[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 11 (Tuesday, January 18, 1994)] [Unknown Section] [Page 0] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 94-1043] [[Page Unknown]] [Federal Register: January 18, 1994] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF LABOR [Application No. D-9414, et al.] Proposed Exemptions; Cascade West Sportswear, Inc. Profit Sharing Plan, et al. AGENCY: Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, Labor. ACTION: Notice of proposed exemptions. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This document contains notices of pendency before the Department of Labor (the Department) of proposed exemptions from certain of the prohibited transaction restriction of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (the Act) and/or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code). Written Comments and Hearing Requests All interested persons are invited to submit written comments or request for a hearing on the pending exemptions, unless otherwise stated in the Notice of Proposed Exemption, within 45 days from the date of publication of this Federal Register Notice. Comments and request for a hearing should state: (1) The name, address, and telephone number of the person making the comment or request, and (2) the nature of the person's interest in the exemption and the manner in which the person would be adversely affected by the exemption. A request for a hearing must also state the issues to be addressed and include a general description of the evidence to be presented at the hearing. A request for a hearing must also state the issues to be addressed and include a general description of the evidence to be presented at the hearing. ADDRESSES: All written comments and request for a hearing (at least three copies) should be sent to the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, Office of Exemption Determinations, room N-5649, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210. Attention: Application No. stated in each Notice of Proposed Exemption. The applications for exemption and the comments received will be available for public inspection in the Public Documents Room of Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, room N-5507, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210. Notice to Interested Persons Notice of the proposed exemptions will be provided to all interested persons in the manner agreed upon by the applicant and the Department within 15 days of the date of publication in the Federal Register. Such notice shall include a copy of the notice of proposed exemption as published in the Federal Register and shall inform interested persons of their right to comment and to request a hearing (where appropriate). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed exemptions were requested in applications filed pursuant to section 408(a) of the Act and/or section 4975(c)(2) of the Code, and in accordance with procedures set forth in 29 CFR part 2570, subpart B (55 FR 32836, 32847, August 10, 1990). Effective December 31, 1978, section 102 of Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1978 (43 FR 47713, October 17, 1978) transferred the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to issue exemptions of the type requested to the Secretary of Labor. Therefore, these notices of proposed exemption are issued solely by the Department. The applications contain representations with regard to the proposed exemptions which are summarized below. Interested persons are referred to the applications on file with the Department for a complete statement of the facts and representations. Cascade West Sportswear, Inc. Profit Sharing Plan (the Plan) Located in Puyallup, WA [Application No. D-9414] Proposed Exemption The Department is considering granting an exemption under the authority of section 408(a) of the Act and section 4975(c)(2) of the Code and in accordance with the procedures set forth in 29 CFR part 2570, subpart B (55 FR 32836, 32847, August 10, 1990). If the exemption is granted, the restrictions of sections 406(a) and 406(b) (1) and (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 for cash of certain limited partnership units (the Units) from the Plan to Cascade West Sportswear, Inc. (the Employer), a party in interest with respect to the Plan, provided that the following conditions are met: 1. The fair market value of the Units is established by an appraiser independent of the Plan and the Employer; 2. The Employer pays the greater of $131,560 or the current fair market value of the Units plus an ``opportunity loss'' of no less than $171,000; 3. The sale is a one-time transaction for cash; and 4. The Plan pays no commissions or other expenses in relation to the sale. Summary of Facts and Representations 1. The Employer is engaged in the business of outerwear garment manufacturing. Eric Hilf, a 50-percent shareholder of the Employer, is the trustee of the Plan. The Plan is a profit sharing plan which had approximately 119 participants and total assets of $221,364 as of December 31, 1992. The board of directors of the Employer voted in 1992 to terminate the Plan. The last contribution to the Plan was made for the Plan year ended December 31, 1992. 2. In July 1980 the Plan acquired the Units which represented a 28.6 percent interest in the Good Sam Investors limited partnership (the Partnership). Following its formation, the Partnership acquired an undeveloped parcel of real estate (the Property) near downtown Puyallup, Washington. The Plan initially paid $51,667 for the Units. Since the purchase of the Units, the Plan has contributed additional amounts to the Partnership for its share of the carrying costs of the Property. The Plan also borrowed money from an unrelated commercial bank to pay off the Plan's share of the original seller-financed acquisition of the Property by the Partnership. The Partnership has made a distribution to the Plan totaling $49,028. Net of such distributions, the total amount expended by the Plan in regard to acquiring and holding the Units (including the above $51,667) was $239,730 as of December 31, 1992. 