[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 44 (Monday, March 8, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11052-11065]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5570]



[[Page 11052]]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration
[Application No. D-10622, et al.]


Proposed Exemptions; VECO Corporation (VECO)

AGENCY: Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice of proposed exemptions.

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SUMMARY: This document contains notices of pendency before the 
Department of Labor (the Department) of proposed exemptions 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).

Written Comments and Hearing Requests

    Unless otherwise stated in the Notice of Proposed Exemption, all 
interested persons are invited to submit written comments, and with 
respect to exemptions involving the fiduciary prohibitions of section 
406(b) of the Act, requests for hearing within 45 days from the date of 
publication of this Federal Register Notice. Comments and requests 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.

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, N.W., Washington, D.C. 
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, N.W., Washington, D.C. 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.

VECO Corporation (VECO), Located in Anchorage, Alaska

[Exemption Application Number D-10622]

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 32826, 32847, August 10, 1990). If the exemption 
is granted, the restrictions of sections 406(a), 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 proposed sale (the Sale) of a certain 
parcel of unimproved real property (the Property) from the VECO 
Corporation Profit Sharing Plan and Trust (the Plan) to Norcon, Inc. 
(Norcon), a party in interest with respect to the Plan, provided that 
the following conditions are met:
    (a) The terms and conditions of the Sale will be at least as 
favorable to the Plan as those obtainable in an arm's length 
transaction with an unrelated party;
    (b) Norcon will pay the greater of $2,940,000 or the fair market 
value of the Property on the date of the Sale as established by a 
qualified, independent appraiser;
    (c) The Sale will be a one-time transaction for cash;
    (d) The Plan will pay no fees or commissions with respect to the 
Sale; and
    (e) An independent fiduciary acting on behalf of the Plan has 
reviewed the terms of the Sale and has represented that the transaction 
is in the best interest of the Plan and protective of the Plan's 
participants and beneficiaries.

Summary of Facts and Representations

    1. VECO is an engineering, procurement, management, and 
construction company which is located in Anchorage, Alaska and 
incorporated in Delaware. Norcon is a wholly-owned subsidiary of VECO 
and is an electrical contracting company. Norcon is also located in 
Anchorage, Alaska.
    2. VECO is the sponsor of the Plan. The Plan is a frozen profit 
sharing plan having 1,866 participants and approximately $2,959,432 in 
total assets, as of June 15, 1998. The trustees of the Plan (the 
Trustees) are all employees of VECO or an affiliate thereof. On January 
1, 1992, VECO discontinued contributions to the Plan and the Plan 
received a favorable termination letter from the Internal Revenue 
Service on February 25, 1997.
    3. The Property, which accounts for approximately 99% of the Plan's 
total assets, is comprised of approximately 40 acres of unimproved real 
property located at the southwest corner of King Street and 100th 
Avenue in Anchorage, Alaska. The Property has not been used by, or 
generated income for, the Plan. The Property was acquired by the Plan 
for investment purposes on February 6, 1981 for $1,917,363 from the 
Ninth Anchorage Limited Partnership (Ninth Anchorage), an unrelated 
party. Of this amount, the Plan paid Ninth Anchorage $288,219 in cash 
and obtained a promissary note (the Note) from Ninth Anchorage for the 
balance of $1,629,144.
    4. The Plan has incurred certain holding costs as a result of its 
ownership of the Property. The applicant represents that the Plan has 
incurred certain interest expenses (the Interest Expenses) as a result 
of the Note. The applicant represents that, from 1981 until the Note 
was paid off in 1989, the Plan incurred a total of $1,213,646 in 
Interest Expenses.
    The applicant represents that VECO has paid all of the Interest 
Expenses (the Interest Expense Payments) on behalf of the Plan. The 
applicant represents that VECO made the Interest Expense Payments 
directly to Ninth Anchorage and treated the Interest Expense Payments 
as contributions by VECO to

[[Page 11053]]

