96-18540. Proposed Exemptions; Mewbourne Oil Company, Inc. Plan (the Plan)  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 141 (Monday, July 22, 1996)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 37924-37933]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-18540]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
    
    Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration
    [Application No. D-10173, et al.]
    
    
    Proposed Exemptions; Mewbourne Oil Company, Inc. Plan (the Plan)
    
    AGENCY: Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, Labor.
    
    ACTION: Notice of proposed exemptions.
    
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    SUMMARY: This document contains notices of pendency before the 
    Department of Labor (the Department) of proposed exemptions from 
    certain of the prohibited transaction restrictions of the Employee 
    Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (the Act) and/or the Internal 
    Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code).
    
    Written Comments and Hearing Requests
    
        Unless otherwise stated in the Notice of Proposed Exemption, all 
    interested persons are invited to submit written comments, and with 
    respect to exemptions involving the fiduciary prohibitions of section 
    406(b) of the Act, requests for hearing within 45 days from the date of 
    publication of this Federal Register Notice. Comments and request for a 
    hearing should state: (1) The name, address, and telephone number of 
    the person making the comment or request, and (2) the nature of the 
    person's interest in the exemption and the manner in which the person 
    would be adversely affected by the exemption. A request for a hearing 
    must also state the issues to be addressed and include a general 
    description of the evidence to be
    
    [[Page 37925]]
    
    presented at the hearing. A request for a hearing must also state the 
    issues to be addressed and include a general description of the 
    evidence to be presented at the hearing.
    
    ADDRESSES: All written comments and request for a hearing (at least 
    three copies) should be sent to the Pension and Welfare Benefits 
    Administration, Office of Exemption Determinations, Room N-5649, U.S. 
    Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 
    20210. Attention: Application No. stated in each Notice of Proposed 
    Exemption. The applications for exemption and the comments received 
    will be available for public inspection in the Public Documents Room of 
    Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 
    Room N-5507, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210.
    
    Notice to Interested Persons
    
        Notice of the proposed exemptions will be provided to all 
    interested persons in the manner agreed upon by the applicant and the 
    Department within 15 days of the date of publication in the Federal 
    Register. Such notice shall include a copy of the notice of proposed 
    exemption as published in the Federal Register and shall inform 
    interested persons of their right to comment and to request a hearing 
    (where appropriate).
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed exemptions were requested in 
    applications filed pursuant to section 408(a) of the Act and/or section 
    4975(c)(2) of the Code, and in accordance with procedures set forth in 
    29 CFR Part 2570, Subpart B (55 FR 32836, 32847, 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. Therefore, these notices of proposed 
    exemption are issued solely by the Department.
        The applications contain representations with regard to the 
    proposed exemptions which are summarized below. Interested persons are 
    referred to the applications on file with the Department for a complete 
    statement of the facts and representations.
    
    Mewbourne Oil Company, Inc., Plan (the Plan) Located in Tyler, 
    Texas
    
    [Application No. D-10173]
    
    Proposed Exemption
    
        The Department is considering granting an exemption 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). If the exemption 
    is granted, the restrictions of sections 406(a), 406(b)(1) and (b)(2) 
    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 (E) of the 
    Code, shall not apply to the past contribution by Mewbourne Oil Company 
    (the Employer) to the Plan of a US Treasury Strip Bond (the Bond) and 
    the subsequent exchange by the Employer of the Bond for cash provided 
    that: (a) the contribution was a one-time transaction; (b) the Bond was 
    valued at the fair market value as of the date of the contribution; (c) 
    no commissions were paid in connection with the transaction; (d) the 
    Bond represented less than 25% of the fair market value of the Plan's 
    assets at the time of the contribution; and (e) the Bond was returned 
    to the Employer in exchange for cash in the amount of $173,759 plus 
    interest.
    Effective Date: If the proposed exemption is granted, the exemption 
    will be effective February 11, 1994.
    
    Summary of Facts and Representations
    
        1. The Plan, established and maintained by Mewbourne Oil Company, 
    Inc., is a defined benefit plan that currently has 130 plan 
    participants and plan assets of $4.6 million as of August 25, 1995. 
    Joseph F. Odom, J. Roe Buckley and Curtis Mewbourne serve as the Plan 
    trustees.
        2. On February 11, 1994, the Bond was transferred to the Plan from 
    a nonqualified corporate fund (the Transfer) which was established by 
    the Employer for the purpose of holding future contributions to the 
    Plan to satisfy the funding requirements for the year ending 1994. The 
    Bond was U.S. Treasury Zero Strips maturing in August 15, 2010 at 
    $525,000. At the time of the Transfer, the Plan trustees requested that 
    Merrill Lynch calculate the value of the Bond. Merrill Lynch 
    represented that it determined that the Bond had a value of $173,759 on 
    February 11, 1994. Merrill Lynch used the February 14, 1994 edition of 
    the Wall Street Journal's published value of $331.25 per $1000 bond to 
    calculate the Bond's value and adjusted this quote by $147 to reflect 
    the odd lot transfer to the Plan resulting in the $173,759 value.
        3. The applicant represents that the contribution in kind of the 
    Bond was made in error. Ms. Mitzi Perry of Werntz & Associates, an 
    actuarial consultant for employee benefit plans, represented that in 
    late 1993, Mr. Curtis Mewbourne, President of the Mewbourne Oil 
    Company, Inc., contacted Ms. Perry regarding whether 1994 contributions 
    could be made from the nonqualified fund. Ms. Perry informed Mr. 
    Mewbourne that this could be done. Mr. Mewbourne assumed from his 
    conversation with Ms. Perry that he could transfer the Bond from the 
    nonqualified account to the Plan. As a result of his misunderstanding, 
    Mr. Mewbourne instructed Merrill Lynch to transfer the Bond to the Plan 
    on February 15, 1994.
        4. At the end of the Plan year 1994, Ms. Perry reviewed the 
    financial information in preparation of the actuarial valuation and 
    discovered that the contributions for the year were made partially in 
    the cash amount of $126,000 and the Bond. Ms. Perry represents that she 
    immediately informed Mr. Mewbourne that the contribution of the Bond 
    was a prohibited transaction. Mr. Mewbourne took immediate steps to 
    correct the mistake under Ms. Perry's advisement. On January 30, 1995, 
    a cash contribution of $173,759 was made to the Plan in exchange for 
    the Bond. An additional $7,853 was paid to the Plan on January 31, 1995 
    reflecting interest earned based on the average investment earnings 
    rate for the Plan during the period from February 11, 1994 to January 
    31, 1995 during which the Plan held the Bond. The applicant represents 
    that no loss resulted to the Plan as a result of the transactions. In 
    this regard, the applicant represents that the Plan received more than 
    the fair market value of the Bond when the Employer exchanged the Bond 
    in the above described transaction. According to the applicant, Merrill 
    Lynch's valuation of the Bond as of January 31, 1995 equaled $157,988 
    reflecting the price that the Plan would have received had it sold the 
    Bond on January 31, 1995.
        5. In summary, the applicant represents that the subject 
    transaction satisfies the criteria contained in section 408(a) of the 
    Act because: (a) the contribution was a one-time transaction; (b) the 
    transaction occurred as a result of a misunderstanding between the Plan 
    trustees and the pension consultant; (c) when the mistake was 
    discovered, the Bond was removed from the Plan and replaced with cash 
    in the amount of the value of the Bond at the time of the Transfer plus 
    interest.
    For Further Information Contact: Allison Padams of the Department, 
    telephone (202) 219-8971. (This is not a toll-free number.)
    
