82_FR_29454 82 FR 29331 - Exemptions From Certain Prohibited Transaction Restrictions

82 FR 29331 - Exemptions From Certain Prohibited Transaction Restrictions

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employee Benefits Security Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 123 (June 28, 2017)

Page Range29331-29333
FR Document2017-13508

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). This notice includes the following: 2017-01, Rosetree & Company 401(k) Plan and Trust, D-11845; and 2017-02, Aon Pension Plan, D-11880.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 123 (Wednesday, June 28, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 123 (Wednesday, June 28, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29331-29333]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13508]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employee Benefits Security Administration


Exemptions From Certain Prohibited Transaction Restrictions

AGENCY: Employee Benefits Security Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Grant of individual exemptions.

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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). 
This notice includes the following: 2017-01, Rosetree & Company 401(k) 
Plan and Trust, D-11845; and 2017-02, Aon Pension Plan, D-11880.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 (76 FR 66637, 66644, October 27, 2011) \1\ and based 
upon the entire record, the Department makes the following findings:
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    \1\ The Department has considered exemption applications 
received prior to December 27, 2011 under the exemption procedures 
set forth in 29 CFR part 2570, subpart B (55 FR 32836, 32847, August 
10, 1990).
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    (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.

Rosetree & Company 401(k) Plan and Trust (the Plan) Located in Skokie, 
IL

[Prohibited Transaction Exemption 2017-01; Exemption Application No. D-
11845]

Exemption

Section I. Covered Transactions

    The sanctions resulting from the application of section 
4975(c)(1)(B) of the Code shall not apply to the guarantee (the 
Guarantee) by Richard Rosenbaum (Mr. Rosenbaum), the Plan trustee, a 
disqualified person with respect to the Plan, of: (1) A loan (the Loan) 
made by the Great Lakes Credit Union (GLCU), an unrelated third party 
lender, to Kurtson Realty, LLC (Kurtson), a real estate company that is 
wholly owned by the Plan; \2\ and (2) a future Loan made by an 
unrelated third party lender (hereinafter, GLCU and any third party 
lender is referred to as a ``Lender'') to Kurtson, provided that the 
general conditions that are set forth below in Section II are 
satisfied.
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    \2\ Because Mr. Rosenbaum is the sole owner of Rosetree & 
Company, Ltd. (Rosetree), the Plan sponsor, and the only participant 
in the Plan, there is no jurisdiction under Title I of the Employee 
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (the Act), pursuant to 29 CFR 
2510.3-3(b). However, there is jurisdiction under Title II of the 
Act pursuant to section 4975 of the Code.
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Section II. General Conditions

    (a) The Loan is made for purposes of the Plan acquiring and 
rehabilitating investment property from an unrelated third party 
through Kurtson;
    (b) The Loan is made on commercially reasonable terms;
    (c) The debt service and value to loan ratio for the Loan, and for 
any future Loan, are based primarily on the characteristics of the 
property serving as collateral for such Loan (the Collateral Property);
    (d) The Lender and the Loan servicer (the Loan Servicer) are 
unrelated to Mr. Rosenbaum and the Plan;
    (e) The Lender has a pre-existing Loan service arrangement with the 
Loan Servicer, and maintains this relationship for the duration of the 
Loan;
    (f) Mr. Rosenbaum does not receive any compensation or derive any 
personal benefit from the Collateral Property;
    (g) For the duration of the Loan or any future Loan, the Collateral 
Property is not used by or leased to: (1) Any other disqualified 
persons with respect to the Plan; (2) Rosetreee or any affiliate of 
Rosetree; or (3) any person or entity in which Mr. Rosenbaum may have 
an interest that would affect his best judgment as a Plan fiduciary;

[[Page 29332]]

    (h) The Guarantee is a condition that is: (1) Customarily required 
in similar transactions between Kurtson and the Lender, and is not 
unique to the Loan or to the specific parties to the Loan; and (2) 
solely due to a regulatory requirement of the National Credit Union 
Administration that is imposed upon credit unions, including GLCU;
    (i) If the Plan defaults on a Loan, Mr. Rosenbaum pays the balance 
of such Loan, and has no recourse against the Plan for repayment;
    (j) No interest or any fee is charged to Kurtson or the Plan in 
connection with the Guarantee; and
    (k) The Guarantee is not part of an agreement, arrangement, or 
understanding in which Mr. Rosenbaum causes the assets of the Plan to 
be used in a manner that is designed to benefit himself or any person 
who has an interest which would affect the exercise of Mr. Rosenbaum's 
best judgment as a fiduciary of the Plan.