the Plan.1 The applicant additionally represents that VECO 
did not take any additional deductions with respect to the Interest 
Expenses Payments.
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    \1\ The Department expresses no opinion as to the 
appropriateness of VECO's treatment of these payments as 
contributions under Internal Revenue Code sections 162 and 404.
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    The Plan has additionally incurred certain real estate taxes (the 
Real Estate Taxes) with respect to its ownership of the Property. The 
applicant represents that the Plan has incurred a total of $497,599 in 
Real Estate Taxes as a result of its ownership of the Property.
    The applicant represents that from 1981 to present, VECO has paid, 
and continues to pay, all of the Real Estate Taxes on behalf of the 
Plan (the Real Estate Tax Payments). The applicant represents that the 
Real Estate Tax Payments were made directly by VECO to the taxing 
authority. The Applicant represents that, from 1981 to 1991, VECO 
treated the Real Estate Tax Payments as a contribution by VECO to the 
Plan with no further deductions taken by VECO with respect to the Real 
Estate Tax Payments.2
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    \2\ See footnote 1.
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    5. In 1995, the Trustees were informed by the Department of Labor's 
Seattle District Office (the District Office) that a sale of the 
Property by the Plan was necessary to diversify the Plan's assets in 
accordance with the requirements of the Act. As a result, the District 
Office and the Trustees reached a settlement agreement pursuant to PTE 
94-71 (59 FR 51216, October 7, 1994) whereby VECO would purchase the 
Property from the Plan provided that VECO was able to meet certain 
conditions.
    In a letter dated April 8, 1996, the District Office stated that it 
had decided not to authorize the proposed sale of the property to VECO. 
This decision was the result of the receipt by the District Office of 
negative comments from the Plan's participants in response to the 
proposed transaction. The District Office notified VECO that a sale of 
the Property was still necessary and any future sale of the Property 
would require the oversight of an independent fiduciary acting on 
behalf of the Plan. As a result of the District Office's decision, the 
proposed sale of the Property to VECO was abandoned.
    6. The applicant now seeks an exemption for the sale of the 
Property by the Plan to VECO's subsidiary, Norcon. The Sale will 
involve the oversight of an independent fiduciary. Pursuant to this, 
Norcon and the Plan entered into a purchase and sale agreement for the 
Property (the Sale Agreement) on March 13, 1998. The Sale Agreement 
involves Norcon's purchase of the Property for the greater of 
$2,940,000 or the fair market value of the Property at the time of the 
Sale, as determined by a qualified, independent appraiser. The Sale 
Agreement is contingent on the grant of an exemption by the Department.
    The applicant represents that in addition to the proposed sale of 
the Property by the Plan to VECO, the Plan is still trying to sell the 
Property on the open market. The applicant represents that in the event 
the Plan receives an offer for the Property in excess of the amount in 
the Sale Agreement, the Sale Agreement has reserved to Norcon the right 
to meet or exceed the amount that was offered. Thus, the applicant 
represents that, at a minimum, any sale of the Property by the Plan to 
Norcon will occur at the greater of $2,940,000 or the fair market value 
of the Property as of the date of the Sale.
    7. The Property was appraised on June 5, 1997 by Jerry Smith (Mr. 
Smith) for the ACCUVAL-RESCO Appraisal Company (ACCUVAL-RESCO), an 
appraisal company independent of both Norcon and VECO. Mr. Smith, an 
appraiser certified in the State of Alaska, used the sales comparison 
approach in his valuation of the Property and compared the Property to 
five parcels of land located near the Property and the subject of 
recent sales. Based on these comparisons, Mr. Smith concluded that the 
value of the Property, as of June 3, 1997, was $2,940,000.3
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    \3\ Several unsuccessful attempts mere made by the Trustees to 
sell the Property on the open market for $3,223,440. The Trustees 
marketed the Property at this price in order for the Plan to receive 
a net amount, after real estate commissions were taken into 
consideration, which was approximate to the Property's appraised 
value.
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    8. The Plan hired an independent fiduciary, Al Tamagni (Mr. 
Tamagni) of Pension Services International, Inc. (PSI) to act on the 
Plan's behalf during any sale of the Property. Mr. Tamagni, who is the 
President of PSI, represents that he is independent of both Norcon and 
VECO. Mr. Tamagni additionally represents that he has several years of 
experience in matters involving qualified pension plans, including 
investment transactions similar to the Sale and the Sale Agreement. Mr. 
Tamagni represents further that he understands his duties and 
responsibilities as a fiduciary under ERISA and has accepted them.
    Mr. Tamagni represents that he has reviewed the terms of both the 
Sale and the Sale Agreement. Mr. Tamagni represent that, based on his 
analysis of the Sale Agreement, he believes that the terms of the Sale 
and the Sale Agreement are protective of the rights of the participants 
and beneficiaries of the Plan. Mr. Tamagni additionally represents 
that, based on his analysis of the terms of the Sale, he believes that 
the Sale is in the best interests of the Plan's participants and 
beneficiaries.
    9. In summary, the applicant represent that the proposed 
transaction satisfies the criteria of section 408(a) of the Act 
because:
    (a) The terms and conditions of the Sale will be at least as 
favorable to the Plan as those obtainable in an arm's length 
transaction with an unrelated party;
    (b) Norcon will pay the greater of $2,940,000 or the fair market 
value of the Property on the date of Sale as established by a 
qualified, independent appraiser;
    (c) The Sale will be a one-time transaction for cash;
    (d) The Plan will pay no fees or commissions with respect to the 
Sale; and
    (e) An independent fiduciary acting on behalf of the Plan, Mr. 
Tamagni, has reviewed the terms of the Sale and has represented that 
the transaction is in the best interest of the Plan and protective of 
the Plan's participants and beneficiaries.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher J. Motta of the 
Department, telephone (202) 219-8883 (this is not a toll free number).

Citibank, N.A. (Citibank), and Salomon Smith Barney Inc. (SSB) 
Located in New York, NY

[Application No. D-10674]

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)(1)(A) through (D) 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, effective 
October 8, 1998 to (1) the past and continued lending of securities to 
SSB and affiliated U.S. registered broker-dealers of SSB or Citibank 
(together, SSB/U.S.) and certain foreign affiliates (the Foreign 
Affiliates) of SSB and Citibank which are broker-dealers or banks based 
in the United Kingdom (SB/U.K.), Japan (SSB/Asia), Germany

[[Page 11054]]