3. The Plan acquired the Units because they originally appeared to represent a good investment. The applicant represents that neither the Employer nor any of its officers has invested separately in the Partnership. The other investors in the Units are unrelated parties. The Property is not adjacent to any property owned by the Employer and has not been used by the Employer or any other party in interest with respect to the Plan since the time of the purchase of the Units. Several business and residential developments in the area near the Property were underway at the time the Partnership was formed. The Partnership consulted with real estate and engineering firms during the early 1980s to determine the requirements to make the Property salable at an attractive price. However, the City of Puyallup later withdrew a determination statement which would have permitted development of the Property. In 1986 the Partnership sold a portion of the Property to an unrelated party for $180,000, resulting in the above mentioned distribution of $49,028 to the Plan. Since then the Partnership has listed the Property on three occasions with three different real estate brokers but has been unable to sell the Property. A significant portion of the Property has now been classified as wetlands and cannot be developed without substantial additional expense. Plan fiduciaries have concluded that the Property could not be sold to an unrelated party without a substantial price concession or considerable additional expense.1 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\The Department expresses no opinion as to whether plan fiduciaries violated any of the fiduciary responsibility provisions of part 4 of title I of the Act in acquiring and holding the Units. Section 404(a)(1) of the Act requires, among other things, that a plan fiduciary must act prudently and that plan investments must be properly diversified. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. The Plan obtained an appraisal on the Property dated March 12, 1993, from Roger D. Ockfen, MAI (Ockfen), a real estate appraiser located in Tacoma, Washington. The applicant represents that Ockfen is independent of the Plan and the Employer. Placing emphasis on the comparable sales approach to value, Ockfen estimated the fair market value of the usable land area of the Property as of February 18, 1993, to be approximately $460,000. Based on this amount, the value of the Units representing the Plan's 28.6 percent interest in the Partnership totaled $131,560. 5. The applicant represents that there is no market for the Units and that they are not expected to appreciate in value. However, the Plan cannot make liquidating distributions to its participants without first selling the Units. Accordingly, the Plan proposes to sell the Units to the Employer. The Employer will pay the Plan the greater of $131,560 or the fair market value of the Units as of the date of sale, based on an updated independent appraisal of the Property, in addition to an ``opportunity loss'' of approximately $171,000. The ``opportunity loss'' amount, to be adjusted at the time of sale, was calculated assuming a six percent annual rate of return on the Plan's investment in the Partnership since the initial time of that investment. The total payments to the Plan will thus exceed the Plan's original acquisition and subsequent net carrying costs of the Units (which totaled $239,730 at the end of 1992). The sale of the Units will be a one-time transaction for cash and the Plan will pay no commissions or fees in regard to the transaction. The applicant represents that any amounts received by the Plan as a result of the proposed transaction which are in excess of the fair market value of the Units will be treated as a contribution to the Plan. However, such contribution will not exceed the limitations of section 415 of the Code. 6. In summary, the applicant represents that the proposed transaction will satisfy the statutory criteria of section 408(a) of the Act because: (1) The fair market value of the Units will be established by an appraiser independent of the Employer; (2) the Employer will pay the greater of $131,560 or the fair market value of the Units on the date of sale plus an ``opportunity loss'' of approximately $171,000; (3) the sale will be a one-time transaction for cash; and (4) the transaction will remove from the Plan an investment which is not liquid and which is not expected to appreciate in value. Tax Consequences of Transaction The Department of the Treasury has determined that, if a transaction between a qualified employee benefit plan and its sponsoring employer (or affiliate thereof) results in the plan either paying less or receiving more than fair market value, such excess may be considered to be a contribution by the sponsoring employer to the plan and thus must be examined under the applicable provisions of the Code, including sections 401(a)(4), 404 and 415. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Kelty of the Department, telephone (202) 219-8883. (This is not a toll-free number.) Linton Industries, Inc. Retirement Plan (the Plan) Located in Edmonds, WA [Application No. D-9496] Proposed Exemption The Department is considering granting an exemption under the authority of section 408(a) of the Act and section 4975(c)(2) of the Code and in accordance with the procedures set forth in 29 CFR part 2570, subpart B (55 FR 32836, 32847, August 10, 1990). If the exemption is granted, the restrictions of sections 406(a), 406(b)(1), and 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) of the Code, shall not apply to the proposed loan (the New Loan) of $485,000 from the Plan to Linton Industries, Inc. (the Employer), a party in interest with respect to the Plan. This proposed exemption is conditioned upon the following requirements: (a) The terms of the New Loan are at least as favorable to the Plan as those obtainable in an arm's-length transaction with an unrelated party; (b) the New Loan will not exceed twenty-five percent of the assets of the Plan at any time during the duration of the New Loan; (c) the New Loan is secured by a first lien interest on certain equipment (the Equipment), which has been appraised by a qualified, independent appraiser to ensure that the fair market value of the Equipment is at least 200 percent of the amount of the New Loan; (d) the fair market value of the Equipment remains at least equal to 200 percent of the outstanding balance of the New