Written Comments

    Because Mr. Rosenbaum is the sole participant and beneficiary of 
the Plan, the Department determined that there was no need to 
distribute, to interested persons, the Notice of Proposed Exemption 
(the Notice), which was published in the Federal Register on May 1, 
2017 at 82 FR 20384. All comments were due by May 31, 2017.
    During the comment period, the Department received no comments from 
interested persons. Accordingly, after giving full consideration to the 
entire record, the Department has decided to grant the exemption. The 
complete application file (Exemption Application No. D-11845) and all 
supplemental submissions received by the Department are available for 
public inspection in the Public Disclosure Room of the Employee 
Benefits Security Administration, Room N-1513, U.S. Department of 
Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210.
    For a more complete statement of the facts and representations 
supporting the Department's decision to grant this exemption, refer to 
the Notice cited above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Anna Mpras Vaughan of the 
Department, telephone (202) 693-8565. (This is not a toll-free number.)

Aon Pension Plan (the Plan) Located in Chicago, Illinois

[Prohibited Transaction Exemption 2017-02; Exemption Application No. D-
11880]

Exemption

Section I. Covered Transaction

    The restrictions of sections 406(a)(1)(A), 406(a)(1)(D), 406(b)(1) 
and 406(b)(2) of the Act (or ERISA) and the sanctions resulting from 
the application of section 4975 of the Code, by reason of section 
4975(c)(1)(A),(D), and (E) of the Code,\3\ shall not apply to the in-
kind contribution (the Contribution) by Aon Corporation (Aon), to the 
Plan of a 3.5% limited partnership interest (the Partnership Interest) 
in the Trident V, L.P. Fund (the Fund).
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    \3\ For purposes of this exemption, references to specific 
provisions of section 406 of Title I of the Act, unless otherwise 
specified, should be read to refer as well to the corresponding 
provisions of section 4975 of the Code.
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Section II. General Conditions

    (a) A qualified independent fiduciary (the Independent Fiduciary), 
as defined in Section IV(c), negotiates the terms and conditions of the 
Contribution, and approves the Contribution as being in the interest of 
the Plan;
    (b) The Partnership Interest is contributed to the Plan by Aon at 
its current fair market value, as determined by the Independent 
Fiduciary, at the time of the Contribution;
    (c) On a date preceding the Contribution, Aon made a cash 
contribution to the Plan of $7.5 million (the Additional Cash 
Contribution);
    (d) The Plan does not have any obligation to make future payments 
with respect to the Partnership Interest;
    (e) Aon contributes, on behalf of the Plan, cash amounts that are 
equal to the remaining capital calls that are requested by the general 
partner (the General Partner) of the Fund with respect to the 
Partnership Interest;
    (f) The Plan does not pay any fees, commissions, costs or other 
expenses in connection with the either the Contribution or the 
Additional Cash Contribution, except for fees that are paid by the Plan 
to the Independent Fiduciary; and
    (g) The terms and conditions of the Contribution and the Additional 
Cash Contribution are no less favorable to the Plan than those 
obtainable under similar circumstances when negotiated at arm's-length 
with unrelated third parties.

Section III. Independent Fiduciary

    (a) The Independent Fiduciary represents the interests of the Plan 
for all purposes with respect to the Contribution and the Additional 
Cash Contribution;
    (b) The Independent Fiduciary:
    (1) Reviews, negotiates (if applicable), and approves the terms and 
conditions of the Contribution and the Additional Cash Contribution, as 
evidenced in the Contribution Agreement;
    (2) Determines, in its sole discretion, that the reported value of 
the Partnership, as calculated by the General Partner, reflects the 
fair market value of the Partnership Interest;
    (3) Determines, at the time of the Contribution, that the terms of 
such transaction are no less favorable to the Plan than the terms 
negotiated at arm's-length under similar circumstances between 
unrelated third parties;
    (4) Ensures the Plan incurs no fees, costs or other charges (other 
than the fees and expenses of the Independent Fiduciary) as a result of 
the Contribution and the Additional Cash Contribution;
    (5) Acknowledges that the Partnership Interest may not be sold, 
assigned, transferred or otherwise disposed of without the prior 
written consent of the General Partner of the Fund, which must be given 
at least 30 days prior to such transfer;
    (6) Enforces the Plan's rights and interests with respect to the 
terms the Contribution and the Additional Cash Contribution; and
    (7) Takes all steps that are necessary and proper to protect the 
Plan under the terms of the Contribution Agreement.

Section IV. Definitions

    (a) The term ``Aon'' means Aon Corporation, and any of its 
affiliates.
    (b) The term ``affiliate'' means:
    (1) Any person directly or indirectly through one or more 
intermediaries, controlling, controlled by, or under common control 
with the person;
    (2) Any officer, director, employee, relative, or partner in any 
such person; or
    (3) Any corporation or partnership of which such person is an 
officer, director, partner, or employee.