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    Dillard's Marine & Sports Center, Inc., Profit Sharing Plan (the 
    Plan) Located in Anderson, South Carolina
    
    [Application No. D-10214]
    
    Proposed Exemption
    
        The Department is considering granting an exemption 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 C.F.R. Part 
    2570, Subpart B (55 FR 32836, 32847, August 10, 1990). If the exemption 
    is granted, the restrictions of sections 406(a) and 406(b)(1) and 
    (b)(2) 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 
    (E) of the Code shall not apply to the proposed loan of $47,962.50 (the 
    Loan) by the Plan from the individual account of William M. Dillard 
    Jr., to Dillard's Marine & Sports Center, Inc., the sponsoring employer 
    of the Plan (the Employer) and a party in interest with respect to the 
    Plan; provided that (1) the terms and conditions of the proposed Loan 
    are no less favorable to the Plan than those obtainable in an arm's-
    length transaction with an unrelated third-party at the time the 
    proposed Loan is consummated; (2) the Loan will at all times be secured 
    by collateral having a value that exceeds 150 percent of its 
    outstanding principal; (3) the Loan will be at all times less than 25 
    percent of the balance in the individual account maintained in the Plan 
    for William M. Dillard, Jr.; and (4) an independent fiduciary will 
    approve and monitor the transaction and take whatever actions are 
    necessary to protect the interests of the Plan.
    
    Summary of Facts and Representations
    
        1. The Employer, a South Carolina corporation, is a manufacturer 
    and wholesaler of sporting goods in several states in the eastern part 
    of the United States and also in Germany. There are three shareholders 
    who own the Employer. William M. Dillard, Jr., (Mr. Dillard) holds 63.3 
    percent of the issued and outstanding shares, his son, William N. 
    Dillard, III holds 3.8 percent, and Patrick H. Hickok holds 32.9 
    percent. The Employer currently employs 45 individuals.
        2. The Plan is a defined contribution plan with individual accounts 
    for 33 participants and total assets of $450,682, as of March 31, 1996. 
    The applicant represented that the individual account in the Plan for 
    Mr. Dillard had assets of $297,450, as of March 31, 1996. The Plan 
    trustee is Mr. Dillard.
        Richard L. King (Mr. King), a principal of Southeastern Trust 
    Company (Southeastern Trust), a charted trust company under the banking 
    laws of South Carolina, serves as investment manager for the Plan and 
    for Mr. Dillard's personal assets. Southeastern Trust also serves the 
    Plan as custodian of its assets. The applicant represents that Mr. 
    Dillard's individual account in the Plan and his personal assets when 
    combined are less than \1/2\ of 1 percent of the total assets 
    Southeastern Trust currently administers.
        3. The applicant represents that the Loan will be made only from 
    Mr. Dillard's individual account in the Plan, at his sole direction, 
    and represents that the Loan will be used by the Employer to pay-off 
    and partially pay-off loans currently outstanding with commercial 
    lenders. The Loan will be collaterized by a first mortgage executed by 
    Mr. Dillard on real property leased to and used by the Employer, and 
    located at 113 Shockley Ferry Road, Anderson County, South Carolina.
        The real property pledged as collateral for the Loan has been 
    appraised, as of January 4, 1996, by H. Clinton Taylor (Mr. Taylor), 
    State Certified General Real Estate Appraiser, South Carolina, 
    Certificate Number CG 189, located in Anderson County, South Carolina. 
    Mr. Taylor determined that the real property had a fair market value of 
    $180,000 of which $94,000 is attributable to land. The applicant 
    represents that at all times the collateral for the Loan will exceed 
    150 percent of its outstanding principal.
        4. The Loan provides for the payment of interest at 9.75 percent 
    per annum over a period of 5 years with repayments by the Employer made 
    in quarterly installments of principal and interest in the amount of 
    $3,058.72. The terms of the Loan also provide that if the quarterly 
    installments are 15 days late the Employer will pay a penalty of 5 
    percent of the amount due and owing.
        Also, repayment of the Loan may be accelerated by the Employer 
    without incurring a penalty.
        Mr. Robert L. Tennyson, Commercial Real Estate, of the Wachovia 
    Bank of South Carolina, N.A., located in Greenville, South Carolina, in 
    a letter to Mr. King, dated December 21, 1995, represented that the 
    interest rate Wachovia would charge on a 5 year period loan, to be 
    repaid in quarterly installments, and secured by a first priority 
    mortgage equal to approximately 150 percent of the loan, would be 
    approximately 7.75 percent.
        The applicant and Mr. King, as independent fiduciary, represent 
    that the Loan is in the interest of the Plan because the Loan will pay 
    a higher rate of interest than the current rate of return from the 
    other investments of the Plan. Also, the applicant and Mr. King 
    represent that the terms and conditions of the Loan provide more than 
    adequate protection for the rights of the participant and his 
    beneficiaries because of the excessive fair market value of the 
    collateral for the Loan. Mr. King further represents that as 
    independent fiduciary he will act in the best interests of the Plan and 
    will protect the interests of the Plan by foreclosing, if necessary, 
    under the terms of the note and mortgage executed by Mr. Dillard.
        5. In summary, the applicant represents that the proposed 
    transaction will satisfy the provisions of section 408(a) of the Act 
    because (a) the Loan will be adequately secured at all times; (b) the 
    Loan at all times will be less than 25 percent of the balance in the 
    individual account maintained for Mr. Dillard; (c) the terms and 
    conditions of the Loan will be as favorable to the Plan as obtainable 
    from an unrelated party; and (d) Mr. Dillard, the only participant in 
    the Plan whose account is affected by this proposed transaction, has 
    determined that the proposed transaction would be in the interest of 
    his account in the Plan, and he desires that the proposed transaction 
    be undertaken.
        Notice to Interested Persons: Since Mr. Dillard is the only person 
    in the Plan to be affected by the proposed transaction, it has been 
    determined that there is no need to distribute the notice of proposed 
    exemption to interested persons. Comments and requests for a public 
    hearing are due 30 days from the date of publication of this notice of 
    proposed exemption in the Federal Register.
        For Further Information Contact: Mr. C.E. Beaver of the department, 
    telephone (202) 219-8881. (This is not a toll-free number.)
    