(SSB/Germany), Canada (SSB/Canada) and Australia (SSB/Australia), 
including their affiliates or successors, 4 by employee 
benefit plans (the Client Plans) or commingled investment funds holding 
Client Plan assets, for which Citibank or any U.S. affiliate of 
Citibank, acts as securities lending agent (or sub-agent), including 
those Client Plans for which Citibank also acts as directed trustee or 
custodian of the securities being lent; and (2) to the receipt of 
compensation by Citibank or any U.S. affiliate of Citibank in 
connection with these transactions, provided that the following 
conditions are met:
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    \4\ Unless otherwise noted, SSB/U.S. and the Foreign Affiliates 
are collectively referred to as SSB.
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    (a) For each Client Plan, neither Citibank, SSB nor any of their 
affiliates either has or exercises discretionary authority or control 
with respect to the investment of the Client Plan assets involved in 
the transaction, or renders investment advice (within the meaning of 29 
CFR 2510.3-21(c)) with respect to those assets.
    (b) Any arrangement for Citibank to lend Client Plan securities to 
SSB in either an agency or sub-agency capacity is approved in advance 
by a Client Plan fiduciary who is independent of SSB and 
Citibank.5 In this regard, the independent Client Plan 
fiduciary also approves the general terms of the securities loan 
agreement (the Loan Agreement) between the Client Plan and SSB, 
although the specific terms of the Loan Agreement are negotiated and 
entered into by Citibank and Citibank acts as a liaison between the 
lender and the borrower to facilitate the lending transaction.
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    \5\ The Department, herein, is not providing exemptive relief 
for securities lending transactions engaged in by primary lending 
agents, other than Citibank and its affiliates, beyond that provided 
pursuant to Prohibited Transaction Exemption (PTE) 81-6 (46 FR 7527, 
January 23, 1981, as amended at 52 FR 18754, May 19, 1987) and PTE 
82-63 (47 FR 14804, April 6, 1982).
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    (c) The terms of each loan of securities by a Client Plan to SSB is 
at least as favorable to such Client Plans as those of a comparable 
arm's length transaction between unrelated parties.
    (d) A Client Plan may terminate the agency or sub-agency 
arrangement at any time without penalty to such Client Plan on five 
business days notice.
    (e) The Client Plan receives from SSB (either by physical delivery 
or by book entry in a securities depository located in the United 
States, wire transfer or similar means) by the close of business on or 
before the day the loaned securities are delivered to SSB, collateral 
consisting of cash, securities issued or guaranteed by the United 
States Government or its agencies or instrumentalities, or irrevocable 
United States bank letters of credit issued by a person other than 
Citibank, SSB or an affiliate thereof, or any combination thereof, or 
other collateral permitted under PTE 81-6, as it may be amended or 
superseded.
    (f) As of the close of business on the preceding business day, the 
fair market value of the collateral initially equals at least 102 
percent of the market value of the loaned securities and, if the market 
value of the collateral falls below 100 percent, SSB delivers 
additional collateral on the following day such that the market value 
of the collateral again equals at least 102 percent.
    (g) Prior to entering into the Loan Agreement, SSB furnishes 
Citibank its most recently available audited and unaudited statements, 
which is, in turn, provided to a Client Plan, as well as a 
representation by SSB, that as of each time it borrows securities, 
there has been no material adverse change in its financial condition 
since the date of the most recently-furnished statement that has not 
been disclosed to such Client Plan; provided, however, that in the 
event of a material adverse change, Citibank does not make any further 
loans to SSB unless an independent fiduciary of the Client Plan is 
provided notice of any material adverse change and approves the loan in 
view of the changed financial condition.
    (h) In return for lending securities, the Client Plan either--
    (1) Receives a reasonable fee, which is related to the value of the 
borrowed securities and the duration of the loan; or
    (2) Has the opportunity to derive compensation through the 
investment of cash collateral. (Under such circumstances, the Client 
Plan may pay a loan rebate or similar fee to SSB, if such fee is not 
greater than the fee the Client Plan would pay in a comparable arm's 
length transaction with an unrelated party.)
    (i) All procedures regarding the securities lending activities 
conform to the applicable provisions of Prohibited Transaction 
Exemptions PTE 81-6 and PTE 82-63 as such class exemptions may be 
amended or superseded as well as to applicable securities laws of the 
United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Canada or Australia.
    (j) Each SSB borrower indemnifies and holds harmless each lending 
Client Plan in the United States against any and all losses, damages, 
liabilities, costs and expenses (including attorney's fees) which the 
Client Plan may incur or suffer directly arising out of the use of 
securities of such Client Plan by such SSB borrower or the failure of 
such borrower to return such securities to the Client Plan. In the 
event that the Foreign Affiliate defaults on a loan, Citibank, as agent 
for the lending Client Plan, will liquidate the loan collateral to 
purchase identical securities for the Client Plan. With respect to a 
default by a Foreign Affiliate, if the collateral is insufficient to 
accomplish such purchase, Citibank will indemnify the Client Plan for 
any shortfall in the collateral plus interest on such amount and any 
transaction costs incurred. Alternatively, with respect to a default by 
the Foreign Affiliate, if such identical securities are not available 
on the market, Citibank will pay the Client Plan cash equal to (1) the 
market value of the borrowed securities as of the date they should have 
been returned to the Client Plan, plus (2) all the accrued financial 
benefits derived from the beneficial ownership of such loaned 
securities as of such date, plus (3) interest from such date to the 
date of payment. (The amounts paid shall include the cash collateral or 
other collateral that is liquidated and held by Citibank on behalf of 
the Client Plan.)
    (k) The Client Plan receives the equivalent of all distributions 
made to holders of the borrowed securities during the term of the loan, 
including, but not limited to, cash dividends, interest payments, 
shares of stock as a result of stock splits and rights to purchase 
additional securities, or other distributions.
    (l) Prior to the approval of the lending of its securities to SSB 
by a new Client Plan, copies of the notice of proposed exemption (the 
Notice) and the final exemption are provided to such Client Plan.
    (m) Each Client Plan receives monthly reports with respect to its 
securities lending transactions, including, but not limited to the 
information described in Representation 28 of the Notice so that an 
independent fiduciary of the Client Plan may monitor such transactions 
with SSB.
    (n) Only Client Plans with total assets having an aggregate market 
value of at least $50 million are permitted to lend securities to SSB; 
provided, however, that--
    (1) In the case of two or more Client Plans which are maintained by 
the same employer, controlled group of corporations or employee 
organization (the Related Client Plans), whose assets are commingled 
for investment purposes in a single master trust or any other entity 
the assets of which are ``plan assets'' under 29 CFR 2510.3-101 (the 
Plan Asset Regulation), which entity is engaged in securities lending

