01-19490. Prohibited Transaction Exemption 2001-23; Grant of Individual Exemptions; Retirement Plan of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local No. 489 of Cumberland, MD (the Plan) et al.

AGENCY:

Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, Labor.

ACTION:

Grant of individual exemptions.

SUMMARY:

This document contains exemptions issued by the Department of Labor (the Department) 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).

Notices were published in the Federal Register of the pendency before the Department of proposals to grant such exemptions. The notices set forth a summary of facts and representations contained in each application for exemption and referred interested persons to the respective applications for a complete statement of the facts and representations. The applications have been available for public inspection at the Department in Washington, DC. The notices also invited interested persons to submit comments on the requested exemptions to the Department. In addition the notices stated that any interested person might submit a written request that a public hearing be held (where appropriate). The applicants have represented that they have complied with the requirements of the notification to interested persons. No public comments and no requests for a hearing, unless otherwise stated, were received by the Department.

The notices of proposed exemption were issued and the exemptions are being granted solely by the Department because, effective December 31, 1978, section 102 of Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1978, 5 U.S.C. App. 1 (1996), transferred the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to issue exemptions of the type proposed to the Secretary of Labor.

Statutory Findings

In accordance with section 408(a) of the Act and/or section 4975(c)(2) of the Code and the procedures set forth in 29 CFR Part 2570, Subpart B (55 FR 32836, 32847, August 10, 1990) and based upon the entire record, the Department makes the following findings:

(a) The exemptions are administratively feasible;

(b) They are in the interests of the plans and their participants and beneficiaries; and

(c) They are protective of the rights of the participants and beneficiaries of the plans.

Retirement Plan of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local No. 489 of Cumberland, Maryland (the Plan) Located in Cumberland, Maryland

Exemption

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 sale (the Sale) of certain real property (the Property) to the Plan by the Plumbers and Steamfitters Local No. 489 (the Union), a party in interest with respect to the Plan. This exemption is conditioned upon the adherence to the material facts and representations described herein and upon the satisfaction of the following requirements:

(a) The terms and conditions of the transaction are no less favorable to the Plan than those which the Plan would receive in an arm's-length transaction with an unrelated party;

(b) The Sale is a one-time transaction for cash;

(c) The Plan incurs no expenses from the Sale;

(d) The Plan pays the lesser of $100 or the fair market value of the Property; and

(e) An independent fiduciary will approve and enforce the terms of the transaction.

For a more complete statement of the facts and representations supporting the Department's decision to grant this exemption, refer to the Notice of Proposed Exemption published on April 16, 2001 at 66 FR 19532.

For Further Information Contact: Khalif Ford of the Department, telephone [phone] (this is not a toll-free number).

ATGI 401(k) Plan (the Plan) Located in Houston, Texas

Exemption

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 effective November 30, 2000 to: (1) The acquisition of Stock Rights (the Stock Rights) by the Plan in connection with a Stock Rights offering by Alpha Technologies Group, Inc. (ATGI); (2) the holding of the Stock Rights by the Plan during the subscription period of the offering; and (3) the disposition or exercise of the Stock Rights by the Plan. This exemption is conditioned upon the adherence to the material facts and representations described herein and upon the satisfaction of the following requirements:

(a) The Stock Rights were acquired pursuant to Plan provisions for individually-directed investment of such accounts;

(b) The Plan's receipt of the Stock Rights occurred in connection with a Stock Rights offering made available to all shareholders of common stock of ATGI;

(c) All decisions regarding the holding and disposition of the Stock Rights by the Plan were made, in accordance with the Plan provisions for individually-directed investment of participant accounts, by the individual Plan participants whose accounts in the Plan received Stock Rights in connection with the offering;

(d) The Plan's acquisition of the Stock Rights resulted from an independent act of ATGI as a corporate entity, and all holders of the Stock Rights, including the Plan, were treated in the same manner with respect to the acquisition; and

(e) The price received by the Plan for the Stock Rights was no less than the fair market value of the Stock Rights on the date of the offering.

Effective Date: This exemption is effective as of November 30, 2000.

For a more complete statement of the facts and representations supporting the Department's decision to grant this exemption, refer to the Notice of Proposed Exemption published on June 4, 2001 at 66 FR 30014.

For Further Information Contact: Khalif Ford of the Department, telephone [phone] (this is not a toll-free number).