    Normike Industries, Inc., Profit Sharing Plan (the Plan), Located 
    in Plainville, Connecticut
    
    [Application No. D-10239]
    
    Proposed Exemption
    
        The Department is considering granting an exemption 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). If the exemption 
    is granted the restrictions of sections 406(a), 406 (b)(1) and (b)(2) 
    of the Act and the sanctions resulting
    
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    from the application of section 4975 of the Code, by reason of section 
    4975(c)(1) (A) through (E) of the Code, shall not apply to the proposed 
    sale by the Plan of certain improved real property located in 
    Plainville, Connecticut (the Property) to Norman and Diane Stoll, 
    parties in interest with respect to the Plan; provided that the 
    following conditions are satisfied:
        (A) All terms of the transaction are at least as favorable to the 
    Plan as those which the Plan could obtain in an arm's-length 
    transaction with an unrelated party;
        (B) The Plan incurs no costs or expenses related to the 
    transaction;
        (C) The Plan receives a cash purchase price for the Property in the 
    amount of no less than the greater of (1) the Property's fair market 
    value as of the date of the sale, or (2) $57,500;
        (D) Before the transaction is consummated, the Plan has received 
    rental payments of no less than the Property's fair market rental value 
    for each month of the Plan's ownership of the Property in which the 
    Property was occupied by Normike Industries, Inc. (the Employer), the 
    sponsor of the Plan; and
        (E) Within 60 days of the publication in the Federal Register of a 
    notice granting the exemption proposed herein, if granted, the Employer 
    makes final payment to the Internal Revenue Service of any remaining 
    unpaid excise taxes which are applicable under section 4975(a) of the 
    Code by reason of the Employer's lease of the Property from the Plan.
    
    Summary of Facts and Representations
    
        1. The Plan is a defined contribution profit-sharing plan with 
    three participants and total assets of $133,603 as of June 30, 1995. 
    The Plan is sponsored by the Employer, Normike Industries, Inc., a 
    closely-held Connecticut corporation engaged in the precision jig 
    grinding of parts for tool and die manufacturing. The trustees of the 
    Plan are Norman Stoll and his spouse, Diane Stoll (the Stolls), each of 
    whom is also a participant in the Plan. Mr. Stoll is also president of 
    the Employer.
        2. Among the assets in the Plan is the Property, an industrial 
    condominium unit located at 1 Town Line Road, Town Line Tradesman 
    Center in Plainville, Connecticut. The Plan purchased the Property from 
    an unrelated party on December 11, 1993 for a purchase price of 
    $57,500.\1\ The Stolls represent that they caused the Plan to purchase 
    the Property with the intention of leasing it to the Employer, and they 
    represent that they were not aware that such an arrangement might be in 
    violation of the prohibited transactions provisions of the Act. In 
    January and February of 1994 the Employer undertook to improve and 
    refurbish the Property to enable the Employer to move its operations 
    into the Property. A lease effective March 1, 1994 (the Lease) was 
    executed between the Plan and the Employer under which the Employer 
    agreed to lease the Property from the Plan for an initial term 
    commencing March 1, 1994 and ending April 30, 1997, with an option to 
    renew for an additional five years. The Lease provides for fixed rent 
    of $9,000 per annum, payable monthly, for the first two years and 
    $12,000 per annum, payable monthly, for the remainder of the Lease's 
    initial term. During any renewal term, the rent would increase pursuant 
    to a ``cost of living'' factor utilizing the consumer price index. The 
    Stolls represent that they determined the rental amounts on the basis 
    of a survey of the rental market at the time of the Lease execution. 
    The Lease also required the Employer to pay all real estate taxes and 
    utility charges. The Stolls represent that other Lease terms are 
    standard provisions in commercial real property leases. The Stolls 
    represent that the total rental payments received by the Plan pursuant 
    to the Lease have resulted in an annual rate of return of seventeen 
    percent on the Plan's investment in the Property.
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        \1\ The Department notes that the decisions to acquire and hold 
    the Property are governed by the fiduciary responsibility 
    requirements of Part 4, Subtitle B, Title I of the Act. In this 
    regard, the Department herein is not proposing relief for any 
    violations of Part 4 of the Act which may have arisen as a result of 
    the acquisition and holding of the Property.
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        3. The Stolls represent that after they were advised by the 
    Employer's accountant that the Lease may constitute a prohibited 
    transaction under the Act, they met with legal counsel in December 1995 
    to discuss the alternatives available to address the issue. The Stolls 
    determined that the Lease should be terminated and that the Plan should 
    liquidate the Property. The Stolls are proposing to purchase the 
    Property from the Plan and are requesting an exemption for the purchase 
    transaction under the terms and conditions described herein.
        4. The Stolls propose to purchase the Property from the Plan for 
    the greater of (a) the Property's fair market value as of the sale 
    date, or (b) the purchase price originally paid by the Plan. The 
    Property was appraised for its fair market value by C. Kevin Bokoske, a 
    professional real estate appraiser who determined that the Property had 
    a fair market value of $55,000 as of January 26, 1996. Accordingly, the 
    Stolls propose a purchase price of $57,500, which is the amount the 
    Plan paid for the Property in 1993. The Employer will pay all expenses 
    related to the transaction and the purchase price will be paid in cash. 
    The Stolls represent that the sale transaction will be consummated as 
    soon as possible after the publication in the Federal Register of a 
    notice granting the exemption proposed herein, if granted. The Stolls 
    represent that the commercial and industrial real estate market in 
    which the Property is situated is very inactive and is described as a 
    ``buyer's market'' in which purchasers are able to aggressively 
    negotiate the price of the property. In the context of the depressed 
    market, the Stolls represent that their willingness to pay a purchase 
    price equal to the Plan's original investment, in excess of the fair 
    market value, renders the proposed transaction more favorable to the 
    Plan than the terms which the Plan could obtain from unrelated buyers.
        5. The Stolls have agreed that if it is determined that the total 
    of rental payments paid to the Plan under the Lease are less than the 
    fair market rental value of the Property for the period of the 
    Employer's occupancy, commensurate with the sale transaction the Stolls 
    will remit to the Plan the difference between the fair market rent and 
    the rent actually paid. An assessment of the Property's fair rental 
    value has been conducted by the real estate appraisal firm of Aldieri 
    Associates, Inc. (AAI), of Bristol, Connecticut. In a report dated June 
    25, 1996, AAI states that the Property had a fair market rental value 
    of $10,000 per annum for 1994, 1995 and 1996. As a condition of the 
    exemption proposed herein, the Stolls are required to pay the Plan the 
    difference between the total rent actually paid through the sale date 
    and the total rents due at the rate of $10,000 per annum.
        6. The Department is not proposing exemptive relief for the 
    Employer's lease of the Property from the Plan pursuant to the Lease. 
    The Employer recognizes that the Employer's lease of the Property 
    effective March 1, 1994 through the sale date constitutes a prohibited 
    transaction under the Act and Code for which no exemptive relief is 
    proposed herein. The Stolls represent that in January 1996 the Employer 
    paid to the Internal Revenue Service (the Service) the excise taxes 
    arising under section 4975(a) of the Code by reason of the Lease for 
    the plan years ending June 30, 1994 and June 30, 1995. The Stolls have 
    agreed that within 60 days of the
    