Loan throughout the duration of the New Loan; (e) an independent, qualified fiduciary determines on behalf of the Plan that the New Loan is in the best interests of the Plan and protective of the Plan and its participants and beneficiaries; and (f) the independent, qualified fiduciary monitors compliance by the Employer with the terms and conditions of the New Loan and the exemption throughout the duration of the transaction, taking any action necessary to safeguard the Plan's interest, including foreclosure on the Equipment in the event of default. Summary of Facts and Representations 1. The Plan is a defined contribution plan sponsored by the Employer, who is engaged in the business of precision and general metal fabrication. As of December 31, 1992, the Plan had total assets of $1,942,187 and eighteen participants. The trustee of the Plan is Robert Linton, the sole shareholder of the Employer. Mr. Linton has the sole investment discretion with respect to the Plan assets. 2. On January 26, 1988, the Department granted Prohibited Transaction Exemption (PTE) 88-12 at 53 FR 2103. PTE 88-12 permitted the Plan to lend $240,000 to the Employer (the Original Loan). The Original Loan, made on March 1, 1988, has a ten year term and carries interest at the rate of one and one-half percentage points over the prime rate of Rainier National Bank of Seattle, Washington. It has been amortized in equal monthly installments of principal and interest. The Original Loan is secured by certain other equipment (the Other Equipment) of the Employer. The Original Loan is being monitored by Sidney J. Starr, CPA (Mr. Starr) of Kirkland, Washington, who is serving on behalf of the Plan as the independent, qualified fiduciary. As of October 1, 1993, the remaining principal balance due under the Original Loan was $136,062. 3. The Employer requests an administrative exemption from the Department to permit the Plan to lend $485,000 to the Employer under the terms and conditions described herein. The Employer represents that a portion of the New Loan proceeds will be used to repay the outstanding balance on the Original Loan. The remaining balance of the New Loan proceeds will be used to finance a portion of the $582,400 purchase price of a new 60'' Shear Genius Punching/Shearing Cell (the Cell) manufactured by E.W. Bliss Company. The Cell will be utilized by the Employer in its manufacturing operation. 4. The New Loan will be in the principal amount of $485,000. The applicant states that at no time will the amount of the New Loan represent more than twenty-five percent of the Plan's total assets. The New Loan will be secured by a first lien interest on the Equipment, which consists of two pieces of unencumbered machinery owned by the Employer. UCC-1 Filing Statements and a Security Agreement will be filed with the Secretary of State of Washington to reflect the Plan's security interest in the Equipment. In addition, the Employer will insure the Equipment against casualty loss and will designate the Plan as the loss payee of such insurance. 5. The New Loan will have a ten year term and will be evidenced by a promissory note (the Note). The Note will require the Employer to make equal monthly installments of principal and interest amortized over the ten year period. Interest will accrue on the New Loan at the rate of one and one-half percentage points above the prime rate of CityBank (CityBank) of Lynnwood, Washington, an unrelated entity. The interest rate will be adjusted quarterly by the Plan's independent fiduciary in accordance with the prime rate offered by CityBank. The Plan will not incur any fees, commission, or other expenses in connection with the New Loan. By letter dated July 12, 1993, the Employer received a loan commitment in the amount of $485,000 from CityBank. The terms offered by CityBank are the same as the terms of the Loan, including the quarterly adjustment of the interest rate to one and one-half percentage points above the prime rate. 6. The Equipment consists of a Finn-Power FMC Line and a Bliss 500 ton press. Based upon appraisals performed by Jim Birdsall and Theodore Egleston (the Appraisals), the total fair market value of the Equipment is $1,228,000, which is in excess of 200 percent of the amount of the New Loan. Jim Birdsall, the president of Nor Star Machine Tools, Inc. located in Bellevue, Washington, appraised the Finn-Power FMC Line. Mr. Birdsall represents that he has experience with Finn-Power presses and the present market for this type of equipment. Mr. Birdsall represents that both he and Nor Star Machine Tools, Inc. are unrelated to and independent of the Employer. In an appraisal report dated June 4, 1993, Mr. Birdsall placed the fair market value of the Finn-Power FMC Line at $792,000, approximately eighty percent of its acquisition price of $990,000. In a subsequent letter dated December 3, 1993, Mr. Birdsall describes certain factors he considered in determining the fair market value. Mr. Birdsall states that the twenty percent discount of the acquisition price is attributable to two years of equal amounts of depreciation on the Finn-Power FMC Line. Theodore Egleston, a national sales manager for E.W. Bliss Company located in Hastings, Michigan, appraised the Bliss 500 ton press. Mr. Egelston states that he has twenty-five years of experience in appraising used Bliss equipment for insurance companies and lending institutions. Mr. Egelston represents that he is unrelated to and independent of the Employer. In appraisal reports dated July 12, 1993 and December 3, 1993, Mr. Egleston placed the fair market value of the Bliss 500 ton press at $436,000, or eighty-four percent of its $520,000 acquisition price. Mr. Egelston's valuation takes into consideration six years of equal amounts of depreciation on the Bliss 500 ton press's acquisition price. 