E7-17677. Grant of Individual Exemptions Involving; D-11272 Wells Fargo & Company (WFC), (PTE 2007-14); D-11340, Hawaii Emergency Physicians Associated, Inc. Profit Sharing Plan (the Plan), (PTE 2007-15); D-11344, Victor P. Olson Profit Sharing Plan ...

AGENCY:

Employee Benefits Security 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 (ERISA or the Act) and/or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code).

A notice was published in the Federal Register of the pendency before the Department of a proposal to grant such exemption. The notice set forth a summary of facts and representations contained in the application for exemption and referred interested persons to the application for a complete statement of the facts and representations. The application has been available for public inspection at the Department in Washington, DC. The notice also invited interested persons to submit comments on the requested exemption to the Department. In addition the notice stated that any interested person might submit a written request that a public hearing be held (where appropriate). The applicant has represented that it has complied with the requirements of the notification to interested persons. No requests for a hearing were received by the Department. Public comments were received by the Department as described in the granted exemption.

The notice of proposed exemption was issued and the exemption is 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 exemption is administratively feasible;

(b) The exemption is in the interests of the plan and its participants and beneficiaries; and

(c) The exemption is protective of the rights of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan.

Wells Fargo & Company (WFC), Located in San Francisco, California

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 WFC, as “affiliate” is defined, below, in Section III(c), from any person other than such asset management affiliate of WFC or any affiliate thereof, during the existence of an underwriting or selling syndicate with respect to such Securities, where a broker-dealer affiliated with WFC (the Affiliated Broker-Dealer), as defined, below, in Section III(b), is a manager or member of such syndicate and the asset management affiliate of WFC 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)).^[1]

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 WFC 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 WFC; and (iii) the assets of plans to which the asset management affiliate of WFC 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 Pooled 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 WFC 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 WFC 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 WFC 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 WFC 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 WFC 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 WFC to such Independent Fiduciary:

(1) A copy of the Notice of Proposed Exemption (the Notice) and a copy of the final exemption (the Grant) as published in the Federal Register, provided that the Notice and the Grant are supplied simultaneously; and

(2) Any other reasonably available information regarding the covered transactions that such Independent Fiduciary requests the asset management affiliate of WFC to provide.

(j) Subsequent to the initial authorization by an Independent Fiduciary of a single Client Plan permitting the asset management affiliate of WFC to engage in the covered transactions on behalf of such single Client Plan, the asset management affiliate of WFC 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 WFC 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 WFC 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 WFC not less than 45 days prior to such asset management affiliate of WFC engaging in the covered transactions on behalf of a Pooled Fund, pursuant to this exemption; and provided further that the information described below, in this Section II(k)(2)(i) and (iii), is supplied simultaneously:

(i) A notice of the intent of such Pooled Fund to purchase Securities pursuant to this exemption, a copy of the Notice, and a copy of the Grant, 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 WFC 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 Plan'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 WFC 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 WFC, the asset management affiliate of WFC, and the Affiliated Broker-Dealer and will provide the address of the asset management affiliate of WFC. 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 WFC, the asset management affiliate of WFC, and the Affiliated Broker-Dealer. The instructions will also state that the fiduciary of each such plan must advise the asset management affiliate of WFC, 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 WFC 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); provided that the Notice and the Grant, described above in Section II(k)(2)(i), are provided simultaneously.

(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 in a Pooled Fund be independent of WFC 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 WFC 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 WFC 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 WFC 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 this 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 WFC 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 WFC 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 WFC 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

(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 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,^[2] 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 WFC 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 WFC satisfies the requirements, as set forth in Part V(a) of PTE 84-14, such asset management affiliate of WFC must also have total client assets under its management and control in excess of $5 billion, as of the last day of its most recent fiscal year and shareholders' or partners' equity in excess of $1 million. Furthermore, the requirement that the asset management affiliate of WFC must have total client assets under its management and control in excess of $5 billion, as of the last day of its 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 WFC, 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 WFC, the asset management affiliate of WFC, the Affiliated Broker-Dealer, or an affiliate exercises investment discretion.