[[Page 11055]]

arrangements with SSB, the foregoing $50 million requirement shall be 
deemed satisfied if such trust or other entity has aggregate assets 
which are in excess of $50 million; provided that if the fiduciary 
responsible for making the investment decision on behalf of such master 
trust or other entity is not the employer or an affiliate of the 
employer, such fiduciary has total assets under its management and 
control, exclusive of the $50 million threshold amount attributable to 
plan investment in the commingled entity, which are in excess of $100 
million.
    (2) In the case of two or more Client Plans which are not 
maintained by the same employer, controlled group of corporations or 
employee organization (the Unrelated Client Plans), whose assets are 
commingled for investment purposes in a group trust or any other form 
of entity the assets of which are ``plan assets'' under the Plan Asset 
Regulation, which entity is engaged in securities lending arrangements 
with SSB, the foregoing $50 million requirement is satisfied if such 
trust or other entity has aggregate assets which are in excess of $50 
million (excluding the assets of any Client Plan with respect to which 
the fiduciary responsible for making the investment decision on behalf 
of such group trust or other entity or any member of the controlled 
group of corporations including such fiduciary is the employer 
maintaining such Client Plan or an employee organization whose members 
are covered by such Client Plan). However, the fiduciary responsible 
for making the investment decision on behalf of such group trust or 
other entity--
    (i) Has full investment responsibility with respect to plan assets 
invested therein; and
    (ii) Has total assets under its management and control, exclusive 
of the $50 million threshold amount attributable to plan investment in 
the commingled entity, which are in excess of $100 million.

(In addition, none of the entities described above are formed for the 
sole purpose of making loans of securities.)
    (o) With respect to each successive two-week period, on average, at 
least 50 percent or more of the outstanding dollar value of securities 
loans negotiated on behalf of Client Plans will be to unrelated 
borrowers.
    (p) In addition to the above, all loans involving the Foreign 
Affiliates have the following supplemental requirements:
    (1) Such Foreign Affiliate is registered as a broker-dealer or bank 
with--
    (i) The Securities and Futures Authority of the United Kingdom (the 
Securities and Futures Authority) in the case of SB/U.K.;
    (ii) The Ministry of Finance and the Tokyo Stock Exchange in the 
case of SSB/Asia;
    (iii) The Deutsche Bundesbank and the Federal Banking Supervisory 
Authority (Bundesaufsichtsamt fuer das Kreditwesen, hereinafter 
referred to as the BAK) in the case of SSB/Germany;
    (iv) The Ontario Securities Commission and the Investment Dealers 
Association in the case of SSB/Canada; and
    (v) The Australian Securities & Investments Commission and the 
Australian Stock Exchange Limited in the case of SSB/Australia.
    (2) Such broker-dealer or bank is in compliance with all applicable 
rules and regulations thereof as well as with all requirements of Rule 
15a-6 (17 CFR 240.15a-6) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the 
1934 Act) which provides foreign broker-dealers and banks a limited 
exemption from United States registration requirements and 
interpretations and amendments thereof to Rule 15a-6 by the Securities 
and Exchange Commission (the SEC), to the extent applicable;
    (3) All collateral is maintained in United States dollars or 
dollar-denominated securities or letters of credit;
    (4) All collateral is held in the United States and Citibank 
maintains the situs of the securities Loan Agreements in the United 
States under an arrangement that complies with the indicia of ownership 
requirements under section 404(b) of the Act and the regulations 
promulgated under 29 CFR 2550.404(b)-1; and
    (5) The Foreign Affiliate provides SSB (i.e., Salomon Smith Barney 
Inc.) a written consent to service of process in the United States for 
any civil action or proceeding brought in respect of the securities 
lending transaction, which consent provides that process may be served 
on such borrower by service on SSB (i.e., Salomon Smith Barney Inc.).
    (q) Citibank and its affiliates maintain, or cause to be maintained 
within the United States for a period of six years from the date of 
such transaction, in a manner that is convenient and accessible for 
audit and examination, such records as are necessary to enable the 
persons described in paragraph (r)(1) to determine whether the 
conditions of the exemption have been met, except that--
    (1) A prohibited transaction will not be considered to have 
occurred if, due to circumstances beyond the control of Citibank and/or 
its affiliates, the records are lost or destroyed prior to the end of 
the six year period; and
    (2) No party in interest other than Citibank shall be subject to 
the civil penalty that may be assessed under section 502(i) of the Act, 
or to the taxes imposed by section 4975(a) and (b) of the Code, if the 
records are not maintained, or are not available for examination as 
required below by paragraph (r)(1).
    (r)(1) Except as provided in subparagraph (r)(2) of this paragraph 
and notwithstanding any provisions of subsections (a)(2) and (b) of 
section 504 of the Act, the records referred to in paragraph (q) are 
unconditionally available at their customary location during normal 
business hours by:
    (i) Any duly authorized employee or representative of the 
Department, the Internal Revenue Service or the SEC;
    (ii) Any fiduciary of a participating Client Plan or any duly 
authorized representative of such fiduciary;
    (iii) Any contributing employer to any participating Client Plan or 
any duly authorized employee representative of such employer; and
    (iv) Any participant or beneficiary of any participating Client 
Plan, or any duly authorized representative of such participant or 
beneficiary.
    (r)(2) None of the persons described above in paragraphs 
(r)(1)(ii)-(r)(1)(iv) of this paragraph (r)(1) are authorized to 
examine the trade secrets of SSB or commercial or financial information 
which is privileged or confidential.