For purposes of clause (b)(1), above, the term ``control'' means the 
power to exercise a controlling influence over the management or 
policies of a person other than an individual.
    (c) The term ``Independent Fiduciary'' means a fiduciary with 
respect to the Plan that is independent of or unrelated to Aon, and has 
the appropriate training, experience, and facilities to act on behalf 
of the Plan regarding the proposed transactions in accordance with the 
fiduciary duties and responsibilities prescribed by the Act (including, 
if necessary, the

[[Page 29333]]

responsibility to seek the counsel of knowledgeable advisors to assist 
in its compliance with the Act). The Independent Fiduciary will not be 
deemed to be independent of and unrelated to Aon if: (1) Such 
Independent Fiduciary directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by 
or is under common control, with Aon; (2) such Independent Fiduciary 
directly or indirectly receives any compensation or other consideration 
in connection with any transaction described in this exemption other 
than for acting as Independent Fiduciary in connection with the 
transactions described herein, provided that the amount or payment of 
such compensation is not contingent upon, or in any way affected by, 
the Independent Fiduciary's ultimate decision; and (3) the annual gross 
revenue received by the Independent Fiduciary from Aon, during any year 
of its engagement, does not exceed three percent (3%) of such 
Independent Fiduciary's annual gross revenue from all sources (for 
federal income tax purposes) for its prior tax year.
    Effective Date: This exemption is effective as of the date of the 
Contribution.

Written Comments

    In the notice of proposed exemption (the Notice), the Department 
invited all interested persons to submit written comments within 44 
calendar days of the publication, on April 14, 2017, of the Notice in 
the Federal Register. All comments were due by May 28, 2017. During the 
comment period, the Department received three written comments from 
Plan participants, one comment from Evercore Trust Company (Evercore), 
the Independent Fiduciary described in the Notice, and one comment from 
Aon. The Department did not receive any requests for a public hearing. 
The comments and the Department's responses are discussed below.

Participant Comments

    With respect to the comments received from the Plan participants, 
the first commenter thought the Contribution would ``undermine the 
soundness of the pension plan.'' The second commenter thought the 
Contribution would ``jeopardize pension payments.'' The third commenter 
was concerned that the exemption was contrary to the intent of ERISA in 
that it would not ``protect pension funds.'' Each commenter's concerns 
were allayed following a discussion with a Department representative, 
and the comments were withdrawn.

Evercore's Comment/Appointment of Successor Independent Fiduciary

    Evercore informed the Department that its parent, Evercore 
Partners, had entered into an agreement to sell Evercore's independent 
fiduciary business to the Newport Group, and that the transaction would 
close by the end of the third quarter of 2017. Evercore also informed 
the Department that the Fund currently owns a majority interest in the 
Newport Group. Evercore represents it had no prior knowledge of the 
contemplated sale at the time its initial Independent Fiduciary Report 
was submitted to the Department.
    On June 16, 2017, Brock Fiduciary Services LLC of New York, New 
York was appointed as the new Independent Fiduciary for the Plan. The 
Department has revised the definition of the term ``Independent 
Fiduciary'' to read as follows:

    (c) The term ``Independent Fiduciary'' means a fiduciary with 
respect to the Plan that is independent of or unrelated to Aon, and 
has the appropriate training, experience, and facilities to act on 
behalf of the Plan regarding the proposed transactions in accordance 
with the fiduciary duties and responsibilities prescribed by the Act 
(including, if necessary, the responsibility to seek the counsel of 
knowledgeable advisors to assist in its compliance with the Act). 
The Independent Fiduciary will not be deemed to be independent of 
and unrelated to Aon if: (1) Such Independent Fiduciary directly or 
indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control, 
with Aon; (2) such Independent Fiduciary directly or indirectly 
receives any compensation or other consideration in connection with 
any transaction described in this exemption other than for acting as 
Independent Fiduciary in connection with the transactions described 
herein, provided that the amount or payment of such compensation is 
not contingent upon, or in any way affected by, the Independent 
Fiduciary's ultimate decision; and (3) the annual gross revenue 
received by the Independent Fiduciary from Aon, during any year of 
its engagement, does not exceed three percent (3%) of such 
Independent Fiduciary's annual gross revenue from all sources (for 
federal income tax purposes) for its prior tax year.