    [[Page 37928]]
    
    publication in the Federal Register of a notice granting the exemption 
    proposed herein, the Employer will make final payment to the Service of 
    any remaining unpaid excise taxes applicable under section 4975(a) of 
    the Code by reason of Lease the through the date of the sale.
        7. In summary, the applicants represent that the proposed 
    transaction satisfies the criteria of section 408(a) of the Act for the 
    following reasons: (a) The transaction will enable the termination of 
    an ongoing prohibited transaction, the Lease; (b) the Plan will receive 
    cash for the Property in the amount of no less than its original 
    purchase price and no less than its fair market value as of the sale 
    date; (c) the sale will be a one-time cash transaction and the Plan 
    will incur no expenses related to the sale; (d) as part of the 
    transaction, the Plan will receive the difference between the rents 
    actually paid under the Lease and the rents due in accordance with the 
    AAI appraisal; and (e) the Employer will be required to pay all excise 
    taxes applicable under section 4975(a) of the Code with respect to the 
    Lease which remain unpaid at the time of the sale transaction.
        For Further Information Contact: Ronald Willett of the Department, 
    telephone (202) 219-8881. (This is not a toll-free number.)
    
    Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company (PM), Located in Newport 
    Beach, California
    
    [Application No. D-10258]
    
    Proposed Exemption
    
        The Department is considering granting an exemption 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). If the exemption 
    is granted, the restrictions of section 406(a) 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 (D) of the Code, shall not 
    apply to the sale to employee benefit plans (the Plans) of a synthetic 
    guaranteed investment contract (the Buy/Hold Synthetic GIC) offered by 
    PM, which is a party in interest with respect to the Plans, provided 
    the following conditions are satisfied: (a) Prior to the execution of 
    such Buy/Hold Synthetic GIC, an independent fiduciary of such Plan 
    receives a full and detailed written disclosure of all material 
    features of the Buy/Hold Synthetic GIC, including all applicable fees 
    and charges; (b) following receipt of such disclosure, the Plan's 
    independent fiduciary approves in writing the execution of the Buy/Hold 
    Synthetic GIC on behalf of the Plan; (c) all fees and charges imposed 
    under such Buy/Hold Synthetic GIC are reasonable; (d) each Buy/Hold 
    Synthetic GIC will specifically provide for an objective means for 
    determining the fair market value of the securities owned by the Plan 
    pursuant to the Buy/Hold Synthetic GIC; (e) each Buy/Hold Synthetic GIC 
    will specifically provide for an objective means for determining the 
    interest rates to be credited periodically under the contract; (f) PM 
    will maintain books and records of all transactions which will be 
    subject to annual audit by independent certified public accountants 
    selected by and responsible solely to the Plan; and (g) the Buy/Hold 
    Synthetic GICs will only be marketed to Plans or collective investment 
    funds which have at least $50 million in assets.
        Effective Date: If the proposed exemption is granted, the exemption 
    will be effective September 2, 1993.
    
    Summary of Facts and Representations
    
        1. PM is a mutual life insurance company incorporated under the 
    laws of the State of California. PM is also a Registered Investment 
    Adviser under the Investment Adviser's Act of 1940. PM is currently 
    rated as follows: A.M. Best--A+; Standard & Poor's--AA+; Duff & 
    Phelps--AA+; and Moody's--Aa3. As of December 31, 1995, PM had assets 
    of approximately $18 billion and net policy reserves of approximately 
    $10.8 billion. A significant portion of PM's business consists of 
    writing insurance and annuity contracts, guaranteed investment 
    contracts, and other types of funding agreements for numerous pension 
    plans subject to the Act.
        2. PM has requested the exemption proposed herein with respect to a 
    ``Buy/Hold'' Synthetic GIC, which is a variation on traditional 
    guaranteed investment contracts (GICs). PM's Buy/Hold Synthetic GIC 
    will be marketed to Plans (including, without limitation, defined 
    contribution plans). PM will negotiate the terms of the Buy/Hold 
    Synthetic GIC with the appropriate fiduciary of such a Plan, which is 
    generally expected to be the Plan's named fiduciary and not an 
    independent investment professional.2
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        \2\ The Department notes that section 404(a)(1) of the Act 
    requires, among other things, that a fiduciary of a plan must act 
    prudently, solely in the interest of the plan's participants and 
    beneficiaries, and for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits 
    to participants and beneficiaries when making investment decisions 
    on behalf of a plan. The Department notes that in order to act 
    prudently in making investment decisions, plan fiduciaries must 
    consider, among other factors, the availability, risks and potential 
    return of alternative investments for the plan.
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        PM represents that the Buy/Hold Synthetic GIC provides purchasers 
    with the advantages of a traditional GIC, while providing purchasers 
    with greater security with respect to their investment than a 
    traditional GIC. Under PM's Buy/Hold Synthetic GIC, each Plan retains 
    legal title to all of its investments and has the benefit of a contract 
    which guarantees that all employee initiated benefit payments and 
    transfers will be paid at the Contract Value Record (see rep. 4, 
    below).
        3. Like traditional GICs, PM's duties and obligations with respect 
    to the Buy/Hold Synthetic GIC are governed by the terms of an insurance 
    contract (the Contract) between the Plan and PM. The Contract is issued 
    pursuant to applicable state insurance law and is subject to the 
    jurisdiction of the appropriate state Department of Insurance. While 
    certain terms and conditions of each Contract will be negotiable by the 
    Plan and PM, once the Contract has been executed PM will have no 
    discretion over any of the terms. The Buy/Hold Synthetic GIC is issued 
    by PM in the ordinary course of its business. PM represents that it 
    will only market the Buy/Hold Synthetic GIC to Plans (or to collective 
    investment funds established for the investment of assets of more than 
    one Plan) which have at least $50 million in assets. The Buy/Hold 
    Synthetic GIC is described in greater detail below.
        4. Each Buy/Hold Synthetic GIC will consist of two components. One 
    component is the underlying security or portfolio of investment assets 
    (the Investment Assets), title to which will remain with the Plan. The 
    underlying Investment Assets will primarily be high grade, fixed income 
    securities, which will be selected and managed by a Plan fiduciary 
    independent of PM. The value of the investment assets will be 
    determined by objective standards. While the Investment Assets do not 
    come under PM's administration or control, they affect the second 
    component of each Contract, as will be discussed more fully below. The 
    second component under each Buy/Hold Synthetic GIC will be an 
    accounting record (the Contract Value Record or Book Value Record) 
    established by PM to record the Plan's interest under the Synthetic 
    GIC. This is the amount available to Plan participants in the event 
    they elect to withdraw funds pursuant to provisions of the Plan. The 
    Contract Value Record will initially be equal to the value of the 
    Investment
    
