 2790, new issue securities (as defined under such rule) may not be sold directly to: Start Printed Page 6596Officers, directors, general partners or associated persons of any broker-dealer (other than limited business broker-dealers); any person who has the authority to buy or sell securities for: A bank, saving and loan institution, insurance and investment companies, investment advisors and collective investment accounts; and certain of the family members of such persons (collectively, “restricted persons”). Restricted persons may still participate, to a limited extent, in allocations of “new issues” through pooled investment vehicles in which they invest and may receive directly new issue allocations in certain other limited circumstances.
In addition to the comment letter submitted by the Applicants, the Department received a telephone inquiry from a commentator seeking clarification of Section II(b) of the exemption. Section II(b), as set forth in the Notice, at 71 FR 67910, column 1, lines 31-55, reads as follows:
(b) The issuer of the Securities to be purchased has been in continuous operation for not less than three years, including the operation of any predecessors, unless—
(1) Such Securities are non-convertible debt securities rated in one of the four highest rating categories by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization, i.e., Standard & Poor's Rating Services, Moody's Investors Service, Inc., Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co., or Fitch IBCA, Inc., or their successors (collectively, the Rating Organizations); or
(2) Such Securities are issued or fully guaranteed by a person described, above, in Section II(a)(1)(i)(A); or
(3) Such Securities are fully guaranteed by a person described, above, in Section II(a)(1)(i)(B), (C), or (D), who has issued the Securities and who has been in continuous operation for not less than three years, including the operation of any predecessors.
The Department has determined to amend the language of Section II(b), as set forth in this exemption, as follows:
(b) The issuer of the Securities to be purchased pursuant to this exemption must have been in continuous operation for not less than three years, including the operation of any predecessors, unless the Securities to be purchased —
(1) are non-convertible debt securities rated in one of the four highest rating categories by Standard & Poor's Rating Services, Moody's Investors Service, Inc., FitchRatings, Inc., Dominion Bond Rating Service Limited, Dominion Bond Rating Service, Inc., or any successors thereto (collectively, the Rating Organizations); provided that none of the Rating Organizations rates such securities in a category lower than the fourth highest rating category; or
(2) are debt securities issued or fully guaranteed by the United States or by any person controlled or supervised by and acting as an instrumentality of the United States pursuant to authority granted by the Congress of the United States; or
(3) are debt securities which are fully guaranteed by a person (the Guarantor) that has been in continuous operation for not less than three years, including the operation of any predecessors, provided that such Guarantor has issued other securities registered under the 1933 Act; or if such Guarantor has issued other securities which are exempt from such registration requirement, such Guarantor has been in continuous operation for not less than three years, including the operation of any predecessors, and such Guarantor:
(a) is a bank; or
(b) is an issuer of securities which are exempt from such registration requirement, pursuant to a Federal statute other than the 1933 Act; or
(c) is an issuer of securities that are the subject of a distribution and are of a class which is required to be registered under section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the 1934 Act) (15 U.S.C. 781), and are issued by an issuer that has been subject to the reporting requirements of section 13 of the 1934 Act (15 U.S.C. 78m) for a period of at least ninety (90) days immediately preceding the sale of such securities and that has filed all reports required to be filed thereunder with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) during the preceding twelve (12) months.
Further, the Department has amended the definition of Rating Organizations in Section III(k) of this exemption and has changed the reference to the Rating Organizations found in Section II(b)(1) of this exemption. In this regard, the Department has added Dominion Bond Rating Service Limited and Dominion Bond Rating Service, Inc. to the list of Rating Organizations. In addition, the Department has reflected the recent merger of Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co. and Fitch IBCA, Inc., by including the name of the surviving organization, FitchRatings, Inc., and deleting Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co. from the list of Rating Organizations.
For further information regarding the comments or other matters discussed herein, interested persons are encouraged to obtain copies of the exemption application file (Exemption Application No. D-11381) the Department is maintaining in this case. The complete application file, as well as all supplemental submissions received by the Department, is made available for public inspection in the Public Disclosure Room of the Employee Benefits Security Administration, Room N-1513, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210.
Accordingly, after giving full consideration to the entire record, including the written comments received, the Department has decided to grant the exemption.
General Information
The attention of interested persons is directed to the following:
(1) The fact that a transaction is the subject of an exemption under section 408(a) of the Act does not relieve a fiduciary or other party in interest from certain other provisions of the Act, including any prohibited transaction provisions to which the exemption does not apply and the general fiduciary responsibility provisions of section 404 of the Act, which require, among other things, a fiduciary to discharge his or her duties respecting the plan solely in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan and in a prudent fashion in accordance with section 404(a)(1)(B) of the Act.