Aon's Comment

    Aon requests that the effective date of the exemption be the date 
the Contribution occurs, which Aon expects will be July 1, 2017. The 
Department has made the requested revision.
    After giving full consideration to the entire record, the 
Department has decided to grant the exemption. The complete application 
file (Exemption Application No. D-11880), all supplemental submissions, 
and the written comments received by the Department are available for 
public inspection in the Public Disclosure Room of the Employee 
Benefits Security Administration, Room N-1513, U.S. Department of 
Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210.
    For a more complete statement of the facts and representations 
supporting the Department's decision to grant this exemption, refer to 
the Notice at 82 FR 18013, April 14, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. Blessed Chuksorji-Keefe of the 
Department, telephone (202) 693-8567. (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) 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 the 
application accurately describes all material terms of the transaction 
which is the subject of the exemption.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 21st day of June, 2017.
Lyssa E. Hall,
Director of Exemption Determinations, Employee Benefits Security 
Administration, U.S. Department Of Labor.
[FR Doc. 2017-13508 Filed 6-27-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-29-P



                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 123 / Wednesday, June 28, 2017 / Notices                                                     29331

                                                    maintained separately from all other                    11845; and 2017–02, Aon Pension Plan,                  Rosetree & Company 401(k) Plan and
                                                    records of the registrant or,                           D–11880.                                               Trust (the Plan) Located in Skokie, IL
                                                    alternatively, in the case of non-narcotic                                                                     [Prohibited Transaction Exemption 2017–01;
                                                    controlled substances, be in such a form                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:     A notice
                                                                                                            was published in the Federal Register of               Exemption Application No. D–11845]
                                                    that required information is readily
                                                    retrievable from the ordinary business                  the pendency before the Department of                  Exemption
                                                    records of the registrant. 21 U.S.C.                    a proposal to grant such exemption. The
                                                                                                            notice set forth a summary of facts and                Section I. Covered Transactions
                                                    827(b)(2). The records maintained by
                                                    registrants must be kept and be available               representations contained in the                          The sanctions resulting from the
                                                    for at least two years for inspection and               application for exemption and referred                 application of section 4975(c)(1)(B) of
                                                    copying by officers or employees of the                 interested persons to the application for              the Code shall not apply to the
                                                    United States as authorized by the                      a complete statement of the facts and                  guarantee (the Guarantee) by Richard
                                                    Attorney General. 21 U.S.C. 827(b)(3).                  representations. The application has                   Rosenbaum (Mr. Rosenbaum), the Plan
                                                    The DEA may promulgate regulations                      been available for public inspection at                trustee, a disqualified person with
                                                    that specify the information that                       the Department in Washington, DC The                   respect to the Plan, of: (1) A loan (the
                                                    registrants must maintain in the                        notice also invited interested persons to              Loan) made by the Great Lakes Credit
                                                    required records. 21 U.S.C. 827(b)(1).                  submit comments on the requested                       Union (GLCU), an unrelated third party
                                                       5. An estimate of the total number of                exemption to the Department. In                        lender, to Kurtson Realty, LLC
                                                    respondents and the amount of time                                                                             (Kurtson), a real estate company that is
                                                                                                            addition the notice stated that any
                                                    estimated for an average respondent to                                                                         wholly owned by the Plan; 2 and (2) a
                                                                                                            interested person might submit a
                                                    respond: The DEA estimates that 64,751                                                                         future Loan made by an unrelated third
                                                                                                            written request that a public hearing be
                                                    respondents, with 64,751 responses                                                                             party lender (hereinafter, GLCU and any
                                                                                                            held (where appropriate). The applicant                third party lender is referred to as a
                                                    annually to this collection. The DEA                    has represented that it has complied
                                                    estimates that it takes 30 minutes to                                                                          ‘‘Lender’’) to Kurtson, provided that the
                                                                                                            with the requirements of the notification              general conditions that are set forth
                                                    complete the form.                                      to interested persons. No requests for a
                                                       6. An estimate of the total public                                                                          below in Section II are satisfied.
                                                                                                            hearing were received by the
                                                    burden (in hours) associated with the                                                                          Section II. General Conditions
                                                                                                            Department. Public comments were
                                                    proposed collection: The DEA estimates
                                                                                                            received by the Department as described                   (a) The Loan is made for purposes of
                                                    this collection takes 32,376 hours
                                                    annually.                                               in the granted exemption.                              the Plan acquiring and rehabilitating
                                                       If additional information is required                   The notice of proposed exemption                    investment property from an unrelated
                                                    contact: Melody Braswell, Department                    was issued and the exemption is being                  third party through Kurtson;
                                                    Clearance Officer, United States                        granted solely by the Department                          (b) The Loan is made on commercially
                                                    Department of Justice, Justice                          because, effective December 31, 1978,                  reasonable terms;
                                                    Management Division, Policy and                                                                                   (c) The debt service and value to loan
                                                                                                            section 102 of Reorganization Plan No.
                                                    Planning Staff, Two Constitution                                                                               ratio for the Loan, and for any future
                                                                                                            4 of 1978, 5 U.S.C. App. 1 (1996),
                                                    Square, 145 N Street NE., 3E.405A,                                                                             Loan, are based primarily on the
                                                                                                            transferred the authority of the Secretary
                                                    Washington, DC 20530.                                                                                          characteristics of the property serving as
                                                                                                            of the Treasury to issue exemptions of                 collateral for such Loan (the Collateral
                                                      Dated: June 22, 2017.                                 the type proposed to the Secretary of                  Property);
                                                    Melody Braswell,                                        Labor.                                                    (d) The Lender and the Loan servicer
                                                    Department Clearance Officer for PRA, U.S.              Statutory Findings                                     (the Loan Servicer) are unrelated to Mr.
                                                    Department of Justice.                                                                                         Rosenbaum and the Plan;
                                                    [FR Doc. 2017–13461 Filed 6–27–17; 8:45 am]                In accordance with section 408(a) of                   (e) The Lender has a pre-existing Loan
                                                    BILLING CODE 4410–09–P                                  the Act and/or section 4975(c)(2) of the               service arrangement with the Loan
                                                                                                            Code and the procedures set forth in 29                Servicer, and maintains this
                                                                                                            CFR part 2570, subpart B (76 FR 66637,                 relationship for the duration of the
                                                                                                            66644, October 27, 2011) 1 and based                   Loan;
                                                    DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
                                                                                                            upon the entire record, the Department                    (f) Mr. Rosenbaum does not receive
                                                    Employee Benefits Security                              makes the following findings:                          any compensation or derive any
                                                    Administration                                                                                                 personal benefit from the Collateral
                                                                                                               (a) The exemption is administratively
                                                                                                                                                                   Property;
                                                                                                            feasible;
                                                    Exemptions From Certain Prohibited                                                                                (g) For the duration of the Loan or any
                                                    Transaction Restrictions                                   (b) The exemption is in the interests               future Loan, the Collateral Property is
                                                                                                            of the plan and its participants and                   not used by or leased to: (1) Any other
                                                    AGENCY: Employee Benefits Security                      beneficiaries; and                                     disqualified persons with respect to the
                                                    Administration, Labor.                                                                                         Plan; (2) Rosetreee or any affiliate of
                                                                                                               (c) The exemption is protective of the
                                                    ACTION: Grant of individual exemptions.                                                                        Rosetree; or (3) any person or entity in
                                                                                                            rights of the participants and
                                                                                                            beneficiaries of the plan.                             which Mr. Rosenbaum may have an
                                                    SUMMARY:  This document contains                                                                               interest that would affect his best
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES




                                                    exemptions issued by the Department of                                                                         judgment as a Plan fiduciary;
                                                    Labor (the Department) from certain of
                                                    the prohibited transaction restrictions of                                                                        2 Because Mr. Rosenbaum is the sole owner of
                                                    the Employee Retirement Income                                                                                 Rosetree & Company, Ltd. (Rosetree), the Plan
                                                    Security Act of 1974 (ERISA or the Act)                   1 The Department has considered exemption
                                                                                                                                                                   sponsor, and the only participant in the Plan, there
                                                    and/or the Internal Revenue Code of                                                                            is no jurisdiction under Title I of the Employee
                                                                                                            applications received prior to December 27, 2011       Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (the Act),
                                                    1986 (the Code). This notice includes                   under the exemption procedures set forth in 29 CFR     pursuant to 29 CFR 2510.3–3(b). However, there is
                                                    the following: 2017–01, Rosetree &                      part 2570, subpart B (55 FR 32836, 32847, August       jurisdiction under Title II of the Act pursuant to
                                                    Company 401(k) Plan and Trust, D–                       10, 1990).                                             section 4975 of the Code.



                                               VerDate Sep<11>2014   17:22 Jun 27, 2017   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00058   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\28JNN1.SGM   28JNN1


                                                    29332                        Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 123 / Wednesday, June 28, 2017 / Notices