    [[Page 37929]]
    
    Assets at the inception of the Contract. Thereafter, the Contract Value 
    Record will be credited with a rate of interest (the Credited Rate) 
    that will be reset periodically (monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or 
    annually) in accordance with an objective formula established under the 
    Contract (see rep. 7, below). No element of the Credited Rate formula 
    is within PM's discretion.
        In addition, solely with respect to certain Contracts issued before 
    August 11, 1995, PM has established a deposit account (the Deposit 
    Account), consisting of certain cash contributions made to PM by the 
    Plan under the terms of the Contract. The applicant represents that, 
    under California law as in effect prior to August 11, 1995, a Deposit 
    Account may have been required to have the Contract qualify as an 
    insurance contract under the law of that State. The applicant further 
    represents that after such date, a Deposit Account is no longer 
    required under California law.
        5. Under the Buy/Hold Synthetic GIC the Investment Assets will be a 
    single security or a fixed portfolio of securities which will be 
    established at the inception of the Contract and held until maturity.
        6. The Buy/Hold Synthetic GIC will be supported by one or more 
    specific fixed income securities that are bought in the primary or 
    secondary market and held until the Contract matures. High quality 
    mortgage-backed securities will be the primary security utilized, 
    although other high quality securities may be used to support a Buy/
    Hold Synthetic GIC. Regardless of whether a mortgage-backed or other 
    type of security is utilized, all Investment Assets will have 
    predictable yield and cash flow characteristics. As principal and 
    interest payments are made on the Investment Assets, such amounts will 
    be made available to the Plans for reinvestment outside of the Buy/Hold 
    Synthetic GIC at the direction of a fiduciary independent of PM. 
    Investment Assets will be sold or otherwise distributed to the Plan 
    only upon termination of the Contract or, under circumstances set forth 
    in the Contract, to provide amounts for benefit payments due to Plan 
    participants or for participant-directed transfers to other investments 
    under the Plan.
        7. PM represents that the attractive feature of the Buy/ Hold 
    Synthetic GIC to a Plan is that PM assumes certain obligations with 
    respect to the availability of funds for benefit withdrawals and 
    transfers and the return realized from the Investment Assets. 
    Mechanically, this is accomplished through the establishment of a 
    Contract Value Record.
        The Contract Value Record reflects a guarantee of principal and the 
    Credited Rate, pursuant to the formula established in the Contract. The 
    Credited Rate is equal to the projected internal rate of return 3 
    of the underlying Investment Assets and is guaranteed never to be below 
    0%. The Credited Rate of interest is reset periodically, so that it 
    will at all times reflect the projected rate of return for the 
    Investment Assets (determined without regard to any return from the 
    reinvestment of dividends and other proceeds on such Investment Assets, 
    which will be so reinvested outside the Buy/Hold Synthetic GIC). Each 
    component of this formula will be set forth in the Contract and be 
    explained to the independent fiduciary who decides whether to purchase 
    the Buy/Hold Synthetic GIC on behalf of any Plan. PM will have no 
    discretion in setting this Credited Rate.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
         3 The term ``internal rate of return'' means the rate of 
    return on the Investment Assets determined without regard to any 
    return from the reinvestment of dividends and other proceeds on such 
    Investment Assets, which will be so reinvested outside the Buy/Hold 
    Synthetic GIC.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        All participant initiated benefit payments and transfers are 
    guaranteed to be paid at the Contract Value Record. The Contract Value 
    Record will be reduced each month dollar for dollar for the benefit and 
    transfer payments made to the Plan and for the amount of principal 
    payments and coupon interest received by the Plan from the underlying 
    Investment Assets. The Contract matures when the Contract Value Record 
    is equal to 5% of its original balance. PM guarantees that the Plan 
    will receive the greater of the Investment Assets or the Contract Value 
    Record on the maturity date (see rep. 9, below). Since the Contract 
    Value Record's Credited Rate will be equal to the underlying Investment 
    Assets' projected internal rate of return, any difference between the 
    value of the Investment Assets and the Contract Value Record should be 
    insignificant on the maturity date. Thus, any payment PM will have to 
    make to support the Contract Value Record should be negligible.
        8. A Plan's fiduciary may also elect to terminate the Buy/Hold 
    Synthetic GIC at any time. If the Plan's fiduciary terminates the 
    Contract, the Plan will have complete control over the Investment 
    Assets (i.e., they may be invested without any contractual constraints) 
    and PM will have no further obligations with respect to the Contract 
    Value Payment (see rep. 10, below). In the ordinary course, if the 
    Contract is terminated within three years of its effective date, an 
    early termination charge, intended to enable PM to recoup its costs and 
    determined under a fixed objective formula to be set forth in the 
    Contract, may apply.
        9. Under the Buy/Hold Synthetic GIC, PM guarantees the availability 
    of funds for participant initiated withdrawals up to the amount of the 
    Contract Value Record balance as of any date. Neither PM, the Plan nor 
    the Plan's fiduciaries will have any discretion over when a withdrawal 
    may be made from the Contract. The Contract will not be accessed for 
    withdrawals until other specified sources of funds (e.g., contributions 
    to the Plan's fixed income fund under which the Buy/Hold Synthetic GIC 
    is held, current investment income, maturing proceeds, and cash 
    equivalents) have been depleted. If the Plan does make withdrawals from 
    the Contract, they will be made from the following sources in the order 
    listed until exhausted:
        (a) Available cash attributable to the underlying Investment Assets 
    including all cash flow available from the Investment Assets; and
        (b) Cash realized from the sale of the Investment Assets. The 
    percentage of the securities sold will be equal to the percentage the 
    Contract Value Record is decreased to recognize the benefit payment. 
    This means that if 10% of the Contract Value Record is to be accessed 
    to meet a withdrawal, 10% of the Investment Assets will be sold.
        A fiduciary of the Plan independent of PM will generally determine 
    which of the Investment Assets will be sold, except that PM may require 
    that the Plan sell the asset in the size category required to effect 
    the withdrawal that has the highest ratio of market value to book 
    value. If any Investment Assets have to be sold to effect any 
    withdrawal, the Contract will specify that the value of the Investment 
    Assets will be determined based upon the highest of three competitive 
    bids for such Investment Assets received from parties independent of PM 
    and the Plan. If the proceeds realized by the sale of the underlying 
    securities are less than the portion of the Contract Value Record 
    decreased to recognize the benefit payment, PM will make up the 
    difference. If the proceeds to be realized by the sale of the 
    underlying securities are greater than the portion of the Contract 
    Value Record expected to be decreased to recognize the benefit payment, 
    it is expected that the Plan's fiduciary would exercise its right to 
    terminate the Contract and take full control over the Investment 
    Assets. This
    