(2) The exemption does not extend to transactions prohibited under section 406(b)(3) of the Act.
(3) In accordance with section 408(a) of the Act, the Department makes the following determinations:
(a) The exemption is administratively feasible;
(b) The exemption is in the interest of the plans and of their participants and beneficiaries; and
(c) The exemption set forth herein is protective of the rights of participants and beneficiaries of the plans.
(4) The exemption is supplemental to, and not in derogation of, any other provisions of the Act, including statutory or administrative exemptions. Furthermore, the fact that a transaction is subject to an administrative or statutory exemption is not dispositive of whether the transaction is in fact a prohibited transaction.
Accordingly, the following exemption is granted under the authority of section 408(a) of the Act and section 4975(c)(2) of the Code, and in accordance with the procedures set forth in 29 CFR Part 2570, Subpart B (55 FR 32836, 32847, August 10, 1990).
Exemption
Section I—Transactions
The restrictions of section 406 of the Act and the sanctions resulting from the application of section 4975 of the Code, by reason of section 4975(c)(1)(A) through (F) of the Code, shall not apply to the purchase of certain securities (the Securities), as defined, below in Section III(h), by an asset management affiliate of BS, as “affiliate” is defined, below, in Section III(c), from any person other than such asset management affiliate of BS or any affiliate thereof, during the existence of an underwriting or selling syndicate with respect to such Securities, where a broker-dealer affiliated with BS (the Affiliated Broker-Dealer), as defined, below, in Section III(b), is a manager or member of such syndicate and the asset management Start Printed Page 6597affiliate of BS purchases such Securities, as a fiduciary:
(a) On behalf of an employee benefit plan or employee benefit plans (Client Plan(s)), as defined, below, in Section III(e); or
(b) on behalf of Client Plans, and/or In-House Plans, as defined, below, in Section III(l), which are invested in a pooled fund or in pooled funds (Pooled Fund(s)), as defined, below, in Section III(f); provided that the conditions as set forth, below, in Section II, are satisfied (An affiliated underwriter transaction (AUT)).[2]
Section II—Conditions
The exemption is conditioned upon adherence to the material facts and representations described herein and upon satisfaction of the following requirements:
(a)(1) The Securities to be purchased are either—
(i) Part of an issue registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the 1933 Act) (15 U.S.C. 77a et seq.). If the Securities to be purchased are part of an issue that is exempt from such registration requirement, such Securities:
(A) Are issued or guaranteed by the United States or by any person controlled or supervised by and acting as an instrumentality of the United States pursuant to authority granted by the Congress of the United States,
(B) Are issued by a bank,
(C) Are exempt from such registration requirement pursuant to a federal statute other than the 1933 Act, or
(D) Are the subject of a distribution and are of a class which is required to be registered under section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the 1934 Act) (15 U.S.C. 781), and are issued by an issuer that has been subject to the reporting requirements of section 13 of the 1934 Act (15 U.S.C. 78m) for a period of at least ninety (90) days immediately preceding the sale of such Securities and that has filed all reports required to be filed thereunder with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) during the preceding twelve (12) months; or
(ii) Part of an issue that is an Eligible Rule 144A Offering, as defined in SEC Rule 10f-3 (17 CFR 270.10f-3(a)(4)). Where the Eligible Rule 144A Offering of the Securities is of equity securities, the offering syndicate shall obtain a legal opinion regarding the adequacy of the disclosure in the offering memorandum;
(2) The Securities to be purchased are purchased prior to the end of the first day on which any sales are made, pursuant to that offering, at a price that is not more than the price paid by each other purchaser of the Securities in that offering or in any concurrent offering of the Securities, except that—
(i) If such Securities are offered for subscription upon exercise of rights, they may be purchased on or before the fourth day preceding the day on which the rights offering terminates; or
(ii) If such Securities are debt securities, they may be purchased at a price that is not more than the price paid by each other purchaser of the Securities in that offering or in any concurrent offering of the Securities and may be purchased on a day subsequent to the end of the first day on which any sales are made, pursuant to that offering, provided that the interest rates, as of the date of such purchase, on comparable debt securities offered to the public subsequent to the end of the first day on which any sales are made and prior to the purchase date are less than the interest rate of the debt Securities being purchased; and
(3) The Securities to be purchased are offered pursuant to an underwriting or selling agreement under which the members of the syndicate are committed to purchase all of the Securities being offered, except if—
(i) Such Securities are purchased by others pursuant to a rights offering; or
(ii) Such Securities are offered pursuant to an over-allotment option.