EFFECTIVE DATE: If granted, this proposed exemption will be effective 
as of October 8, 1998.

Preamble

    In April 1998, the Travelers Group (Travelers) and Citicorp 
announced a proposed merger (the Merger) whereby Citicorp would be 
merged into a subsidiary of Travelers and Travelers would become a bank 
holding company and change its name to ``Citigroup Inc.'' The Merger, 
which was subject to approval by shareholders of each company and 
various regulatory entities, occurred on October 8, 1998.
    Following the Merger, some of the borrowers with which Citibank may 
have transacted business as securities lending agent included certain 
broker-dealers affiliated with Travelers and other entities which were 
not affiliated with Citibank prior to the Merger. Also included in this 
group were certain affiliates with which Citibank, as securities 
lending agent, had not previously engaged in securities loans on behalf 
of Client Plans. Although Citibank does not lend Client Plan securities 
to any of its current affiliates, upon consummation of the Merger, 
loans to SSB entity borrowers made on

[[Page 11056]]

behalf of employee benefit plans for which Citibank acts as securities 
lending agent would then constitute loans to affiliates of Citibank 
which would be in violation of the Act.
    Rather than unwind the securities loans prior to the Merger, 
Citibank and SSB have requested an individual exemption to continue the 
pre-existing lending arrangement. If granted, the proposed exemption 
would be effective as of the date of the Merger. In addition, the 
exemption would apply to successors in interest to U.S.-based 
affiliates and Foreign Affiliates of SSB or Citibank, provided the 
successors remain affiliates of such entities.