                                                       (h) The Guarantee is a condition that                Aon Pension Plan (the Plan) Located in                 Contribution and the Additional Cash
                                                    is: (1) Customarily required in similar                 Chicago, Illinois                                      Contribution;
                                                    transactions between Kurtson and the                                                                              (b) The Independent Fiduciary:
                                                                                                            [Prohibited Transaction Exemption 2017–02;
                                                    Lender, and is not unique to the Loan                   Exemption Application No. D–11880]
                                                                                                                                                                      (1) Reviews, negotiates (if applicable),
                                                    or to the specific parties to the Loan;                                                                        and approves the terms and conditions
                                                    and (2) solely due to a regulatory                      Exemption                                              of the Contribution and the Additional
                                                    requirement of the National Credit                      Section I. Covered Transaction                         Cash Contribution, as evidenced in the
                                                    Union Administration that is imposed                                                                           Contribution Agreement;
                                                                                                              The restrictions of sections                            (2) Determines, in its sole discretion,
                                                    upon credit unions, including GLCU;                     406(a)(1)(A), 406(a)(1)(D), 406(b)(1) and              that the reported value of the
                                                       (i) If the Plan defaults on a Loan, Mr.              406(b)(2) of the Act (or ERISA) and the                Partnership, as calculated by the
                                                    Rosenbaum pays the balance of such                      sanctions resulting from the application               General Partner, reflects the fair market
                                                    Loan, and has no recourse against the                   of section 4975 of the Code, by reason                 value of the Partnership Interest;
                                                    Plan for repayment;                                     of section 4975(c)(1)(A),(D), and (E) of                  (3) Determines, at the time of the
                                                       (j) No interest or any fee is charged to             the Code,3 shall not apply to the in-kind              Contribution, that the terms of such
                                                                                                            contribution (the Contribution) by Aon                 transaction are no less favorable to the
                                                    Kurtson or the Plan in connection with
                                                                                                            Corporation (Aon), to the Plan of a 3.5%               Plan than the terms negotiated at arm’s-
                                                    the Guarantee; and
                                                                                                            limited partnership interest (the                      length under similar circumstances
                                                       (k) The Guarantee is not part of an                  Partnership Interest) in the Trident V,                between unrelated third parties;
                                                    agreement, arrangement, or                              L.P. Fund (the Fund).                                     (4) Ensures the Plan incurs no fees,
                                                    understanding in which Mr. Rosenbaum                                                                           costs or other charges (other than the
                                                                                                            Section II. General Conditions
                                                    causes the assets of the Plan to be used                                                                       fees and expenses of the Independent
                                                    in a manner that is designed to benefit                    (a) A qualified independent fiduciary               Fiduciary) as a result of the
                                                    himself or any person who has an                        (the Independent Fiduciary), as defined                Contribution and the Additional Cash
                                                    interest which would affect the exercise                in Section IV(c), negotiates the terms                 Contribution;
                                                    of Mr. Rosenbaum’s best judgment as a                   and conditions of the Contribution, and                   (5) Acknowledges that the Partnership
                                                    fiduciary of the Plan.                                  approves the Contribution as being in                  Interest may not be sold, assigned,
                                                                                                            the interest of the Plan;                              transferred or otherwise disposed of
                                                    Written Comments                                           (b) The Partnership Interest is                     without the prior written consent of the
                                                                                                            contributed to the Plan by Aon at its                  General Partner of the Fund, which
                                                      Because Mr. Rosenbaum is the sole                     current fair market value, as determined               must be given at least 30 days prior to
                                                    participant and beneficiary of the Plan,                by the Independent Fiduciary, at the                   such transfer;
                                                    the Department determined that there                    time of the Contribution;                                 (6) Enforces the Plan’s rights and
                                                    was no need to distribute, to interested                   (c) On a date preceding the                         interests with respect to the terms the
                                                    persons, the Notice of Proposed                         Contribution, Aon made a cash                          Contribution and the Additional Cash
                                                    Exemption (the Notice), which was                       contribution to the Plan of $7.5 million               Contribution; and
                                                    published in the Federal Register on                    (the Additional Cash Contribution);                       (7) Takes all steps that are necessary
                                                    May 1, 2017 at 82 FR 20384. All                            (d) The Plan does not have any                      and proper to protect the Plan under the
                                                    comments were due by May 31, 2017.                      obligation to make future payments with                terms of the Contribution Agreement.
                                                      During the comment period, the                        respect to the Partnership Interest;
                                                                                                               (e) Aon contributes, on behalf of the               Section IV. Definitions
                                                    Department received no comments from
                                                                                                            Plan, cash amounts that are equal to the                  (a) The term ‘‘Aon’’ means Aon
                                                    interested persons. Accordingly, after
                                                                                                            remaining capital calls that are                       Corporation, and any of its affiliates.
                                                    giving full consideration to the entire                 requested by the general partner (the                     (b) The term ‘‘affiliate’’ means:
                                                    record, the Department has decided to                   General Partner) of the Fund with                         (1) Any person directly or indirectly
                                                    grant the exemption. The complete                       respect to the Partnership Interest;                   through one or more intermediaries,
                                                    application file (Exemption Application                    (f) The Plan does not pay any fees,                 controlling, controlled by, or under
                                                    No. D–11845) and all supplemental                       commissions, costs or other expenses in                common control with the person;
                                                    submissions received by the Department                  connection with the either the                            (2) Any officer, director, employee,
                                                    are available for public inspection in the              Contribution or the Additional Cash                    relative, or partner in any such person;
                                                    Public Disclosure Room of the                           Contribution, except for fees that are                 or
                                                    Employee Benefits Security                              paid by the Plan to the Independent                       (3) Any corporation or partnership of
                                                    Administration, Room N–1513, U.S.                       Fiduciary; and                                         which such person is an officer,
                                                    Department of Labor, 200 Constitution                      (g) The terms and conditions of the                 director, partner, or employee.
                                                    Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210.                       Contribution and the Additional Cash                   For purposes of clause (b)(1), above, the
                                                      For a more complete statement of the                  Contribution are no less favorable to the              term ‘‘control’’ means the power to
                                                                                                            Plan than those obtainable under similar               exercise a controlling influence over the
                                                    facts and representations supporting the
                                                                                                            circumstances when negotiated at arm’s-                management or policies of a person
                                                    Department’s decision to grant this
                                                                                                            length with unrelated third parties.                   other than an individual.
                                                    exemption, refer to the Notice cited                                                                              (c) The term ‘‘Independent Fiduciary’’
                                                    above.                                                  Section III. Independent Fiduciary
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                                                                                   means a fiduciary with respect to the
                                                                                                               (a) The Independent Fiduciary                       Plan that is independent of or unrelated
                                                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Ms.
                                                                                                            represents the interests of the Plan for               to Aon, and has the appropriate
                                                    Anna Mpras Vaughan of the
                                                                                                            all purposes with respect to the                       training, experience, and facilities to act
                                                    Department, telephone (202) 693–8565.
                                                    (This is not a toll-free number.)                                                                              on behalf of the Plan regarding the
                                                                                                              3 For purposes of this exemption, references to
                                                                                                                                                                   proposed transactions in accordance
                                                                                                            specific provisions of section 406 of Title I of the
                                                                                                            Act, unless otherwise specified, should be read to
                                                                                                                                                                   with the fiduciary duties and
                                                                                                            refer as well to the corresponding provisions of       responsibilities prescribed by the Act
                                                                                                            section 4975 of the Code.                              (including, if necessary, the