(b) The issuer of the Securities to be purchased pursuant to this exemption must have been in continuous operation for not less than three years, including the operation of any predecessors, unless the Securities to be purchased—
(1) are non-convertible debt securities rated in one of the four highest rating categories by Standard & Poor's Rating Services, Moody's Investors Service, Inc., FitchRatings, Inc., Dominion Bond Rating Service Limited, Dominion Bond Rating Service, Inc., or any successors thereto (collectively, the Rating Organizations); provided that none of the Rating Organizations rates such securities in a category lower than the fourth highest rating category; or
(2) are debt securities issued or fully guaranteed by the United States or by any person controlled or supervised by and acting as an instrumentality of the United States pursuant to authority granted by the Congress of the United States; or
(3) are debt securities which are fully guaranteed by a person (the Guarantor) that has been in continuous operation for not less than three years, including the operation of any predecessors, provided that such Guarantor has issued other securities registered under the 1933 Act; or if such Guarantor has issued other securities which are exempt from such registration requirement, such Guarantor has been in continuous operation for not less than three years, including the operation of any predecessors, and such Guarantor:
(a) Is a bank; or
(b) is an issuer of securities which are exempt from such registration requirement, pursuant to a Federal statute other than the 1933 Act; or
(c) is an issuer of securities that are the subject of a distribution and are of a class which is required to be registered under section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the 1934 Act) (15 U.S.C. 781), and are issued by an issuer that has been subject to the reporting requirements of section 13 of the 1934 Act (15 U.S.C. 78m) for a period of at least ninety (90) days immediately preceding the sale of such securities and that has filed all reports required to be filed thereunder with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) during the preceding twelve (12) months.
(c) The aggregate amount of Securities of an issue purchased, pursuant to this exemption, by the asset management affiliate of BS with: (i) the assets of all Client Plans; and (ii) the assets, calculated on a pro-rata basis, of all Client Plans and In-House Plans investing in Pooled Funds managed by the asset management affiliate of BS; and (iii) the assets of plans to which the asset management affiliate of BS renders investment advice within the meaning of 29 CFR 2510.3-21(c) does not exceed:
(1) 10 percent (10%) of the total amount of the Securities being offered in an issue, if such Securities are equity securities;
(2) 35 percent (35%) of the total amount of the Securities being offered in an issue, if such Securities are debt securities rated in one of the four highest rating categories by at least one of the Rating Organizations; provided that none of the Rating Organizations rates such Securities in a category lower than the fourth highest rating category; or
(3) 25 percent (25%) of the total amount of the Securities being offered in an issue, if such Securities are debt securities rated in the fifth or sixth highest rating categories by at least one of the Rating Organizations; provided that none of the Rating Organizations rates such Securities in a category lower than the sixth highest rating category; and
(4) The assets of any single Client Plan (and the assets of any Client Plans and any In-House Plans investing in Start Printed Page 6598Pooled Funds) may not be used to purchase any Securities being offered, if such Securities are debt securities rated lower than the sixth highest rating category by any of the Rating Organizations;
(5) Notwithstanding the percentage of Securities of an issue permitted to be acquired, as set forth in Section II(c)(1), (2), and (3), above, of this exemption, the amount of Securities in any issue (whether equity or debt securities) purchased, pursuant to this exemption, by the asset management affiliate of BS on behalf of any single Client Plan, either individually or through investment, calculated on a pro-rata basis, in a Pooled Fund may not exceed three percent (3%) of the total amount of such Securities being offered in such issue, and;
(6) If purchased in an Eligible Rule 144A Offering, the total amount of the Securities being offered for purposes of determining the percentages, described, above, in Section II(c)(1)-(3) and (5), is the total of:
(i) The principal amount of the offering of such class of Securities sold by underwriters or members of the selling syndicate to “qualified institutional buyers” (QIBs), as defined in SEC Rule 144A (17 CFR 230.144A(a)(1)); plus
(ii) The principal amount of the offering of such class of Securities in any concurrent public offering.
(d) The aggregate amount to be paid by any single Client Plan in purchasing any Securities which are the subject of this exemption, including any amounts paid by any Client Plan or In-House Plan in purchasing such Securities through a Pooled Fund, calculated on a pro-rata basis, does not exceed three percent (3%) of the fair market value of the net assets of such Client Plan or In-House Plan, as of the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter of such Client Plan or In-House Plan prior to such transaction.
(e) The covered transactions are not part of an agreement, arrangement, or understanding designed to benefit the asset management affiliate of BS or an affiliate.
(f) The Affiliated Broker-Dealer does not receive, either directly, indirectly, or through designation, any selling concession, or other compensation or consideration that is based upon the amount of Securities purchased by any single Client Plan, or that is based on the amount of Securities purchased by Client Plans or In-House Plans through Pooled Funds, pursuant to this exemption. In this regard, the Affiliated Broker-Dealer may not receive, either directly or indirectly, any compensation or consideration that is attributable to the fixed designations generated by purchases of the Securities by the asset management affiliate of BS on behalf of any single Client Plan or any Client Plan or In-House Plan in Pooled Funds.