Summary of Facts and Representations

    1. The parties to the transactions are described as follows:
    (a) SSB, a Delaware corporation, is a subsidiary of Salomon Smith 
Barney Holdings, Inc., a Delaware Corporation, which in turn, is a 
subsidiary of Travelers and an affiliate of Citibank since the Merger 
of October 8, 1998. SSB is one of the largest full-line investment 
service firms in the United States. It is registered with and regulated 
by the SEC as a broker-dealer and as a futures commission merchant with 
the Commodities Futures Trading Commission. It is a member of the New 
York Stock Exchange and other principal securities exchanges in the 
United States. It is also a member of the National Association of 
Securities Dealers, Inc. As of December 31, 1997, Travelers had 
approximately $387 billion in assets and approximately $21 billion in 
shareholders' equity.
    Acting as principal, SSB actively engages in the borrowing and 
lending of securities, with daily outstanding loan volume averaging 
several billion dollars. SSB utilizes borrowed securities to satisfy 
its trading requirements or to re-lend to other broker-dealers and 
others who need a particular security for various periods of time. All 
borrowings by SSB conform to the Federal Reserve Board's Regulation T. 
Pursuant to Regulation T, permitted borrowing purposes include making 
delivery of securities in the case of short sales, failures of a broker 
to receive securities it is required to deliver or other similar 
situations.
    (b) Citibank is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Citicorp, a bank 
holding company organized in 1967 under the laws of the State of 
Delaware and also an affiliate of Travelers since the Merger of October 
8, 1998. Originally organized on June 16, 1812, Citibank is a national 
banking association organized under the National Bank Act of 1864. As a 
member of the Federal Reserve System, Citibank is a ``bank'' as defined 
in both section 202(a)(2) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the 
Advisers Act) and section 581 of the Code.6 Citibank is the 
second largest commercial bank in the United States and it maintains 
its principal place of business at 399 Park Avenue, New York, New York.
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    \6\ In relevant part, section 202(a)(2) of the Advisers Act and 
section 581 of the Code state that a ``bank'' is a banking 
institution, bank or trust company incorporated and doing business 
under the laws of the United States.
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    Citibank, a major provider of trustee and related fiduciary 
services, is one of the largest providers of custodial services in the 
United States, with more than $700 billion of assets under custody in 
the U.S. Such assets include those held by Citibank as a global 
custodian for U.S. pension plans, governmental plans and other tax-
exempt investors.
    In addition, Citibank provides securities lending services to many 
of its institutional clients. On behalf of such clients, Citibank 
negotiates the terms of loans with borrowers and otherwise acts as a 
liaison between the lender and the borrower to facilitate the lending 
transaction. Further, Citibank has responsibility for monitoring 
receipt of all required collateral and marking such collateral to 
market daily so that adequate levels of collateral are maintained and 
evaluating, on a continuous basis, the performance and creditworthiness 
of the borrowers of securities.
    From time to time, Citibank may be retained by other securities 
lending agents to provide securities lending services in a sub-agent 
capacity with respect to portfolio securities of clients of such other 
lending agents. As securities lending agent, Citibank's role in the 
lending transactions parallels those under lending transactions for 
which it acts as primary lending agent on behalf of its clients.
    (c) SSB/U.S. currently consists of SSB, Citicorp Investment 
Services Inc. (CISI) and Citicorp Securities Services, Inc. (CSSI). 
CISI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Citibank. CSSI is an indirect 
subsidiary of Citicorp. Both CISI and CSSI, which are located in New 
York, are U.S. registered broker-dealers. CSSI is also a member of the 
New York Stock Exchange as well as certain other principal exchanges in 
the United States.
    (d) The Foreign Affiliates of SSB and Citibank include SB/U.K., 
SSB/Asia, SSB/Germany, SSB/Canada and SSB/Australia.
    (i) SB/U.K. currently consists of Salomon Brothers U.K. Limited, 
Salomon Brothers U.K. Equity Limited and Salomon Brothers 
International. These broker-dealers, which are indirect subsidiaries of 
Travelers, are located in the United Kingdom and are subject to 
regulation by the Securities and Futures Authority. In the future, SB/
U.K. also will include any other SSB or Citibank affiliate that is 
based in the United Kingdom.
    (ii) SSB/Asia currently consists of Salomon Smith Barney Asia 
Limited, an indirect subsidiary of Travelers and a broker-dealer. SSB/
Asia is located in Japan and is subject to regulation by the Ministry 
of Finance and the Tokyo Stock Exchange. In the future, SSB/Asia also 
will include any other SSB or Citibank affiliate that is based in 
Japan.
    (iii) SSB/Germany, which currently consists of Salomon Brothers AG, 
a bank, is subject to regulation in Germany by the Deutsche Bundesbank 
and the BAK. In the future, SSB/Germany also will include any other SSB 
or Citibank affiliate that is based in Germany.
    (iv) SSB/Canada, which currently consists of Salomon Smith Barney 
Canada Inc., a broker-dealer, is subject to regulation in Canada by the 
Ontario Securities Commission and the Investment Dealers Association. 
In the future, SSB/Canada also will include any other SSB or Citibank 
affiliate that is based in Canada.
    (v) SSB/Australia, which currently consists of Salomon Smith Barney 
Australia Securities Pty Limited, a broker-dealer, is subject to 
regulation in Australia by the Australian Securities & Investments 
Commission and the Australian Stock Exchange Limited. In the future, 
SSB/Australia also will include or any other SSB or Citibank affiliate 
that is based in Australia.
    2. Although not registered with the United States SEC as broker-
dealers, the Foreign Affiliates of SSB that are broker-dealers are 
subject to the rules, regulations and membership requirements of their 
respective regulatory entities (the Foreign Broker-Dealer Regulatory 
Entities). For example, SB/U.K. is subject to the rules and regulatory 
requirements of the Securities and Futures Authority. SSB/Asia subject 
to the rules and regulatory requirements of the Ministry of Finance and 
the Tokyo Stock Exchange. SSB/Canada is subject to regulation by the 
Ontario Securities Commission and the Investment Dealers Association, a 
self-regulatory organization. SSB/Australia is subject to regulation 
primarily by the Australian Stock Exchange Limited and, on a more 
limited basis, by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission. 
Each of the

[[Page 11057]]