7. Mr. Starr will serve as the qualified, independent fiduciary for the Plan with respect to the New Loan. Mr. Starr represents that he has extensive experience in business and loan transactions. Mr. Starr represents that he is unrelated to and independent of the Employer and its affiliates, including Mr. Linton. Mr. Starr states that he understands and acknowledges his duties, responsibilities, and liabilities in acting as a fiduciary with respect to the Plan, based upon consultation with counsel experienced with the fiduciary responsibility provisions of the Act. Mr. Starr represents that all payments under the Original Loan have been paid in a timely manner and that there have been no delinquencies. Mr. Starr also states that the collateral to loan ratio under the Original Loan has always been maintained. Mr. Starr has reviewed the terms of the New Loan and all of the documents and relevant information in connection with the New Loan, including the Appraisals. Mr. Starr states that the terms of the New Loan compare favorably with the terms of similar transaction between unrelated parties and would be an arm's-length transaction as evidenced by the terms offered by CityBank (see Item #4 above). In addition, Mr. Starr adds that the Loan will be secured by a first lien interest on the Equipment, which has been valued in excess of 200 percent of the New Loan amount. Mr. Starr acknowledges his responsibility to quarterly review the Loan and make the necessary adjustments to the interest rate based upon the prime rate of CityBank. Mr. Starr has reviewed the current investment portfolio of the Plan and considered the diversification of the Plans assets as well as the liquidity needs of the Plan. Based on this analysis, Mr. Starr believes that the proposed transaction would be in the best interest of the Plan and its participants and beneficiaries as an investment for the Plan's portfolio. Mr. Starr states that the New Loan would be an appropriate and desirable investment for the plan, based on the New Loan's rate of return, the collateral securing the New Loan, the character and diversification of the Plan's other assets, and the projected liquidity needs of the Plan. Mr. Starr has reviewed the financial condition of the Employer in order to establish its ability to repay the New Loan. In this regard, Mr. Starr states that he has examined the most recent financial statements from the Employee and its credit history. Mr. Starr concludes that the Employer is credit-worthy and, based upon its current ratio and current assets to debt ratio, is financially capable of making the monthly payments required by the New Loan without such payments having an adverse impact on its cash flow. Mr. Starr represents that he will monitor the New Loan through its entire duration and will take any appropriate action necessary to protect the interests of the Plan and its participants and beneficiaries, include a foreclosure on the Equipment in event of default. Mr. Starr will monitor the condition and adequacy of the Equipment as collateral for the Plan to ensure that the New Loan remains secured by collateral worth at least 200 percent of the New Loan at all times. Mr. Starr will monitor the Plan's assets to ensure that the amount of the Plan's assets will at all times remain less than twenty-five percent of the Plan's total assets. Mr. Starr will require the Employer to provide additional payments on the New Loan to the Plan, if necessary, to reduce the principal amount of the New Loan to maintain an appropriate ratio between the outstanding principal balance of the New Loan and the Plan's total assets. Mr. Starr has acknowledged his responsibility to monitor compliance of all parties with terms and conditions of the proposed exemption, including the twenty-five percent limitation. 8. In summary, it is represented that the proposed transaction will satisfy the statutory criteria for an exemption under section 408(a) of the Act because: (a) The terms of the New Loan will be at least as favorable to the Plan as those obtainable in an arm's-length transaction with an unrelated party; (b) the New Loan will not exceed twenty-five percent of the assets of the Plan at any time during the duration of the New Loan; (c) the New Loan will be secured by a first lien interest on the Equipment, which has been appraised by a qualified, independent appraiser to ensure that the fair market value of the Property is at least 200 percent of the amount of the New Loan; (d) the fair market value of the Equipment will remain at least equal to 200 percent of the outstanding balance of the New Loan throughout the duration of the New Loan; (e) Mr. Starr, as independent, qualified fiduciary for the Plan, will determine that the New Loan is in the best interests of the Plan and protective of the Plan and its participants and beneficiaries; and (f) Mr. Starr will monitor compliance by the Employer with the terms and conditions of the New Loan and the exemption throughout the duration of the transaction, taking any action necessary to safeguard the Plan's interest, including foreclosure on the Equipment in the event of default. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathryn Parr of the Department, telephone (202) 219-8971. (This is not a toll-free number.) Jacobs Corporation Profit Sharing Plan and Trust (the Plan) Located in Harlan, IA [Application No. D-9561] Proposed Exemption The Department is considering granting an exemption under the authority of section 408(a) of the Act and section 4975(c)(2) of the Code and in accordance with the procedure set forth in 29 CFR part 2570, subpart B (55 FR 32836, 32847, August 10, 1990). If the exemption is granted, the restrictions of section 406(a) and 406(b)(1) and (b)(2) of the Act and the sanctions resulting from the application of section 4975 of the Code, by reason of section 4975(c)(1)(A) through (E) of the Code shall not apply to the proposed cash sale of certain assets of the Plan (the Assets), to occur over two (2) consecutive years, by the Plan to the Jacobs Corporation (the Employer), a party in interest with respect to the Plan; provided that: (1) The aggregate purchase price paid by the Employer for all of the Assets is no less than $683,384; (2) the purchase price paid by the Employer in each of the two consecutive years will be at least $341,692; (3) the purchase price paid by the Employer in each of the two consecutive years upon execution of the sale of such Assets is not less than the fair market value of such Assets on the date of each sale; (4) the terms of each of the sales are no less favorable to the Plan than those negotiated in similar circumstances with unrelated third parties; and (5) the Plan will incur no fees, commissions, or expenses as a result of either of the sales.2 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \2\For purposes of this proposed exemption, references to specific provisions of title I of the Act, unless otherwise specified refer also to the corresponding provisions of the Code. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Temporary Nature of Exemption The proposed exemption is temporary and, if granted, will become effective on the date of publication of the grant of this proposed exemption in the Federal Register and will expire upon the earlier to occur of the date which is two years from the grant of this proposed exemption or the date when the Plan no longer owns any of the Assets which are the subject of this proposed exemption. Summary of Facts and Representations 1. The Plan is a defined contribution profit sharing plan which provides for employee contributions to be held in employee directed accounts, pursuant to section 401(k) of the Code. As of December 31, 1991, there were 62 participants in the Plan. The assets of the Plan consist of the Assets which are the subject of this proposed exemption and certain guaranteed insurance contracts (GICs). It is represented that, as of September 30, 1993, the value of all of the assets held in the Plan was approximately $1,549,134. The Employer and sponsor of the Plan is an Iowa corporation, with offices in Harlan, Iowa. The Employer is engaged in the manufacture of mill supplies and trencher parts. Todd Plumb is the sole shareholder of the common stock of the Employer. Since 1990, Todd Plumb has served as the sole trustee for the Plan. Prior to that time, the trustees of the Plan were the Southgate Trust Company, Todd Plumb, and Max Plumb. Further, the GICs were held on behalf of the Plan in the past by Southgate Trust and are now held by First Trust MidAmerica. Norwest Bank Iowa, N.A., located in Des Moines, Iowa is currently acting as administrator of the Plan and will assume the duties of trustee of the Plan, as soon as this proposed exemption is granted. 2. It is represented that since 1983, the Plan held participation interests in a fund which provided debt financing to a series of separate trusts (the Trusts) which engaged in commercial real estate development. In addition, since 1984, the Plan also held equity participation interests in such Trusts. In October 1985, all of the Trusts were merged into the Master Mortgage Fund Trust VII in which the Plan retained ownership interests. Subsequently, on December 15, 1988, Master Mortgage Fund Trust VII was converted into a Master Mortgage Investment Fund, Inc., a real estate investment trust (the REIT). The Plan acquired the Assets through certain transfers of the Plan's holdings in Master Mortgage Fund Trust VII to the REIT.3 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \3\ The Department notes that the decisions of the fiduciaries on behalf of the Plan, in connection with the acquisition and holding of the Assets are governed by the fiduciary responsibility requirements of part 4, subpart B, of title I. The Department expresses no opinion, herein, as to whether any of the relevant provisions of part 4, subpart B, of title I have been violated regarding the Plan's investment in and subsequent holding of the Assets, and no exemption from such provisions is proposed herein. In this regard, the Department is expressing no views with respect to the establishment, administration, or operation of the REIT, nor has any relief been requested in that regard. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. The Assets which are the subject of this proposed exemption consist of the Plan's holdings of participation interests in three funds (the Funds). One of the Funds holds the Preferred Stock of the REIT (the Preferred Fund), another holds Common Stock of the REIT (the Common Fund), and the third fund (the Secured Note I Fund; formerly the Guaranteed Plus Fund) holds notes of the REIT collateralized by mortgages. The REIT, a Delaware corporation, has offices in Overland Park, Kansas. The investors in the REIT include the Plan and other qualified retirement plans. The REIT was organized for the primary purpose of realizing income from investing in and originating short- term loans, junior real estate mortgage loans, wrap around mortgage loans, first mortgage loans with and without participation features, construction loans and pre-development loans to real estate developers, secured by income producing real property. The REIT completed its initial one-year public offering on November 18, 1989, selling a total of 2,756,474 shares of preferred stock (the Preferred Stock) and 841,542 shares of common stock (the Common Stock) for subscriptions in the amount of $35,980,160. As of December 31, 1990, the REIT had 2,491,522 shares of Preferred Stock and 1,308,669 shares of Common Stock outstanding. It is represented that the change in outstanding stock of the REIT reflects shares issued under the Dividend Reinvestment Plan and the conversion of Preferred Stock to Common Stock. 4. It is represented that between 1984 and 1990, the rate of return received by the Plan on its interest in these Assets or in the Trusts fluctuated from a high of 15.8% in 1984 to a low of 5.8% in 1990. During the period between 1983 to 1991, the percentage of the Plan's portfolio involved with these Assets or with the Trusts varied from a low of 8.66% in 1983, to a high of 63% in October 1991. Through its investment in the Preferred Fund, the Plan owns approximately 43,848 shares of Preferred Stock of the REIT, as of December 31, 1992. Likewise, through its investment in the Common Fund, the Plan owns approximately 211 shares of Common Stock of the REIT, as of the same date. 5. The Secured Note I Fund was established on January 31, 1988, by Master Mortgage Fund Trust VII for the purpose of providing secured debt financing to the related Trusts. After the REIT was established in 1989, the Secured Note I Fund offered a $10,000,000 line of credit to the REIT. Under this line of credit, as of December 31, 1990, the Secured Note I Fund had extended $8,344,522 to the REIT, payable on January 31, 1991. Due to the inability of the REIT to repay this debt on January 31, 1991, the Secured Note I Fund again extended credit to the REIT, in the form of two notes (the Notes) in the amounts, respectively, of $1,677,044 and $6,805,340 and extended the date of repayment under the terms of these Notes to January 310, 1992, which in turn was extended to January 31, 1993. It is represented that as of September 7, 1993, the Notes had not been repaid. The Notes bear interest at nine percent (9%) per annum adjusted from time to time in accordance with certain interest rates charged by the Merchants Bank of Kansas City and are collateralized by the assets of the REIT, primarily mortgages which are subordinated to unrelated third party notes. The total outstanding balance of these Notes, as of September 30, 1991, was $8,862,016. The Plan acquired a participation interest in the Secured Note I Fund as a result of a transfer of funds from the Master Mortgage Fund VII at the end of 1989, and another such transfer from the Preferred Fund at the beginning of 1990. 