(g)(1) The amount the Affiliated Broker-Dealer receives in management, underwriting, or other compensation or consideration is not increased through an agreement, arrangement, or understanding for the purpose of compensating the Affiliated Broker-Dealer for foregoing any selling concessions for those Securities sold pursuant to this exemption. Except as described above, nothing in this Section II(g)(1) shall be construed as precluding the Affiliated Broker-Dealer from receiving management fees for serving as manager of the underwriting or selling syndicate, underwriting fees for assuming the responsibilities of an underwriter in the underwriting or selling syndicate, or other compensation or consideration that is not based upon the amount of Securities purchased by the asset management affiliate of BS on behalf of any single Client Plan, or on behalf of any Client Plan or In-House Plan participating in Pooled Funds, pursuant to this exemption; and
(2) The Affiliated Broker-Dealer shall provide to the asset management affiliate of BS a written certification, signed by an officer of the Affiliated Broker-Dealer, stating the amount that the Affiliated Broker-Dealer received in compensation or consideration during the past quarter, in connection with any offerings covered by this exemption, was not adjusted in a manner inconsistent with Section II(e), (f), or (g) of this exemption.
(h) The covered transactions are performed under a written authorization executed in advance by an independent fiduciary of each single Client Plan (the Independent Fiduciary), as defined, below, in Section III(g).
(i) Prior to the execution by an Independent Fiduciary of a single Client Plan of the written authorization described, above, in Section II(h), the following information and materials (which may be provided electronically) must be provided by the asset management affiliate of BS to such Independent Fiduciary:
(1) A copy of the Notice of Proposed Exemption (the Notice) and a copy of the final exemption as published in the Federal Register; and
(2) Any other reasonably available information regarding the covered transactions that such Independent Fiduciary requests the asset management affiliate of BS to provide.
(j) Subsequent to the initial authorization by an Independent Fiduciary of a single Client Plan permitting the asset management affiliate of BS to engage in the covered transactions on behalf of such single Client Plan, the asset management affiliate of BS will continue to be subject to the requirement to provide within a reasonable period of time any reasonably available information regarding the covered transactions that the Independent Fiduciary requests the asset management affiliate of BS to provide.
(k)(1) In the case of an existing employee benefit plan investor (or existing In-House Plan investor, as the case may be) in a Pooled Fund, such Pooled Fund may not engage in any covered transactions pursuant to this exemption, unless the asset management affiliate of BS provides the written information, as described, below, and within the time period described, below, in this Section II(k)(2), to the Independent Fiduciary of each such plan participating in such Pooled Fund (and to the fiduciary of each such In-House Plan participating in such Pooled Fund).
(2) The following information and materials (which may be provided electronically) shall be provided by the asset management affiliate of BS not less than 45 days prior to such asset management affiliate of BS engaging in the covered transactions on behalf of a Pooled Fund, pursuant to this exemption:
(i) A notice of the intent of such Pooled Fund to purchase Securities pursuant to this exemption, a copy of this Notice, and a copy of the final exemption, as published in the Federal Register;
(ii) Any other reasonably available information regarding the covered transactions that the Independent Fiduciary of a plan (or fiduciary of an In-House Plan) participating in a Pooled Fund requests the asset management affiliate of BS to provide; and
(iii) A termination form expressly providing an election for the Independent Fiduciary of a plan (or fiduciary of an In-House Plan) participating in a Pooled Fund to terminate such plan's (or In-House Plan's) investment in such Pooled Fund without penalty to such plan (or In-House Plan). Such form shall include instructions specifying how to use the form. Specifically, the instructions will explain that such plan (or such In-House Plan) has an opportunity to withdraw its assets from a Pooled Fund for a period of no more than 30 days after such plan's (or such In-House Start Printed Page 6599Plan's) receipt of the initial notice of intent, described, above, in Section II(k)(2)(i), and that the failure of the Independent Fiduciary of such plan (or fiduciary of such In-House Plan) to return the termination form to the asset management affiliate of BS in the case of a plan (or In-House Plan) participating in a Pooled Fund by the specified date shall be deemed to be an approval by such plan (or such In-House Plan) of its participation in the covered transactions as an investor in such Pooled Fund.