aforementioned Foreign Affiliates is subject to rules relating to 
minimum capitalization, reporting requirements, periodic examinations, 
client money and safe custody rules and books and records requirements 
with respect to client accounts. These rules and regulations 
promulgated by the Foreign Broker-Dealer Regulatory Entities and the 
SEC share a common objective: The protection of the investor by the 
regulation of the securities industry. The rules of the Foreign Broker-
Dealer Regulatory Entities (the Australian Stock Exchange Limited in 
the case of SSB/Australia) require each firm which employs registered 
representatives or registered traders to have a positive tangible net 
worth and be able to meet its obligations as they may fall due. In 
addition, the rules of the Foreign Broker-Dealer Regulatory Entities 
(the Australian Stock Exchange Limited in the case of SSB/Australia) 
set forth comprehensive financial resource and reporting/disclosure 
rules regarding capital adequacy. Further, to demonstrate capital 
adequacy, the rules of the Foreign Broker-Dealer Regulatory Entities 
(the Australian Stock Exchange Limited in the case of SSB/Australia) 
impose reporting/disclosure requirements on broker-dealers with respect 
to risk management, internal controls, and transaction reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements to the effect that required records must be 
produced at the request of the Foreign Broker-Dealer Regulatory 
Entities. Finally, the rules and regulations of the Foreign Broker-
Dealer Regulatory Entities impose potential fines and penalties on 
broker-dealers which establish a comprehensive disciplinary system.
    3. Similarly, SSB/Germany is subject to regulation in Germany by 
the Deutsche Bundesbank and the BAK. The Deutsche Bundesbank is the 
central bank of the German banking system and is responsible for the 
regulation of the money supply and credit supply to the economy, aimed 
at safeguarding the Deutsche Mark. The Bundesbank also provides for 
bank-based execution of domestic and foreign payments. The BAK is an 
independent federal institution with ultimate responsibility to the 
German Ministry of Finance. The BAK supervises the operations of banks, 
banking groups, financial holding groups and branches of foreign banks 
in Germany, and has the authority to (a) issue and withdraw banking 
licenses, (b) issue regulations on capital and liquidity requirements 
of banks, (c) request information and conduct investigations, (d) 
intervene in cases of inadequate capital or liquidity or in cases of 
endangered deposits or risk of bankruptcy by means of temporarily 
prohibiting certain banking transactions.
    The BAK ensures that SSB/Germany has procedures for monitoring and 
controlling its world-wide activities through various statutory and 
regulatory standards. Among these standards are requirements for 
adequate internal controls, oversight, administration and financial 
resources. The BAK reviews compliance with these limitations on 
operations and internal control requirements through an annual audit 
performed by the year-end auditor and through special audits as ordered 
by the BAK and the respective State Central Bank auditors.
    The BAK obtains information on the condition of SSB/Germany and its 
branches in Tokyo and Milan by requiring the submission of periodic, 
consolidated financial reports and through a mandatory annual report 
prepared by the auditor. The BAK also receives information regarding 
capital adequacy, country risk exposure and foreign exchange exposures 
from SSB/Germany.
    German banking law mandates penalties to ensure correct reporting 
to the BAK. The auditors face penalties for gross violation of their 
auditing duties.
    4. Aside from the protections afforded by the Foreign Broker-Dealer 
Regulatory Entities and, in the case of SSB/Germany, the Deutsche 
Bundesbank and the BAK, SSB represents that the Foreign Affiliates will 
comply with all applicable provisions of Rule 15a-6 of the 1934 Act.\7\ 
Rule 15a-6 provides foreign broker-dealers with a limited exemption 
from SEC registration requirements and, as described below, offers 
additional protections. Specifically, Rule 15a-6 provides an exemption 
from U.S. broker-dealer registration for a foreign broker-dealer that 
induces or attempts to induce the purchase or sale of any security 
(including over-the-counter equity and debt options) by a ``U.S. 
institutional investor'' or a ``U.S. major institutional investor,'' 
provided that the foreign broker-dealer, among other things, enters 
into these transactions through a U.S. registered broker-dealer 
intermediary. The term ``U.S. institutional investor,'' as defined in 
Rule 15a-6(b)(7), includes an employee benefit plan within the meaning 
of the Act if (a) the investment decision is made by a plan fiduciary, 
as defined in section 3(21) of the Act, which is either a bank, savings 
and loan association, insurance company or registered investment 
adviser, or (b) the employee benefit plan has total assets in excess of 
$5 million, or (c) the employee benefit plan is a self-directed plan 
with investment decisions made solely by persons that are ``accredited 
investors'' as defined in Rule 501(a)(1) of Regulation D of the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1933, as amended. The term ``U.S. major 
institutional investor'' is defined in Rule 15a-6(b)(4) as a person 
that is a U.S. institutional investor that has total assets in excess 
of $100 million or an investment adviser registered under Section 203 
of the Advisers Act that has total assets under management in excess of 
$100 million.\8\
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    \7\ According to the applicants, section 3(a)(4) of the 1934 Act 
defines ``broker'' to mean ``any person engaged in the business of 
effecting transactions in securities for the account of others, but 
it does not include a bank. Section 3(a)(5) of the 1934 Act provides 
a similar exclusion for ``banks'' in the definition of the term 
``dealer.'' However, section 3(a)(6) of the 1934 Act defines 
``bank'' to mean a banking institution organized under the laws of 
the United States or a State of the United States. Further, Rule 
15(a)(6)(b)(2) provides that the term ``foreign broker or dealer'' 
means ``any non-U.S. resident person * * * whose securities 
activities, if conducted in the United States, would be described by 
the definition of ``broker'' or ``dealer'' in sections 3(a)(4) or 
3(a)(5) of the [1934] Act.'' Therefore, the test of whether an 
entity is a ``foreign broker'' or ``dealer'' is based on the nature 
of such foreign entity's activities and, with certain exceptions, 
only banks that are regulated by either the United States or a State 
of the United States are excluded from the definition of the term 
``broker'' or ``dealer.'' Thus, for purposes of this exemption 
request, the applicants are willing to represent that they will 
comply with the applicable provisions and relevant SEC 
interpretations and amendments of Rule 15a-6.
    \8\ See also SEC No-Action Letter issued to Cleary, Gottlieb, 
Steen & Hamilton on April 9, 1997 (hereinafter, the April 9, No-
Action Letter), expanding the definition of the term ``U.S. Major 
Institutional Investor.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    5. SSB represents that under Rule 15a-6, a foreign broker-dealer 
that induces or attempts to induce the purchase or sale of any 
security by a U.S. institutional or major institutional investor 
must, among other things--

    (a) Consent to service of process for any civil action brought 
by, or proceeding before, the SEC or any self-regulatory 
organization;
    (b) Provide the SEC (upon request or pursuant to agreements 
reached between any foreign securities authority, including any 
foreign government, and the SEC or the U.S. Government) with any 
information or documents within the possession, custody or control 
of the foreign broker-dealer, any testimony of any such foreign 
associated persons, and any assistance in taking the evidence of 
other persons, wherever located, that the SEC requests and that 
relates to transactions effected pursuant to the Rule;
    (c) Rely on the U.S. registered broker-dealer \9\ through which 
the transactions with