6. On April 17, 1992, the Board of Directors of the REIT unanimously approved the filing by the REIT for financial reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Since that time the REIT has been operating as debtor-in-possession under the protection of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. On its balance sheet for the period ending December 31, 1992, the REIT lists total assets of $23,321,456 and total liabilities of $18,814,132. 7. The Employer has proposed to purchase the Plan's interests in the Preferred Fund, the Common Fund, and the Secured Note I Fund. It is represented that there is no market for the Assets and that the income potential and the market value of such Assets has declined. Further, Todd Plumb, as trustee for the Plan, has been repeatedly unsuccessful in attempting to sell such Assets to a third party purchaser or in having the Assets redeemed by the REIT. For this reason, the applicant believes it will be in the best interest of the Plan to invest the proceeds of the Asset sales to the Employer in other securities, the return rate of which will significantly exceed the rate of earnings on the Assets. It is represented that, if such Assets were retained in the Plan, there may not be sufficient liquidity in the Plan to pay cash to beneficiaries or to participants withdrawing from the Plan. In this regard, the sales of the Assets to the Employer will avoid an in-kind distribution of an undivided interest in the Assets to the participants and beneficiaries which would have no immediate value and little long term value. The Assets are valued at a book value to the Plan of $683,384, as of June 30, 1993. In accordance with this value, as of September 30, 1993, the Assets represented approximately 44% of the assets of the Plan. The applicant represents that the book value is approximately the amount invested by the Plan in the Assets. The Employer proposes, over a period of two (2) years, to purchase annually a portion of such Assets at a price each year of $341,692. This amount is one half of the book value of the Assets, as of June 30, 1993. It has been represented that immediately following the execution of the first sale of the Assets to the Employer, the book value of the Assets remaining in the Plan will constitute no more than 22.06% of the assets held at that time by the Plan, without taking into consideration in determining the value of the Plan's assets either projected contributions by the Employer or by its employees or anticipated income to the Plan from other assets. The Employer has agreed to pay the costs of the exemption application, including providing notice to all interested persons. Further, it is represented that the Plan will incur no fees, commissions, or expenses as a result of the sales of the Assets to the Employer. 8. In an appraisal, dated September 7, 1993, Cyril Ann Mandelbaum, CPA (Ms. Mandelbaum) estimated the fair market value of the Assets which are the subject of this proposed exemption. Ms. Mandelbaum represents that she is qualified to appraise the Assets in that she is a certified public accountant and a member of the American Society of Appraisers. Further, Ms. Mandelbaum represents her independence in that she does not have any present or contemplated future interest in the Assets or any other interest which might tend to prevent her from making a fair and unbiased appraisal of such Assets. According to Ms. Mandelbaum, the estimated value of the Preferred Stock and the Common Stock is $1.19 and $1.18 per share, respectively. Taking into consideration a 28% discount for the minority interest held by the Plan in the Preferred Stock and the Common Stock and a discount of 35% for the lack of marketability of such stock, Ms. Mandelbaum reached a value for the Plan's interest in both the Preferred Stock and the Common Stock at between zero and $.53 per share. With respect to the value of the Secured Note I Fund, Ms. Mandelbaum indicates that there is little likelihood of Notes issued by the Secured Note I Fund ever being paid. Accordingly, in the opinion of Ms. Mandelbaum the Plan's interest in the Secured Note I Fund is assumed to be worthless. 9. In summary, the applicant, represents that the proposed transactions meet the statutory criteria for an exemption under section 408(a) of the Act because: (a) The Plan will be able to invest the proceeds from such sales in more profitable assets; (b) The Plan will receive no less than fair market value of such Assets on the date of each sale and in the aggregate the Plan will receive no less than $683,384 for the sale of all of the Assets to the Employer; (c) Each of the sales will be a one time transaction for cash; (d) The Plan will incur no costs, fees, commissions, or other expenses as a result of the sales of the Assets to the Employer; and (e) The proposed sales will avoid an in-kind distribution of an undivided interest in the Assets to the participants and beneficiaries. Tax Consequences of Transaction The Department of the Treasury has determined that if a transaction between a qualified employee benefit plan and its sponsoring employer (or affiliate thereof) results in the plan either paying less than or receiving more than fair market value, such excess may be considered to be a contribution by the sponsoring employer to the plan and therefore must be examined under applicable provisions of the Code, including section 401(a)(4), 404, and 415.4 