Further, the instructions will identify BS, the asset management affiliate of BS, and the Affiliated Broker-Dealer and will provide the address of the asset management affiliate of BS. The instructions will state that this exemption may be unavailable, unless the fiduciary of each plan participating in the covered transactions as an investor in a Pooled Fund is, in fact, independent of BS, the asset management affiliate of BS, and the Affiliated Broker-Dealer. The instructions will also state that the fiduciary of each such plan must advise the asset management affiliate of BS, in writing, if it is not an “Independent Fiduciary,” as that term is defined, below, in Section III(g).
For purposes of this Section II(k), the requirement that the fiduciary responsible for the decision to authorize the transactions described, above, in Section I of this exemption for each plan be independent of the asset management affiliate of BS shall not apply in the case of an In-House Plan.
(l)(1) In the case of each plan (and in the case of each In-House Plan) whose assets are proposed to be invested in a Pooled Fund after such Pooled Fund has satisfied the conditions set forth in this exemption to engage in the covered transactions, the investment by such plan (or by such In-House Plan) in the Pooled Fund is subject to the prior written authorization of an Independent Fiduciary representing such plan (or the prior written authorization by the fiduciary of such In-House Plan, as the case may be), following the receipt by such Independent Fiduciary of such plan (or by the fiduciary of such In-House Plan, as the case may be) of the written information described, above, in Section II(k)(2)(i) and (ii).
(2) For purposes of this Section II(l), the requirement that the fiduciary responsible for the decision to authorize the transactions described, above, in Section I of this exemption for each plan proposing to invest a Pooled Fund be independent of BS and its affiliates shall not apply in the case of an In-House Plan.
(m) Subsequent to the initial authorization by an Independent Fiduciary of a plan (or by a fiduciary of an In-House Plan) to invest in a Pooled Fund that engages in the covered transactions, the asset management affiliate of BS will continue to be subject to the requirement to provide within a reasonable period of time any reasonably available information regarding the covered transactions that the Independent Fiduciary of such plan (or the fiduciary of such In-House Plan, as the case may be) requests the asset management affiliate of BS to provide.
(n) At least once every three months, and not later than 45 days following the period to which such information relates, the asset management affiliate of BS shall furnish:
(1) In the case of each single Client Plan that engages in the covered transactions, the information described, below, in this Section II(n)(3)-(7), to the Independent Fiduciary of each such single Client Plan.
(2) In the case of each Pooled Fund in which a Client Plan (or in which an In-House Plan) invests, the information described, below, in this Section II(n)(3)-(6) and (8), to the Independent Fiduciary of each such Client Plan (and to the fiduciary of each such In-House Plan) invested in such Pooled Fund.
(3) A quarterly report (the Quarterly Report) (which may be provided electronically) which discloses all the Securities purchased pursuant to the exemption during the period to which such report relates on behalf of the Client Plan, In-House Plan, or Pooled Fund to which such report relates, and which discloses the terms of each of the transactions described in such report, including:
(i) The type of Securities (including the rating of any Securities which are debt securities) involved in each transaction;
(ii) The price at which the Securities were purchased in each transaction;
(iii) The first day on which any sale was made during the offering of the Securities;
(iv) The size of the issue of the Securities involved in each transaction;
(v) The number of Securities purchased by the asset management affiliate of BS for the Client Plan, In-House Plan, or Pooled Fund to which the transaction relates;
(vi) The identity of the underwriter from whom the Securities were purchased for each transaction;
(vii) The underwriting spread in each transaction (i.e., the difference, between the price at which the underwriter purchases the securities from the issuer and the price at which the securities are sold to the public);
(viii) The price at which any of the Securities purchased during the period to which such report relates were sold; and
(ix) The market value at the end of the period to which such report relates of the Securities purchased during such period and not sold;
(4) The Quarterly Report contains:
(i) A representation that the asset management affiliate of BS has received a written certification signed by an officer of the Affiliated Broker-Dealer, as described, above, in Section II(g)(2), affirming that, as to each AUT covered by this exemption during the past quarter, the Affiliated Broker-Dealer acted in compliance with Section II(e), (f), and (g) of this exemption, and
(ii) a representation that copies of such certifications will be provided upon request;
(5) A disclosure in the Quarterly Report that states that any other reasonably available information regarding a covered transaction that an Independent Fiduciary (or fiduciary of an In-House Plan) requests will be provided, including, but not limited to:
(i) The date on which the Securities were purchased on behalf of the Client Plan (or the In-House Plan) to which the disclosure relates (including Securities purchased by Pooled Funds in which such Client Plan (or such In-House Plan) invests;
(ii) The percentage of the offering purchased on behalf of all Client Plans (and the pro-rata percentage purchased on behalf of Client Plans and In-House Plans investing in Pooled Funds); and
(iii) The identity of all members of the underwriting syndicate;
(6) The Quarterly Report discloses any instance during the past quarter where the asset management affiliate of BS was precluded for any period of time from selling Securities purchased under this exemption in that quarter because of its status as an affiliate of an Affiliated Broker-Dealer and the reason for this restriction;
(7) Explicit notification, prominently displayed in each Quarterly Report sent to the Independent Fiduciary of each single Client Plan that engages in the covered transactions that the authorization to engage in such covered transactions may be terminated, without penalty to such single Client Plan, within five (5) days after the date that the Independent Fiduciary of such single Client Plan informs the person identified in such notification that the authorization to engage in the covered transactions is terminated; and Start Printed Page 6600
(8) Explicit notification, prominently displayed in each Quarterly Report sent to the Independent Fiduciary of each Client Plan (and to the fiduciary of each In-House Plan) that engages in the covered transactions through a Pooled Fund that the investment in such Pooled Fund may be terminated, without penalty to such Client Plan (or such In-House Plan), within such time as may be necessary to effect the withdrawal in an orderly manner that is equitable to all withdrawing plans and to the non-withdrawing plans, after the date that that the Independent Fiduciary of such Client Plan (or the fiduciary of such In-House Plan, as the case may be) informs the person identified in such notification that the investment in such Pooled Fund is terminated.