    [[Page 37930]]
    
    is because, as the Buy/Hold Synthetic GIC is designed, the value of the 
    Contract Value Record and the Investment Assets are supposed to be 
    equal at maturity. If at any given point in time the value of the 
    Investment Assets exceeds the value of the Contract Value Record, it 
    would generally reflect an unanticipated increase in the market value 
    of the underlying Investment Assets, the benefit of which could likely 
    be lost if the Investment Assets were held to maturity. If the 
    fiduciary does not terminate the Contract when the proceeds realized by 
    the sale of the underlying securities are greater than the portion of 
    the Contract Value Record decreased to recognize the benefit payment, 
    the Plan will have to pay PM an additional fee equal to such 
    difference. This additional fee is intended to protect PM from the 
    additional risks associated with the sale of assets with superior 
    performance, while underperforming assets are left subject to PM's 
    obligation to make a Contract Value Payment (see rep. 10, below).
        10. Upon maturation of the Contract, the value of the Investment 
    Assets will be determined by taking the highest of at least three 
    competitive bids from unrelated third parties. If the Contract Value 
    Record exceeds the value of the Investment Assets at the time the 
    Contract matures, PM will make a one-time payment to the Plan equal to 
    such excess (the Contract Value Payment). Any Contract Value Payment 
    will be paid from PM's General Account. If the value of the Investment 
    Assets equals or exceeds the Contract Value Record, no Contract Value 
    Payment will be made, and such excess belongs exclusively to the Plan.
        As and when such Investment Assets mature, the Plan's fiduciaries 
    will reinvest the proceeds of the Investment Assets as they see fit 
    (outside the Buy/Hold Synthetic GIC Contract). Accordingly, the value 
    of the Investment Assets will decline over time as dividends, interest 
    and other proceeds are paid out on the Investment Assets. The Contract 
    Value Record will be correspondingly reduced as amounts are distributed 
    from the arrangement. By reason of these distributions, it is expected 
    that the Contract Value Record will decrease significantly from its 
    initial value by the time the Contract matures. Given this reduction in 
    the Contract Value Record and the fact that the Contract Value Record's 
    Credited Rate is calculated based upon the expected return of the 
    Investment Assets, any Contract Value Payment at maturity should be de 
    minimis.
        11. PM represents that it believes that the Synthetic GIC is 
    superior to traditional GICs in that each Buy/Hold Synthetic GIC serves 
    the dual functions of: (a) affording a Plan substantially greater 
    protection against the risk that it will lose its investment; and (b) 
    providing the Plan with an opportunity for a greater rate of return 
    than a traditional GIC. PM represents that it guarantees that all 
    participant initiated benefit payments and transfers will be paid at 
    the Contract Value Record. This means that, despite fluctuations in the 
    market value of the Investment Assets, each participant in the Plan is 
    protected against any loss of principal by PM's contractual commitment.
        The Investment Assets to be held under the Contract will be 
    determined at the inception of the Contract. These Investment Assets 
    will be disposed of only upon termination of the Contract or upon the 
    occurrence of certain events specified in the Contract (see rep. 9, 
    above). The Plan holds legal title to the Investment Assets. Subject to 
    the Plan's obligations to pay PM's fees, any appreciation in value of 
    the Investment Assets, as well as current interest and principal 
    payments, belong to the Plan. The only risk to the Investment Assets 
    posed by the financial condition of PM relates to the amount 
    representing the excess, if any, of the balance on the Contract Value 
    Record over the actual value of the Investment Assets. PM represents 
    that the Buy/Hold Synthetic GIC provides greater security than a 
    traditional GIC wherein a plan places a substantial amount of its 
    assets at risk based on the credit worthiness of the issuer of the GIC.
        12. PM will maintain full and complete records and books reflecting 
    the various accounts maintained in accordance with the Buy/Hold 
    Synthetic GICs. Upon written request from a Plan, PM will also make its 
    records pertaining to the Synthetic GICs available during normal 
    business hours for audit by independent certified public accountants 
    hired by the Plan's fiduciary.
        13. The applicant makes the following representations with respect 
    to the valuation of assets under the Synthetic GICs. Under the Buy/Hold 
    Synthetic GIC, the time at which the value of the Investment Assets is 
    relevant to PM's obligations is at the time of any withdrawal, 
    including upon termination of the entire arrangement. At such time, the 
    value of the Investment Assets will be determined based upon the 
    highest of three competitive bids for such Investment Assets received 
    from an independent party (see rep. 10, above).
        14. PM and the Plan's fiduciary will agree to an expense charge 
    (determined at the inception of the Contract) payable to PM with 
    respect to the Buy/Hold Synthetic GIC that will be stated as a fixed 
    percentage of the average value of the Contract Value Record during the 
    preceding calendar quarter. This charge covers four elements: (a) A 
    benefit risk charge, (b) a maturity risk charge, (c) an expense charge 
    and (d) a profit charge. The benefit risk charge is a fee for assuming 
    the risk of loss associated with benefit responsive withdrawals. It 
    will be developed on a Plan specific basis after a review of the Plan's 
    benefit payment cash flow history and the structure of the Plan itself 
    (i.e., the frequency at which withdrawals and investment transfers are 
    permitted, and the structure of alternate investment opportunities). 
    This charge may be supplemented under certain circumstances if the 
    effect of certain withdrawals increases PM's potential exposure (see 
    rep. 9, above). The maturity risk charge will be based on a review of 
    the volatility of, and the guidelines for the investment of, the 
    Investment Assets. The expense and profit charges will be assessed 
    based on the expected expenses related to the arrangement and the 
    payment to PM of a reasonable profit. The expense charge will be based 
    on an annual rate to be determined by negotiations between PM and the 
    Plan's fiduciary at the inception of the Contract, stated as a fixed 
    percentage and multiplied by an average balance of the value of the 
    Investment Assets determined pursuant to a fixed formula under the 
    Contract. Such negotiated charge would remain in effect for the initial 
    period until the maturity date agreed to by the Plan and PM, subject to 
    PM's right to make changes to such charge upon 30 days' advance notice 
    if and solely to the extent that there has been a material change to 
    the provisions or administration of the Plan which adversely affects 
    deposits or withdrawals, or another action by the Plan's sponsor which 
    results in significant withdrawals (such as, but not limited to, plant 
    closings, divestitures, a partial termination of the Plan, the 
    implementation of an early retirement incentive program and the Plan 
    sponsor's bankruptcy) from the Contract.
        Based on its review of competitive practices, PM represents that 
    the aggregate charges with respect to each of the Synthetic GICs are, 
    and are expected to continue to be, comparable to the charges made by 
    other Buy/Hold Synthetic GIC providers.
    