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \4\The applicant represents that to the extent the Plan will receive greater than the fair market value for the Assets, the limitations, as set forth in section 415 of the Code, if applicable, will not be exceeded. It is further represented that the allocation of any gain on the sale of the shares will not violate the discrimination provisions of sections 404 and 401(a)(4) of the Code. Inasmuch as interpretations of sections 401, 404 and 415 of the Code are within the jurisdiction of the Internal Revenue Service, the Department expresses no opinion with respect to the applicant's representations of compliance. However, the Department does note that the applicant also represents that the sale of the Assets is being completed solely to prevent an investment loss which might result to the Plan by virtue of the Plan's holding of the Assets and to avoid, without admitting, any possible fiduciary liability with respect to the holding of the Assets by the Plan. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angelena C. Le Blanc of the Department, telephone (202) 219-8883. (This is not a toll-free number.) Bangs, McCullen, Butler, Foye & Simmons Employees' Retirement Plan (the Plan) Located in Rapid City, SD [Application No. D-9598] Proposed Exemption The Department is considering granting an exemption under the authority of section 408(a) of the Act and section 4975(c)(2) of the Code and in accordance with the procedures set forth in 29 CFR part 2570, subpart B (55 FR 32836, 32847, August 10, 1990). If the exemption is granted the restrictions of sections 406(a), 406(b)(1) and (b)(2) of the Act and the sanctions resulting from the application of section 4975 of the Code, by reason of section 4975(c)(1)(A) through (E) of the Code, shall not apply, effective January 1, 1994, to the proposed lease by the Plan (the Lease) of certain improved real property located in Rapid City, South Dakota (the Property) to Bangs, McCullen, Butler, Foye & Simmons (the Employer), the sponsor of the Plan; provided that the following conditions are satisfied: (A) All terms and conditions of the Lease 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 Lease is a triple net lease under which the Employer is obligated for all costs of maintenance and repair, and all taxes, related to the Property; (C) The interests of the Plan for all purposes under the Lease are represented by an independent fiduciary, Norwest Bank South Dakota, N.A.; and (D) The rent paid by the Employer under the Lease is no less than the fair market rental value of the Property. EFFECTIVE DATE: This exemption, if granted, will be effective as of January 1, 1994. Summary of Facts and Representations 1. The Plan is a profit sharing plan with 35 participants and total assets of approximately $6,492,809 as of December 1, 1993. The Plan is maintained by the Employer, which is a South Dakota general partnership engaged in the practice of law in Rapid City, South Dakota. Investment discretion over the assets of the Plan is exercised by the Plan's three named fiduciaries: Thomas H. Foye, Charles L. Riter, and Patrick K. Duffy, each of whom is a partner in the Employer. The Plan's assets are held in trust by the Norwest Bank South Dakota, N.A. (the Trustee), which was formerly named Norwest Capital Management and Trust Company. The Trustee represents that aside from its function as Trustee, it is independent of the Employer, although the Employer has deposits in, and a current installment loan with, the Trustee's commercial department totalling substantially less than one percent of the total deposits and total loans of its commercial department. Additionally, the Trustee states that the Employer performs professional services for the Trustee, and that total fees paid by the Trustee to the Employer for such services constitute less than one percent of the Employer's gross income. 2. Among the assets of the Plan is the Property, a parcel of improved real property which constitutes the Employer's principal place of business. The Property is located in downtown Rapid City, South Dakota and is improved with a two-story brick office building (the Building) containing approximately 9,600 square feet of office space. The Employer has leased the Property from the Plan under a triple net lease (the Prior Lease) with a term of ten years commencing January 1, 1984 and ending December 31, 1993. The Employer's lease of the Property from the Plan under the Prior Lease was exempt from the prohibitions of section 406 of the Act and section 4975(c) of the Code by virtue of an individual administrative exemption, Prohibited Transaction Exemption 83-172 (PTE 83-172, 48 FR 48880, October 21, 1983).5 The interests of the Plan for all purposes under the Prior Lease were represented by the Trustee, which served to monitor, on behalf of the Plan, the performance of the Employer under the Prior Lease, and to represent the Plan in the enforcement of its terms and conditions. The Trustee represents that the Employer occupied the Property in compliance with all terms and conditions of the Prior Lease for its duration. The Prior Lease expired on December 31, 1993. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \5\A proposed amendment to the Prior Lease was the subject of an additional individual administrative exemption, PTE 86-113 (51 FR 32556, September 12, 1986), involving the proposed construction of an addition to the Building and its proposed purchase by the Plan. The Employer represents that the subject amendment to the Prior Lease was never consummated because the Employer chose not to construct the addition to the Building. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Because the Plan's lease of the Property to the Employer continues to constitute a favorable Plan investment, providing the Plan with a good rate of return under protective arrangements, and because it continues to constitute an advantageous arrangement for the Employer, the Trustee and the Employer desired that the Plan continue leasing the Property to the Employer after December 31, 1993, under substantially the same conditions as those of the Prior Lease. Accordingly, the Trustee and the Employer have agreed to a new lease (the New Lease), effective January 1, 1994, which provides for the Plan's continued lease of the Property to the Employer, and they are requesting an exemption for the New Lease under the terms and conditions described herein. 