(r) The asset management affiliate of WFC, 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 WFC, the asset management affiliate of WFC, 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 solely because, due to circumstances beyond the control of the asset management affiliate of WFC, 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 WFC, or the Affiliated Broker-Dealer, or commercial or financial information which is privileged or confidential; and

(3) Should the asset management affiliate of WFC, 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 WFC 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 Applicant,” means WFC.

(b) The term, “Affiliated Broker-Dealer,” means any broker-dealer affiliate, as “affiliate” is defined, below, in Section III(c), of the Applicant, as “Applicant” is 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 WFC 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):

(1) In which employee benefit plan(s) subject to the Act and/or Code invest,

(2) which is maintained by an asset management affiliate of WFC, (as the term, “affiliate” is defined, above, in Section III(c)), and

(3) for which such asset management affiliate of WFC 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 WFC, the asset management affiliate of WFC, 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 WFC, the asset management affiliate of WFC, 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 WFC, the asset management affiliate of WFC, or the Affiliated Broker-Dealer, and represents that such fiduciary shall advise the asset management affiliate of WFC 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 WFC, the asset management affiliate of WFC, or the Affiliated Broker-Dealer;

(ii) If such fiduciary directly or indirectly receives any compensation or other consideration from WFC, the asset management affiliate of WFC, 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 WFC 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 WFC 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 Applicant, as defined, above, in Section III(a) for its own employees.

For a more complete statement of the facts and representations supporting the Department's decision to grant this exemption, refer to the Notice published on July 2, 2007 at 72 FR 36048.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Gary H. Lefkowitz of the Department, telephone [phone]. (This is not a toll-free number.)

Hawaii Emergency Physicians Associated, Inc. Profit Sharing Plan (the Plan), Located in Kailua, Hawaii

Exemption

The restrictions of sections 406(a), 406(b)(1), and 406(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) by the Plan to 407 Partners LLC (the LLC), a limited liability corporation, and a party in interest to the Plan, of a parcel of improved real property (the Property) located in Kailua, Hawaii. This exemption is conditioned upon the adherence to the material facts and representations described herein and upon the satisfaction of the following requirements:

(a) All terms and conditions of the Sale 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 fair market value of the Property has been determined by a qualified, independent appraiser;

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

(d) The Plan does not pay any commissions, costs or other expenses in connection with the Sale; and

(e) The Plan will receive an amount equal to the greater of: (i) $3,250,000; or (ii) The current fair market value of the Property, as established by an independent, qualified appraiser at the time of the Sale.

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 1, 2007 at 72 FR 30633.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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

Victor P. Olson Profit Sharing Plan (the Plan), Located in White City, Oregon

Exemption

The restrictions of sections 406(a)(1)(A) through (D) and 406(b)(1), and 406(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 cash sale (the Sale) of a parcel of improved real property (the Property) by the Plan to Victor P. Olson (the Applicant), a party in interest with respect to the Plan, provided that the following conditions are met:

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

(b) The terms and conditions of the Sale are at least as favorable to the Plan as those obtainable in an arm's length transaction with an unrelated party;

(c) The Plan will receive the greater of $375,000 or the fair market value of the Property at the time of the Sale;

(d) The Plan is not required to pay any commissions, costs or other expenses in connection with the Sale; and

(e) The fair market value of the Property is determined by an independent, qualified appraiser.

The operative language of the proposed exemption (72 FR 21302) provided relief from the restrictions of section 406(a)(1)(A) of the Act and section 4975(c)(1)(A) of the Code. The Department has determined, as a matter of clarification, that relief from the restrictions of sections 406(a)(1)(A) through (D) and 406(b)(1), and 406(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, should be provided as well, and hereby modifies the proposed exemption and incorporates such modification in this grant notice.

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 30, 2007 at 72 FR 21302.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Khalif Ford 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 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) This exemption is 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 this exemption is subject to the express condition that the material facts and representations contained in the application accurately describes all material terms of the transaction which is the subject of the exemption.

Signed at Washington, DC, this 30th day of August, 2007.

Ivan 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.

2.  SEC Rule 10f-3(a)(4), 17 C.F.R. § 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.