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                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 123 / Wednesday, June 28, 2017 / Notices                                                  29333

                                                    responsibility to seek the counsel of                   Evercore’s Comment/Appointment of                      inspection in the Public Disclosure
                                                    knowledgeable advisors to assist in its                 Successor Independent Fiduciary                        Room of the Employee Benefits Security
                                                    compliance with the Act). The                              Evercore informed the Department                    Administration, Room N–1513, U.S.
                                                    Independent Fiduciary will not be                       that its parent, Evercore Partners, had                Department of Labor, 200 Constitution
                                                    deemed to be independent of and                         entered into an agreement to sell                      Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210.
                                                    unrelated to Aon if: (1) Such                           Evercore’s independent fiduciary                         For a more complete statement of the
                                                    Independent Fiduciary directly or                       business to the Newport Group, and that                facts and representations supporting the
                                                    indirectly controls, is controlled by or is             the transaction would close by the end                 Department’s decision to grant this
                                                    under common control, with Aon; (2)                     of the third quarter of 2017. Evercore                 exemption, refer to the Notice at 82 FR
                                                    such Independent Fiduciary directly or                  also informed the Department that the                  18013, April 14, 2017.
                                                    indirectly receives any compensation or                 Fund currently owns a majority interest
                                                    other consideration in connection with                  in the Newport Group. Evercore                         FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Mrs.
                                                    any transaction described in this                       represents it had no prior knowledge of                Blessed Chuksorji-Keefe of the
                                                    exemption other than for acting as                      the contemplated sale at the time its                  Department, telephone (202) 693–8567.
                                                    Independent Fiduciary in connection                     initial Independent Fiduciary Report                   (This is not a toll-free number.)
                                                    with the transactions described herein,                 was submitted to the Department.                       General Information
                                                    provided that the amount or payment of                     On June 16, 2017, Brock Fiduciary
                                                    such compensation is not contingent                     Services LLC of New York, New York                        The attention of interested persons is
                                                    upon, or in any way affected by, the                    was appointed as the new Independent                   directed to the following:
                                                    Independent Fiduciary’s ultimate                        Fiduciary for the Plan. The Department
                                                    decision; and (3) the annual gross                                                                                (1) The fact that a transaction is the
                                                                                                            has revised the definition of the term                 subject of an exemption under section
                                                    revenue received by the Independent                     ‘‘Independent Fiduciary’’ to read as
                                                    Fiduciary from Aon, during any year of                                                                         408(a) of the Act and/or section
                                                                                                            follows:                                               4975(c)(2) of the Code does not relieve
                                                    its engagement, does not exceed three
                                                    percent (3%) of such Independent                           (c) The term ‘‘Independent Fiduciary’’              a fiduciary or other party in interest or
                                                                                                            means a fiduciary with respect to the Plan             disqualified person from certain other
                                                    Fiduciary’s annual gross revenue from                   that is independent of or unrelated to Aon,
                                                    all sources (for federal income tax                                                                            provisions to which the exemption does
                                                                                                            and has the appropriate training, experience,          not apply and the general fiduciary
                                                    purposes) for its prior tax year.                       and facilities to act on behalf of the Plan
                                                                                                                                                                   responsibility provisions of section 404
                                                       Effective Date: This exemption is                    regarding the proposed transactions in
                                                                                                            accordance with the fiduciary duties and               of the Act, which among other things
                                                    effective as of the date of the
                                                                                                            responsibilities prescribed by the Act                 require a fiduciary to discharge his
                                                    Contribution.
                                                                                                            (including, if necessary, the responsibility to        duties respecting the plan solely in the
                                                    Written Comments                                        seek the counsel of knowledgeable advisors             interest of the participants and
                                                                                                            to assist in its compliance with the Act). The         beneficiaries of the plan and in a
                                                       In the notice of proposed exemption                  Independent Fiduciary will not be deemed to            prudent fashion in accordance with
                                                    (the Notice), the Department invited all                be independent of and unrelated to Aon if:
                                                    interested persons to submit written                                                                           section 404(a)(1)(B) of the Act; nor does