The Joliet Medical Group, Ltd. Employees Retirement Plan & Trust (the Plan) Located in Joliet, Illinois

Exemption

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, will not apply effective November 1, 1999 to the past and continued leasing of a medical clinic (the Property) located at 2100 Glenwood Ave., Joliet, Illinois, from the Plan to Joliet Medical Group, Ltd. (the Employer). This exemption is conditioned upon the adherence to the material facts and representations described herein and upon the satisfaction of the following requirements:

(a) The independent fiduciary has determined that the transaction is feasible, in the interest of, and protective of the Plan;

(b) The fair market value of the Property has not exceeded and will not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the value of the total assets of the Plan;

(c) The independent fiduciary has negotiated, reviewed, and approved the terms of the lease of the Property with the Employer;

(d) The terms and conditions of the lease of the Property with the Employer have been and will continue to be no less favorable to the Plan than those obtainable by the Plan under similar circumstances when negotiated at arm's length with unrelated third parties;

(e) An independent qualified appraiser has determined the fair market rental value of the Property;

(f) The independent fiduciary has monitored and will continue to monitor compliance with the terms of the lease of the Property to the Employer throughout the duration of such lease and is responsible for legally enforcing the payment of the rent and the proper performance of all other obligations of the Employer under the terms of the lease on the Property; and

(g) The Plan has not incurred and will not incur any fees, costs, commissions, or other charges or expenses as a result of its participation in the transaction, other than the fee payable to the independent fiduciary.

Effective Date: This exemption is effective as of November 1, 1999.

For a more complete statement of the facts and representations supporting the Department's decision to grant this exemption, refer to the Notice of Proposed Exemption published on June 4, 2001 at 66 FR 30018.

For Further Information Contact: Khalif Ford of the Department, telephone [phone] (this is not a toll-free number).

ACE Business Travel Accident Plan (the Plan) Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Exemption

The restrictions of sections 406(a) and (b) of the Act shall not apply to the reinsurance of risks and the receipt of premiums therefrom by ACE American Insurance Company (ACE USA) from the insurance contracts sold by Life Insurance Company of North America (CIGNA) or any successor company to CIGNA which is unrelated to ACE INA Holdings, Inc. (ACE INA), to provide accidental death and dismemberment benefits to participants in the Plan, provided the following conditions are met:

(a) ACE USA—

(1) Is a party in interest with respect to the Plan by reason of a stock or partnership affiliation with ACE INA that is described in section 3(14)(E) or (G) of the Act,

(2) Is licensed to sell insurance or conduct reinsurance operations in at least one State as defined in section 3(10) of the Act,

(3) Has obtained a Certificate of Authority from the Insurance Commissioner of its domiciliary state which has neither been revoked nor suspended, and

(4)(A) Has undergone an examination by an independent certified public accountant for its last completed taxable year immediately prior to the taxable year of the reinsurance transaction; or

(B) Has undergone a financial examination (within the meaning of the law of its domiciliary State, Pennsylvania) by the Insurance Commissioner of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania within 5 years prior to the end of the year preceding the year in which the reinsurance transaction occurred.

(b) The Plan pays no more than adequate consideration for the insurance contracts;

(c) No commissions are paid with respect to the direct sale of such contracts or the reinsurance thereof;

(d) The Plan only contracts with insurers with a rating of A or better from A.M. Best Company. The reinsurance arrangement between the insurers and ACE USA will be indemnity insurance only, i.e., the insurer will not be relieved of liability to the Plan should ACE USA be unable or unwilling to cover any liability arising from the reinsurance arrangement; and

(e) For each taxable year of ACE USA, the gross premiums and annuity considerations received in that taxable year by ACE USA for life and health insurance or annuity contracts for all employee benefit plans (and their employers) with respect to which ACE USA is a party in interest by reason of a relationship to such employer described in section 3(14)(E) or (G) of the Act does not exceed 50% of the gross premiums and annuity considerations received for all lines of insurance (whether direct insurance or reinsurance) in that taxable year by ACE USA. For purposes of this condition (e):

(1) The term “gross premiums and annuity considerations received” means as to the numerator the total of premiums and annuity considerations received, both for the subject reinsurance transactions as well as for any direct sale or other reinsurance of life insurance, health insurance or annuity contracts to such plans (and their employers) by ACE USA. This total is to be reduced (in both the numerator and the denominator of the fraction) by experience refunds paid or credited in that taxable year by ACE USA; and

(2) All premium and annuity considerations written by ACE USA for plans which it alone maintains are to be excluded from both the numerator and the denominator of the fraction.

For a more complete statement of the facts and representations supporting the Department's decision to grant this exemption, refer to the notice of proposed exemption published on June 4, 2001 at 66 FR 30019.

For Further Information Contact: Gary H. Lefkowitz of the Department, telephone [phone]. (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 or disqualified person from certain other provisions to which the exemptions 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) These exemptions are supplemental to and not in derogation of, any other provisions of the Act and/or the Code, including statutory or administrative exemptions and transactional 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

(3) The availability of these exemptions is subject to the express condition that the material facts and representations contained in each application accurately describes all material terms of the transaction which is the subject of the exemption.

Signed at Washington, DC, this 31st day of July, 2001.

Ivan Strasfeld,

Director of Exemption Determinations, Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.