    [[Page 37931]]
    
        15. PM represents that to date, the Buy/Hold Synthetic GIC has been 
    purchased by a number of Plans, with the first such purchase occurring 
    as of September 2, 1993. PM has accordingly requested that the 
    exemption proposed herein be made retroactive to that date. PM 
    represents that it entered into the Buy/Hold Synthetic GICs with the 
    good faith belief that the transactions involved therein were, to the 
    extent they constituted prohibited transactions, exempted by Prohibited 
    Transaction Exemption 84-24 (PTE 84-24, 49 FR 13208, April 3, 
    1984).4 However, because PM is unable to conclude affirmatively 
    that at all times from and after September 2, 1993, the Buy/Hold 
    Synthetic GICs constituted insurance contracts within the meaning of 
    PTE 84-24, PM has requested the exemption proposed herein.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
         4 In this proposed exemption, the Department expresses no 
    opinion as to whether the subject transactions would be exempt under 
    PTE 84-24.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        16. In summary, the applicant represents that the subject 
    transactions satisfy the criteria contained in section 408(a) of the 
    Act because: (a) The decision to enter into a Buy/Hold Synthetic GIC 
    will be made on behalf of a Plan by a fiduciary of the Plan who is 
    independent of PM, after receipt of full and detailed disclosure of all 
    material features of the Contract, including all applicable fees and 
    charges; (b) following receipt of such disclosure, the Plan's 
    independent fiduciary approves in writing the execution of the Buy/Hold 
    Synthetic GIC on behalf of the Plan; (c) all fees and charges under the 
    Buy/Hold Synthetic GICs are reasonable; (d) each Buy/Hold Synthetic GIC 
    will specifically provide for an objective means for determining the 
    fair market value of the securities owned by the Plan pursuant to the 
    Buy/Hold Synthetic GIC; (e) PM will maintain books and records of all 
    transactions which will be subject to annual audit by certified public 
    accountants selected by and responsible solely to the Plan; and (f) the 
    Buy/Hold Synthetic GICs will only be marketed to Plans or collective 
    investment funds which have at least $50 million in assets.
        For Further Information Contact: Gary H. Lefkowitz of the 
    Department, telephone (202) 219-8881. (This is not a toll-free number.)
    
    Mei Technology Corporation 401(k) Plan (the Plan), Located in 
    Lexington, MA
    
    [Application No. D-10281]
    
    Proposed Exemption
    
        The Department is considering granting an exemption 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). If the exemption 
    is granted the restrictions of sections 406(a) and 406(b)(1) and (b)(2) 
    of the Act and the sanctions resulting from the application of section 
    4975 of the Code, by reason of sections 4975(c)(1) (A) through (E) of 
    the Code shall not apply to the proposed cash sale (the Sale) of 
    Guaranteed Annuity Contract No. GA-7192, Certificate Nos. 0001-0004 
    (collectively, the GAC), issued by Mutual Benefit Life Insurance 
    Company (Mutual Benefit) located in Newark, New Jersey, by the Plan to 
    Mei Technology Corporation (the Employer), the sponsor of the Plan and 
    party in interest with respect to the Plan; provided that (1) the Sale 
    is a one-time transaction for cash; (2) the Plan experiences no loss 
    nor incurs any expenses from the Sale; and (3) the Plan receives as 
    consideration from the Sale an amount, as expressed below in paragraph 
    No. 5, that is equal to the total amount expended by the Plan when 
    acquiring the GAC, less withdrawals and/or proceeds paid from the GAC, 
    plus interest as described in paragraph 5 of this Notice of Proposed 
    Exemption.
    
    Summary of Facts and Representations
    
        1. Mei Technology Corporation is a Massachusetts corporation having 
    its principal offices in Lexington, Massachusetts. The Plan is a 
    defined contribution profit sharing plan with individual accounts for 
    the participants, which is intended to satisfy the qualification 
    requirements of sections 401(a) and 401(k) of the Code. The Employer 
    may make discretionary matching contributions and/or profit sharing 
    contributions to the Plan. As of March 31, 1996, the estimated number 
    of Plan participants and beneficiaries was 252. Forty-five participants 
    may be effected by the requested exemption. As of January 4, 1996, 
    total assets of the Plan equaled $3,751,431.97, with approximately 10% 
    of total Plan assets as of that date invested in the Guaranteed 
    Certificate Account (Guaranteed Account) under the GAC. The remaining 
    90% of Plan assets ($3,362,314.95) were invested in designated mutual 
    funds offered under the Plan and in participant loans.
        The Trustee of the Plan for all assets other than the GAC and 
    participant loans is Scudder Trust Company of Boston Massachusetts. 
    Those assets are invested in mutual funds available under the Plan at 
    the participant's direction. Elaine B. Mei and Peng-Siu Mei, Office 
    Manager and President of the Employer, are Trustees for the 
    Nondesignated Investments Trust, which holds the GAC and participant 
    loans.
        2. The Nondesignated Investments Trust holds the GAC which was 
    issued on or about April 12, 1987. The effective date of the GAC is 
    October 1, 1987. For the period October 1987 through July 1991, 
    participants could direct their 401(k) contributions into any of six 
    investment accounts offered under the GAC. The Guaranteed Account is 
    the subject of this exemption; all other amounts under the GAC have 
    been withdrawn.
        Amounts deposited to the Guaranteed Account were accumulated in an 
    individual certificate; the certificate identified the portion of the 
    Account covered by a particular Certificate Rider and interest rate. 
    Contributions were made to Certificate No. 0001 of the Guaranteed 
    Account from October 1, 1987 to September 30, 1988. In accordance with 
    the terms of Certificate No. 0001, interest was to be credited at the 
    rate of 7.05% per annum until its maturity on September 30, 1991, at 
    which time assets were to be paid out to the Plan and made available 
    for reinvestment in accordance with participants' instructions. For the 
    period October, 1988 through 1991, deposits were made to Certificate 
    Nos. 0002-0004 with the following terms: No. 002, deposit dates of 
    October 1, 1988 through September 30, 1989, interest rate of 8.15% and 
    maturity date of September 30, 1992; No. 003, deposit dates of October 
    1, 1989 through September 30, 1990, interest rate of 7.90% and maturity 
    date of September 30, 1993; No. 004, deposit dates of October 1, 1990 
    through September 30, 1991 (actual deposits terminated by the Employer 
    in July, 1991, see below), interest rate of 7.70% and maturity date of 
    September 30, 1994.
        3. On July 16, 1991, the Commissioner of Insurance for the State of 
    New Jersey placed Mutual Benefit in conservatorship and rehabilitation, 
    causing Mutual Benefit to suspend all payments on Mutual Benefit 
    accounts,
    
