[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 16 (Monday, January 26, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 3772-3773] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-1791] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration [Prohibited Transaction Exemption 98-04; Exemption Application No. D- 10472, et al.] Grant of Individual Exemptions; Pentair Retirement Savings and Stock Incentive Plan (the Plan), et al. AGENCY: Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, Labor. ACTION: Grant of individual exemptions. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This document contains exemptions issued by the Department of Labor (the Department) from certain of the prohibited transaction restrictions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (the Act) and/or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code). Notices were published in the Federal Register of the pendency before the Department of proposals to grant such exemptions. The notices set forth a summary of facts and representations contained in each application for exemption and referred interested persons to the respective applications for a complete statement of the facts and representations. The applications have been available for public inspection at the Department in Washington, D.C. The notices also invited interested persons to submit comments on the requested exemptions to the Department. In addition the notices stated that any interested person might submit a written request that a public hearing be held (where appropriate). The applicants have represented that they have complied with the requirements of the notification to interested persons. No public comments and no requests for a hearing, unless otherwise stated, were received by the Department. The notices of proposed exemption were issued and the exemptions are being granted solely by the Department because, effective December 31, 1978, section 102 of Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1978 (43 FR 47713, October 17, 1978) transferred the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to issue exemptions of the type proposed to the Secretary of Labor. Statutory Findings In accordance with section 408(a) of the Act and/or section 4975(c)(2) of the Code and the procedures set forth in 29 CFR Part 2570, Subpart B (55 FR 32836, 32847, August 10, 1990) and based upon the entire record, the Department makes the following findings: (a) The exemptions are administratively feasible; (b) They are in the interests of the plans and their participants and beneficiaries; and (c) They are protective of the rights of the participants and beneficiaries of the plans. Pentair Retirement Savings and Stock Incentive Plan (the Plan) Located in St. Paul, MN [Prohibited Transaction Exemption No. 98-04; Application No. D-10472] Exemption The restrictions of sections 406(a) and 406 (b)(1) and (b)(2) of the Act and the sanctions resulting from the application of section 4975 of the Code, by reason of section 4975(c)(1) (A) through (E) of the Code, shall not apply to the past sale by the Plan (the Sale) of the Plan's remaining interest (the Interest) in two guaranteed investment contracts (the GICs) of Confederation Life Insurance Company (CL) to Pentair, Inc. (Pentair), the sponsoring employer and a party in interest with respect to the Plan; provided the following conditions were met: (1) the Sale was a one-time transaction for cash; (2) the Plan received no less than the fair market value of the Interests at the time of the Sale; (3) the Plan and its participants and beneficiaries have not incurred any expenses or any losses from the Sale; and (4) any future distributions from the GICs that exceed the consideration paid by Pentair to the Plan for the Interests shall be paid to the Plan and allocated to the respective accounts of the affected Plan participants. EFFECTIVE DATE: This proposed exemption will be effective on June 13, 1997. For a more complete statement of the facts and representations supporting the Department's decision to grant this exemption, refer to the Notice of Proposed Exemption published on November 24, 1997, at 62 FR 62639. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. C. E. Beaver of the Department, [[Page 3773]] telephone (202) 219-8881. (This is not a toll-free number.) Robert H. Herzog Profit Sharing Plan (the Plan) Located in Santa Barbara, California [Prohibited Transaction Exemption 98-05; Exemption Application No. D- 10494] Exemption 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 cash sale (the Sale) of a certain residential condominium (the Property) by the Plan \1\ to Robert H. Herzog (Mr. Herzog), a disqualified person with respect to the Plan, provided that the following conditions are met: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ Because Mr. Herzog is the only participant in the Plan, there is no jurisdiction under 29 CFR Sec. 2510.3-3(b). However, there is jurisdiction under Title II of the Act pursuant to section 4975 of the Code. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (a) The Sale is a one-time transaction for cash; (b) The terms and conditions of the Sale are at least as favorable to the Plan as those obtainable in an arm's length transaction with an unrelated party; (c) The Plan receives the fair market value of the Property at time of the Sale; and (d) The Plan is not required to pay any commissions, costs or other expenses in connection with the Sale. For a more complete statement of the facts and representations supporting the Department's decision to grant this exemption, refer to the notice of proposed exemption published on November 24, 1997 at 62 FR 62641. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James Scott Frazier of the Department, telephone (202) 219-7222. (This is not a toll-free number.) CoreStates GIC and BIC Fund (the Fund) Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [Prohibited Transaction Exemption No. 98-06; Application No. D-10522] Exemption The restrictions of sections 406(a) and 406(b)(1) and (b)(2) of the Act and the sanctions resulting from the application of section 4975 of the Code, by reason of section 4975(c)(1)(A) through (E) of the Code, shall not apply to the sale (the Sale) by the Fund of the Fund's remaining interest in two Guaranteed Investment Contracts (the GICs) of Confederation Life Insurance Company (CL) to CoreStates Bank, N.A. (the Bank), a party in interest with respect to the Fund; provided (1) the Sale was a one-time transaction for cash, (2) the Fund received no less than the fair market value of the GICs at the time of the Sale, (3) the Fund and its participants and beneficiaries did not incur any costs or expenses with respect to the Sale, and (4) any future distributions from the GICs that exceed the consideration paid to the Fund by the Bank in the Sale shall be paid to the Fund and allocated to the respective accounts of the affected employee benefit plans. EFFECTIVE DATE: This exemption will be effective as of December 31, 1997. For a more complete statement of the facts and representations supporting the Department's decision to grant this exemption, refer to the Notice of Proposed Exemption published on November 24, 1997, at 62 FR 62641. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. C. E. Beaver of the Department, telephone (202) 219-8881. (This is not a toll-free number.) General Information The attention of interested persons is directed to the following: (1) The fact that a transaction is the subject of an exemption under section 408(a) of the Act and/or section 4975(c)(2) of the Code does not relieve a fiduciary or other party in interest or disqualified person from certain other provisions to which the exemptions does not apply and the general fiduciary responsibility provisions of section 404 of the Act, which among other things require a fiduciary to discharge his duties respecting the plan solely in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan and in a prudent fashion in accordance with section 404(a)(1)(B) of the Act; nor does it affect the requirement of section 401(a) of the Code that the plan must operate for the exclusive benefit of the employees of the employer maintaining the plan and their beneficiaries; (2) These exemptions are supplemental to and not in derogation of, any other provisions of the Act and/or the Code, including statutory or administrative exemptions and transactional rules. Furthermore, the fact that a transaction is subject to an administrative or statutory exemption is not dispositive of whether the transaction is in fact a prohibited transaction; and (3) The availability of these exemptions is subject to the express condition that the material facts and representations contained in each application 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, D.C., this 21st day of January, 1998. Ivan Strasfeld, Director of Exemption Determinations, Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, Department of Labor. [FR Doc. 98-1791 Filed 1-23-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510-29-P