(o) For purposes of engaging in covered transactions, each Client Plan (and each In-House Plan) shall have total net assets with a value of at least $50 million (the $50 Million Net Asset Requirement). For purposes of engaging in covered transactions involving an Eligible Rule 144A Offering,[3] each Client Plan (and each In-House Plan) shall have total net assets of at least $100 million in securities of issuers that are not affiliated with such Client Plan (or such In-House Plan, as the case may be) (the $100 Million Net Asset Requirement).
For purposes of a Pooled Fund engaging in covered transactions, each Client Plan (and each In-House Plan) in such Pooled Fund shall have total net assets with a value of at least $50 million. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if each such Client Plan (and each such In-House Plan) in such Pooled Fund does not have total net assets with a value of at least $50 million, the $50 Million Net Asset Requirement will be met, if 50 percent (50%) or more of the units of beneficial interest in such Pooled Fund are held by Client Plans (or by In-House Plans) each of which has total net assets with a value of at least $50 million. For purposes of a Pooled Fund engaging in covered transactions involving an Eligible Rule 144A Offering, each Client Plan (and each In-House Plan) in such Pooled Fund shall have total net assets of at least $100 million in securities of issuers that are not affiliated with such Client Plan (or such In-House Plan, as the case may be). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if each such Client Plan (and each such In-House Plan) in such Pooled Fund does not have total net assets of at least $100 million in securities of issuers that are not affiliated with such Client Plan (or In-House Plan, as the case may be), the $100 Million Net Asset Requirement will be met if 50 percent (50%) or more of the units of beneficial interest in such Pooled Fund are held by Client Plans (or by In-House Plans) each of which have total net assets of at least $100 million in securities of issuers that are not affiliated with such Client Plan (or such In-House Plan, as the case may be), and the Pooled Fund itself qualifies as a QIB, as determined pursuant to SEC Rule 144A (17 CFR 230.144A(a)(F)).
For purposes of the net asset requirements described, above, in this Section II(o), where a group of Client Plans is maintained by a single employer or controlled group of employers, as defined in section 407(d)(7) of the Act, the $50 Million Net Asset Requirement (or in the case of an Eligible Rule 144A Offering, the $100 Million Net Asset Requirement) may be met by aggregating the assets of such Client Plans, if the assets of such Client Plans are pooled for investment purposes in a single master trust.
(p) The asset management affiliate of BS qualifies as a “qualified professional asset manager” (QPAM), as that term is defined under Part V(a) of PTE 84-14. Notwithstanding the fact that the asset management affiliate of BS satisfies the requirements, as set forth in Part V(a) of PTE 84-14, such asset management affiliate of BS must also have total client assets under its management and control in excess of $5 billion, as of the last day of it most recent fiscal year and shareholders' or partners' equity in excess of $1 million. Furthermore, the requirement that the asset management affiliate of BS must have total client asset under its management and control in excess of $5 billion, as of the last day of it most recent fiscal year and shareholders' or partners' equity in excess of $1 million, as set forth in this Section II(p), applies whether such asset management affiliate of BS, qualifies as a QPAM, pursuant to Part V(a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3) or (a)(4) of PTE 84-14.
(q) No more than 20 percent of the assets of a Pooled Fund, at the time of a covered transaction, are comprised of assets of In-House Plans for which BS, the asset management affiliate of BS, the Affiliated Broker-Dealer, or an affiliate exercises investment discretion.