4. The New Lease is a triple net lease for a term of ten years commencing January 1, 1994 and ending December 31, 2003. The interests of the Plan under the New Lease for all purposes are represented by the Trustee. The annual rental under the New Lease is payable in equal monthly installments. Initial rental under the New Lease is $6,000 per month, which is the fair market rental value of the Property as of the commencement of the New Lease, as determined by Richard Kahler (Kahler), a professional real property appraiser in Rapid City, South Dakota. The amount of annual rental paid under the New Lease will be reevaluated every year by the Trustee, and will be increased in accordance with any increases in the Property's fair market rental value, as determined by the Trustee. In no event will the annual rental be decreased under the New Lease. On the fifth anniversary of the New Lease, the Trustee will provide for a new appraisal of the Property and its fair market rental value by an independent professional real estate appraiser of the Trustee's choice. The New Lease requires the Employer to pay all repair and maintenance costs of the Property except with respect to necessary major capital improvements to the Building, its roof, or its electrical, heating, cooling or plumbing systems in excess of $5,000 in any calendar year. Any such excess over $5,000 will be the responsibility of the Plan. The New Lease requires the Employer to pay all real estate taxes on the Property and to carry fire, extended coverage, and public liability insurance on the Property in amounts acceptable to the Trustee with the Plan as the named insured. Under the New Lease the Employer will indemnify and hold the Plan harmless from all penalties, claims demands, liabilities, expenses and losses of any nature arising from the Employer's use of the Property. 5. The Trustee, which represents the Plan for all purposes under the New Lease, will monitor on behalf of the Plan the Employer's performance under the New Lease and will represent the Plan in the enforcement of its terms and conditions. The Trustee represents that it has reviewed and evaluated the Plan's continued lease of the Property to the Employer under the New Lease and has determined that it is in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of the Plan. Specifically, the Trustee states that the Employer has proven to be a successful, reliable tenant of the Property and that the Property constitutes the best and most highly productive of all Plan asset investments. The Property was appraised for its fair market value as of December 1, 1993 by Kahler, who represents that as of that date the Property had a fair market value of $607,500. 6. In summary, the applicants represent that the subject transaction satisfies the criteria of section 408(a) of the Act for the following reasons: (1) The New Lease is a triple net lease requiring the Employer to pay costs of repair and maintenance and all taxes and insurance on the Property; (2) The interests of the Plan under the New Lease are represented by the Trustee, an independent fiduciary which will monitor and enforce the Employer's performance under the New Lease; (3) The New Lease ensures that the rental payments will remain no less than the fair market rental value of the Property for the duration of the New Lease; and (4) The Trustee has reviewed the Plan's continued lease of the Property to the Employer under the New Lease and has determined that it is a highly desirable investment for the Plan. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ronald Willett of the Department (202) 219-8881. (This is not a toll-free number.) General Information The attention of interested persons is directed to the following: (1) The fact that a transaction is the subject of an exemption under section 408(a) of the Act and/or section 4975(c)(2) of the Code does not relieve a fiduciary or other party in interest of disqualified person from certain other provisions of the Act and/or the Code, including any prohibited transaction provisions to which the exemption does not apply and the general fiduciary responsibility provisions of section 404 of the Act, which among other things require a fiduciary to discharge his duties respecting the plan solely in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan and in a prudent fashion in accordance with section 404(a)(1)(b) of the Act; nor does it affect the requirement of section 401(a) of the Code that the plan must operate for the exclusive benefit of the employees of the employer maintaining the plan and their beneficiaries; (2) Before an exemption may be granted under section 408(a) of the Act and/or section 4975(c)(2) of the Code, the Department must find that the exemption is administratively feasible, in the interests of the plan and of its participants and beneficiaries and protective of the rights of participants and beneficiaries of the plan; (3) The proposed exemptions, if granted, will be supplemental to, and not in derogation of, any other provisions of the Act and/or the Code, including statutory or administrative exemptions and transitional rules. Furthermore, the fact that a transaction is subject to an administrative or statutory exemption is not dispositive of whether the transaction is in fact a prohibited transaction; and (4) The proposed exemptions, if granted, will be subject to the express condition that the material facts and representations contained in each application are true and complete and accurately describe all material terms of the transaction which is the subject of the exemption. In the case of continuing exemption transactions, if any of the material facts or representations described in the application change after the exemption is granted, the exemption will cease to apply as of the date of such change. In the event of any such change, application for a new exemption may be made to the Department. Signed at Washington, DC, this 11th day of January 1994. Ivan Strasfeld, Director of Exemption Determinations, Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. [FR Doc. 94-1043 Filed 1-14-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510-29-P