                                                                                                            (1) Such Independent Fiduciary directly or
                                                    comments within 44 calendar days of                                                                            it affect the requirement of section
                                                                                                            indirectly controls, is controlled by or is
                                                    the publication, on April 14, 2017, of                  under common control, with Aon; (2) such               401(a) of the Code that the plan must
                                                    the Notice in the Federal Register. All                 Independent Fiduciary directly or indirectly           operate for the exclusive benefit of the
                                                    comments were due by May 28, 2017.                      receives any compensation or other                     employees of the employer maintaining
                                                    During the comment period, the                          consideration in connection with any                   the plan and their beneficiaries;
                                                                                                            transaction described in this exemption other             (2) These exemptions are
                                                    Department received three written                       than for acting as Independent Fiduciary in
                                                    comments from Plan participants, one                    connection with the transactions described
                                                                                                                                                                   supplemental to and not in derogation
                                                    comment from Evercore Trust Company                     herein, provided that the amount or payment            of, any other provisions of the Act and/
                                                    (Evercore), the Independent Fiduciary                   of such compensation is not contingent upon,           or the Code, including statutory or
                                                    described in the Notice, and one                        or in any way affected by, the Independent             administrative exemptions and
                                                    comment from Aon. The Department                        Fiduciary’s ultimate decision; and (3) the             transactional rules. Furthermore, the
                                                    did not receive any requests for a public               annual gross revenue received by the                   fact that a transaction is subject to an
                                                    hearing. The comments and the                           Independent Fiduciary from Aon, during any             administrative or statutory exemption is
                                                    Department’s responses are discussed                    year of its engagement, does not exceed three          not dispositive of whether the
                                                                                                            percent (3%) of such Independent                       transaction is in fact a prohibited
                                                    below.                                                  Fiduciary’s annual gross revenue from all
                                                                                                            sources (for federal income tax purposes) for
                                                                                                                                                                   transaction; and
                                                    Participant Comments
                                                                                                            its prior tax year.                                       (3) The availability of these
                                                       With respect to the comments                                                                                exemptions is subject to the express
                                                    received from the Plan participants, the                Aon’s Comment
                                                                                                                                                                   condition that the material facts and
                                                    first commenter thought the                               Aon requests that the effective date of              representations contained in the
                                                    Contribution would ‘‘undermine the                      the exemption be the date the                          application accurately describes all
                                                    soundness of the pension plan.’’ The                    Contribution occurs, which Aon expects                 material terms of the transaction which
                                                    second commenter thought the                            will be July 1, 2017. The Department                   is the subject of the exemption.
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                                                    Contribution would ‘‘jeopardize pension                 has made the requested revision.
                                                                                                                                                                     Signed at Washington, DC, this 21st day of
                                                    payments.’’ The third commenter was                       After giving full consideration to the
                                                                                                                                                                   June, 2017.
                                                    concerned that the exemption was                        entire record, the Department has
                                                    contrary to the intent of ERISA in that                 decided to grant the exemption. The                    Lyssa E. Hall,
                                                    it would not ‘‘protect pension funds.’’                 complete application file (Exemption                   Director of Exemption Determinations,
                                                    Each commenter’s concerns were                          Application No. D–11880), all                          Employee Benefits Security Administration,
                                                    allayed following a discussion with a                   supplemental submissions, and the                      U.S. Department Of Labor.
                                                    Department representative, and the                      written comments received by the                       [FR Doc. 2017–13508 Filed 6–27–17; 8:45 am]
                                                    comments were withdrawn.                                Department are available for public                    BILLING CODE 4510–29–P




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Document Created: 2017-06-28 01:10:20
Document Modified: 2017-06-28 01:10:20
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionGrant of individual exemptions.
DatesThis exemption is effective as of the date of the Contribution.
ContactMs. Anna Mpras Vaughan of the Department, telephone (202) 693-8565. (This is not a toll-free number.)
FR Citation82 FR 29331 

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