    [[Page 37932]]
    
    including the GAC.5 As a result of the proceedings, the assets of 
    the Plan invested in the Guaranteed Account of the GAC were frozen. A 
    Third Amended Plan of Rehabilitation (the Approved Rehabilitation Plan) 
    was filed and approved by the Superior Court of New Jersey on January 
    28, 1994. Under the Approved Rehabilitation Plan, group annuity 
    contracts were divided into various groups, those covered by a state 
    guaranty association, those not covered by a state guaranty 
    association, those covered by the New York State guaranty association 
    and partially covered contracts.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
         5 The Department notes that the decision by the named 
    fiduciaries to offer the GAC as an investment vehicle is governed by 
    the fiduciary responsibility requirements of Part 4, Subtitle B, 
    Title I of the Act. The Department is not proposing relief herein 
    for any violations of Part 4 of the Act which may have arisen as a 
    result of the acquisition and holding by the Plan of the GAC issued 
    by Mutual Benefit.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        In March 1994, the Employer was notified that the Plan's GAC was 
    deemed to be not covered by a state guaranty association (Wrapped 
    Contracts, see below). Wrapped Contracts are backed by a consortium of 
    insurance companies, see below. In March 1994, the Nondesignated 
    Investment Trustees were given the choice to ``opt in'' or ``opt out'' 
    of the Approved Rehabilitation Plan. ``Opting in'' resulted in 
    accepting a restructured contract subject to certain terms including: 
    (a) distributions of the remaining Guaranteed Account from a Wrapped 
    Contract are very restricted; ordinary distributions will be made in 
    five annual installments beginning in the year 2000. However, the 
    industry group which supports the Wrapped Contracts has the right to 
    delay any of these installment payments for a period of seven years if 
    there are liquidity problems; and (b) investment return provisions were 
    modified so that the Wrapped Contracts will be credited with the 
    contract rate of interest through 1991; 4% in 1992, 3.5% in 1993- 94 
    and 3.55% in 1995. After 1994 no minimum rate of interest is 
    guaranteed; interest is determined by formula each year based on the 
    investment performance of the MBL Life Assurance Corporation 
    (MBLLAC).6 MBLLAC has determined that the 1996 rate will be 5.25%.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
         6 MBLLAC was incorporated as part of the Rehabilitation 
    Plan; subsequently substantially all of Mutual Benefit Life 
    Insurance Company's asset base was transferred to MBLLAC.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        ``Opting out'' would have resulted in a payment of 55% of the GAC's 
    value based on its original terms, with a payment to be made over a 
    period of up to 27 months. After evaluating the two options the 
    Trustees chose the ``opt in'' election on behalf of the Plan.
        4. The value of the GAC as of March 31, 1996 was $396,803.62, as 
    determined by MBLLAC. This amount represents the principal amounts 
    deposited pursuant to Certificates 0001-0004, less withdrawals and/or 
    proceeds paid from the account, plus (i) the interest that accrued 
    under the Certificates to December 31, 1991, and (ii) the interest that 
    had accrued until March 31, 1996 at the Approved Rehabilitation Plan 
    rates stated above.
        The applicant represents that it desires to enter into the proposed 
    transaction in order to protect the participants in the Plan from the 
    risks of investment loss associated with the GAC. Further, the 
    applicant represents that the Plan needs to sell its interest in the 
    GAC in order to give participants more investment flexibility to direct 
    the investments of the respective account balances to other 
    investments. In addition, the applicant represents that the sale will 
    allow participants to be able to exercise all of their rights under the 
    Plan to request distributions, loans, withdrawals and investment 
    transfers, with respect to amounts currently invested in the GAC which 
    are not liquid.
        5. In order to eliminate the risk associated with the continued 
    investment in the GAC and to allow the Plan to distribute or otherwise 
    invest assets currently invested in the GAC, the Employer proposes to 
    purchase the GAC from the Plan for cash in an amount equal to its book 
    value on the date of the Sale, as specified in the Rehabilitation Plan 
    (i.e., the principal amounts deposited pursuant to Certificates 0001-
    0004, less withdrawals and/or proceeds paid from the account, plus: (i) 
    the interest that accrued under the Certificates to December 31, 1991, 
    and (ii) the interest that has accrued until the date of the Sale at 
    the Approved Rehabilitation Plan rates stated in paragraph 3 above). 
    The applicant represents that the elimination of the risks inherent in 
    the GAC investment would be in the best interest of the Plan and its 
    participants and would serve to protect their rights under the Plan. 
    The Plan will incur no expense nor loss from the proposed transaction.
        6. In summary, the applicant represents that the proposed 
    transaction will satisfy the criteria for an exemption under section 
    408(a) of the Act for the following reasons: (a) the Plan will receive 
    cash in a one-time transaction for the Mutual Benefit GAC, in an amount 
    equal to the book value, as specified in paragraph 5; (b) the proposed 
    Sale will enable the Plan and its participants and beneficiaries to 
    avoid any risk that would be associated with the continued holding of 
    the GAC, and will permit the directing of assets to safer investments; 
    (c) the Plan will not incur any expenses with respect to the proposed 
    transaction; and (d) the Nondesignated Investments Trustees have 
    determined that the proposed transaction is in the best interest of the 
    Plan and its participants and would serve to protect their rights under 
    the Plan.
        For Further Information Contact: Ms. Marianne H. Cole of the 
    Department, telephone (202) 219-8881. (This is not a toll-free number.)
    
    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 and/or section 4975(c)(2) of the Code 
    does not relieve a fiduciary or other party in interest of disqualified 
    person from certain other provisions of the Act and/or the Code, 
    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 among other things require a fiduciary to 
    discharge his 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; nor does it affect the 
    requirement of section 401(a) of the Code that the plan must operate 
    for the exclusive benefit of the employees of the employer maintaining 
    the plan and their beneficiaries;
        (2) Before an exemption may be granted under section 408(a) of the 
    Act and/or section 4975(c)(2) of the Code, the Department must find 
    that the exemption is administratively feasible, in the interests of 
    the plan and of its participants and beneficiaries and protective of 
    the rights of participants and beneficiaries of the plan;
        (3) The proposed exemptions, if granted, will be supplemental to, 
    and not in derogation of, any other provisions of the Act and/or the 
    Code, including statutory or administrative exemptions and transitional 
    rules. 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; and
        (4) The proposed exemptions, if granted, will be subject to the 
    express condition that the material facts and representations contained 
    in each application are true and complete and accurately describe all 
    material terms of
    
    [[Page 37933]]
    
    the transaction which is the subject of the exemption. In the case of 
    continuing exemption transactions, if any of the material facts or 
    representations described in the application change after the exemption 
    is granted, the exemption will cease to apply as of the date of such 
    change. In the event of any such change, application for a new 
    exemption may be made to the Department.
    
        Signed at Washington, DC, this 17 day of July, 1996.
    Ivan Strasfeld,
    Director of Exemption Determinations, Pension and Welfare Benefits 
    Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.
    [FR Doc. 96-18540 Filed 7-19-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4510-29-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
2/11/1994
Published:
07/22/1996
Department:
Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice of proposed exemptions.
Document Number:
96-18540
Dates:
If the proposed exemption is granted, the exemption will be effective February 11, 1994.
Pages:
37924-37933 (10 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Application No. D-10173, et al.
PDF File:
96-18540.pdf