(r) The asset management affiliate of BS, and the Affiliated Broker-Dealer, as applicable, maintain, or cause to be maintained, for a period of six (6) years from the date of any covered transaction such records as are necessary to enable the persons, described, below, in Section II(s), to determine whether the conditions of this exemption have been met, except that—
(1) No party in interest with respect to a plan which engages in the covered transactions, other than BS, the asset management affiliate of BS, and the Affiliated Broker-Dealer, as applicable, shall be subject to a civil penalty under section 502(i) of the Act or the taxes imposed by section 4975(a) and (b) of the Code, if such records are not maintained, or not available for examination, as required, below, by Section II(s); and
(2) A prohibited transaction shall not be considered to have occurred if, due to circumstances beyond the control of the asset management affiliate of BS, or the Affiliated Broker-Dealer, as applicable, such records are lost or destroyed prior to the end of the six-year period.
(s)(1) Except as provided, below, in Section II(s)(2), and notwithstanding any provisions of subsections (a)(2) and (b) of section 504 of the Act, the records referred to, above, in Section II(r) are unconditionally available at their customary location for examination during normal business hours by —
(i) Any duly authorized employee or representative of the Department, the Internal Revenue Service, or the SEC; or
(ii) Any fiduciary of any plan that engages in the covered transactions, or any duly authorized employee or representative of such fiduciary; or
(iii) Any employer of participants and beneficiaries and any employee organization whose members are covered by a plan that engages in the covered transactions, or any authorized employee or representative of these entities; or
(iv) Any participant or beneficiary of a plan that engages in the covered transactions, or duly authorized employee or representative of such participant or beneficiary;
(2) None of the persons described, above, in Section II(s)(1)(ii)—(iv) shall be authorized to examine trade secrets of the asset management affiliate of BS, or the Affiliated Broker-Dealer, or commercial or financial information which is privileged or confidential; and Start Printed Page 6601
(3) Should the asset management affiliate of BS, or the Affiliated Broker-Dealer refuse to disclose information on the basis that such information is exempt from disclosure, pursuant to Section II(s)(2), above, the asset management affiliate of BS shall, by the close of the thirtieth (30th) day following the request, provide a written notice advising that person of the reasons for the refusal and that the Department may request such information.
Section III—Definitions
(a) The term, “the Applicants,” means BS, BSAM, and BSC.
(b) The term, “Affiliated Broker-Dealer,” means any broker-dealer affiliate, as “affiliate” is defined, below, in Section III(c), of the Applicants, as “Applicants” are defined, above, in Section III(a), that meets the requirements of this exemption. Such Affiliated Broker-Dealer may participate in an underwriting or selling syndicate as a manager or member. The term, “manager,” means any member of an underwriting or selling syndicate who, either alone or together with other members of the syndicate, is authorized to act on behalf of the members of the syndicate in connection with the sale and distribution of the Securities, as defined, below, in Section III(h), being offered or who receives compensation from the members of the syndicate for its services as a manager of the syndicate.
(c) The term “affiliate” of a person includes:
(1) Any person directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such person;
(2) Any officer, director, partner, employee, or relative, as defined in section 3(15) of the Act, of such person; and
(3) Any corporation or partnership of which such person is an officer, director, partner, or employee.
(d) The term, “control,” means the power to exercise a controlling influence over the management or policies of a person other than an individual.
(e) The term, “Client Plan(s),” means an employee benefit plan(s) that is subject to the Act and/or the Code, and for which plan(s) an asset management affiliate of BS exercises discretionary authority or discretionary control respecting management or disposition of some or all of the assets of such plan(s), but excludes In-House Plans, as defined, below, in Section III(l).
(f) The term, “Pooled Fund(s),” means a common or collective trust fund(s) or a pooled investment fund(s): (i) in which employee benefit plan(s) subject to the Act and/or Code invest, (ii) which is maintained by an asset management affiliate of BS, (as the term, “affiliate” is defined, above, in Section III(c)), and (iii) for which such asset management affiliate of BS exercises discretionary authority or discretionary control respecting the management or disposition of the assets of such fund(s).
(g)(1) The term, “Independent Fiduciary,” means a fiduciary of a plan who is unrelated to, and independent of BS, the asset management affiliate of BS, and the Affiliated Broker-Dealer. For purposes of this exemption, a fiduciary of a plan will be deemed to be unrelated to, and independent of BS, the asset management affiliate of BS, and the Affiliated Broker-Dealer, if such fiduciary represents that neither such fiduciary, nor any individual responsible for the decision to authorize or terminate authorization for the transactions described, above, in Section I of this exemption, is an officer, director, or highly compensated employee (within the meaning of section 4975(e)(2)(H) of the Code) of BS, the asset management affiliate of BS, or the Affiliated Broker-Dealer, and represents that such fiduciary shall advise the asset management affiliate of BS within a reasonable period of time after any change in such facts occur.
(2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section III(g), a fiduciary of a plan is not independent:
(i) If such fiduciary directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with BS, the asset management affiliate of BS, or the Affiliated Broker-Dealer;
(ii) If such fiduciary directly or indirectly receives any compensation or other consideration from BS, the asset management affiliate of BS, or the Affiliated Broker-Dealer for his or her own personal account in connection with any transaction described in this exemption;
(iii) If any officer, director, or highly compensated employee (within the meaning of section 4975(e)(2)(H) of the Code) of the asset management affiliate of BS responsible for the transactions described, above, in Section I of this exemption, is an officer, director, or highly compensated employee (within the meaning of section 4975(e)(2)(H) of the Code) of the sponsor of the plan or of the fiduciary responsible for the decision to authorize or terminate authorization for the transactions described, above, in Section I. However, if such individual is a director of the sponsor of the plan or of the responsible fiduciary, and if he or she abstains from participation in: (A) The choice of the plan's investment manager/adviser; and (B) the decision to authorize or terminate authorization for transactions described, above, in Section I, then Section III(g)(2)(iii) shall not apply.
(3) The term, “officer,” means a president, any vice president in charge of a principal business unit, division, or function (such as sales, administration, or finance), or any other officer who performs a policy-making function for BS or any affiliate thereof.
(h) The term, “Securities,” shall have the same meaning as defined in section 2(36) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act), as amended (15 U.S.C. 80a-2(36)(1996)). For purposes of this exemption, mortgage-backed or other asset-backed securities rated by one of the Rating Organizations, as defined, below, in Section III(k), will be treated as debt securities.
(i) The term, “Eligible Rule 144A Offering,” shall have the same meaning as defined in SEC Rule 10f-3(a)(4) (17 CFR 270. 10f-3(a)(4)) under the 1940 Act.
(j) The term, “qualified institutional buyer,” or the term, “QIB,” shall have the same meaning as defined in SEC Rule 144A (17 CFR 230.144A(a)(1)) under the 1933 Act.
(k) The term, “Rating Organizations,” means Standard & Poor's Rating Services, Moody's Investors Service, Inc., FitchRatings, Inc., Dominion Bond Rating Service Limited, and Dominion Bond Rating Service, Inc.; or any successors thereto.
(l) The term, “In-House Plan(s),” means an employee benefit plan(s) that is subject to the Act and/or the Code, and that is sponsored by the Applicants, as defined, above, in Section III(a) for their own employees.
The availability of this exemption is subject to the express condition that the material facts and representations contained in the application for exemption are true and complete and accurately describe all material terms of the transactions. In the case of continuing transactions, if any of the material facts or representations described in the applications change, the exemption will cease to apply as of the date of such change. In the event of any such change, an application for a new exemption must be made to the Department.
Start SignatureSigned at Washington, DC, this 6th day of February, 2007.
Ivan L. Strasfeld,
Director of Exemption Determinations, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.
Footnotes
1. For purposes of this exemption an In-House Plan may engage in AUT's only through investment in a Pooled Fund.
Back to Citation2. For purposes of this exemption an In-House Plan may engage in AUT's only through investment in a Pooled Fund.
Back to Citation3. SEC Rule 10f-3(a)(4), 17 CFR 270.10f-3(a)(4), states that the term “Eligible Rule 144A Offering” means an offering of securities that meets the following conditions:
(i) The securities are offered or sold in transactions exempt from registration under section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 [15 U.S.C. 77d(d)], rule 144A thereunder [§ 230.144A of this chapter], or rules 501-508 thereunder [§§ 230.501-230-508 of this chapter];
(ii) The securities are sold to persons that the seller and any person acting on behalf of the seller reasonably believe to include qualified institutional buyers, as defined in § 230.144A(a)(1) of this chapter; and
(iii) The seller and any person acting on behalf of the seller reasonably believe that the securities are eligible for resale to other qualified institutional buyers pursuant to § 230.144A of this chapter.
Back to Citation[FR Doc. E7-2242 Filed 2-9-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-29-P
Document Information
- Published:
- 02/12/2007
- Department:
- Employee Benefits Security Administration
- Entry Type:
- Notice
- Action:
- Grant of individual exemption.
- Document Number:
- E7-2242
- Dates:
- This exemption is effective as of the date it is
- Pages:
- 6595-6601 (7 pages)
- Docket Numbers:
- Prohibited Transaction Exemption 2007-03, Exemption Application No. D-11381
- PDF File:
- e7-2242.pdf