[[Page 11058]]

the U.S. institutional and major institutional investors are 
effected to (among other things):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ The Foreign Affiliates, in lieu of relying on a U.S. broker-
dealer and to the extent permitted by applicable U.S. securities 
law, may rely on a U.S. bank or trust company, including Citibank, 
to perform this role.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (1) Effect the transactions, other than negotiating their terms;
    (2) Issue all required confirmations and statements;
    (3) As between the foreign broker-dealer and the U.S. registered 
broker-dealer, extend or arrange for the extension of credit in 
connection with the transactions;
    (4) Maintain required books and records relating to the 
transactions, including those required by Rules 17a-3 (Records to be 
Made by Certain Exchange Members) and 17a-4 (Records to be Preserved 
by Certain Exchange Members, Brokers and Dealers) of the 1934 Act;
    (5) Receive, deliver and safeguard funds and securities in 
connection with the transactions on behalf of the U.S. institutional 
investor or U.S. major institutional investor in compliance with 
Rule 15c3-3 of the 1934 Act (Customer Protection--Reserves and 
Custody of Securities);\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ Under certain circumstances described in the April 9, 1997 
No-Action Letter (e.g., clearance and settlement transactions), 
there may be direct transfers of funds and securities between the 
Client Plan and a Foreign Affiliate. SSB notes that in such 
situations, the U.S. registered broker-dealer will not be acting as 
a principal with respect to any duties it is required to undertake 
pursuant to Rule 15a-6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (6) Participate in certain oral communications (e.g., telephone 
calls) between the foreign associated person and the U.S. 
institutional investor (not the U.S. major institutional investor), 
and accompany the foreign associated person on certain visits with 
both U.S. institutional and major institutional investors. By virtue 
of this participation, the U.S. registered broker-dealer would 
become responsible for the content of all these communications.\11\

    \11\ Under certain circumstances, the foreign associated person 
may have direct communications and contact with the U.S. 
Institutional Investor. See April 9 SEC No-Action Letter.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    6. Citibank, as securities lending agent, pursuant to 
authorization from its client, will negotiate the terms of loans 
with borrowers pursuant to a client-approved form of Loan Agreement 
and will act as a liaison between the lender (and its custodian) and 
the borrower to facilitate the lending transaction. No loans of 
futures contracts will be involved. Citibank will have 
responsibility for monitoring receipt of all required collateral and 
marking such collateral to market daily so that adequate levels of 
collateral are maintained. Citibank also will monitor and evaluate 
on a continuing basis the performance and creditworthiness of the 
borrowers. Citibank may also act as a custodian or directed trustee 
with respect to the client's portfolio of securities being 
loaned.\12\ Citibank may be authorized from time to time by a client 
to receive and hold pledged collateral and invest cash collateral 
pursuant to guidelines established by the client. All of Citibank's 
procedures for lending securities will be designed to comply with 
the applicable conditions of PTE 81-6 and PTE 82-63 (as such PTEs 
may be amended or superseded).\13\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ Citibank wishes to clarify the fact that an independent 
fiduciary of a Client Plan may also appoint Citibank or an affiliate 
of Citibank to manage cash collateral and to receive a reasonable 
and customary investment management fee, provided that the Client 
Plan fiduciary, after receiving full disclosure, approves the 
compensation arrangement, the terms of which will be described in a 
written agreement.
    \13\ PTE 81-6 provides an exemption under certain conditions 
from section 406(a)(1)(A) through (D) of the Act and the 
corresponding provisions of section 4975(c) of the Code for the 
lending of securities that are assets of an employee benefit plan to 
certain broker-dealers or banks which are parties in interest.
    PTE 82-63 provides an exemption under specified conditions from 
section 406(b)(1) of the Act and section 4975(c)(1)(E) of the Code 
for the payment of compensation to a plan fiduciary for services 
rendered in connection with loans of plan assets that are 
securities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    7. Citibank may be retained occasionally by other securities 
lending agents to provide securities lending services in a sub-agent 
capacity with respect to portfolio securities of clients of such other 
lending agents. As securities lending sub-agent, Citibank's role under 
the lending transactions (i.e., negotiating the terms of loans with 
borrowers pursuant to a client-approved form of Loan Agreement and 
monitoring receipt of, and marking to market, required collateral) 
parallels those under lending transactions for which Citibank acts as 
primary lending agent on behalf of its clients.\14\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ As noted previously, the Department is not providing 
exemptive relief herein for securities lending transactions that are 
engaged in by primary lending agents, other than Citibank and its 
affiliates, beyond that provided by PTEs 81-6 and 82-63.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    8. When a loan is collateralized with cash, the cash will be 
invested for the benefit and at the risk of the Client Plan, and 
resulting earnings (net of a rebate to the borrower) comprise the 
compensation to the Client Plan in respect of such loan. Where 
collateral consists of obligations other than cash, the borrower pays a 
fee (loan premium) directly to the lending Client Plan.
    9. Accordingly, SSB and Citibank request an exemption that would be 
effective on October 8, 1998, the date of the Merger, with respect to 
(a) the lending of securities owned by employee benefit plans for which 
Citibank serves or will serve as securities lending agent or sub-agent 
(referred to herein as the Client Plans) \15\ to SSB/U.S., SB/U.K., 
SSB/Asia, SSB/Canada, SSB/Germany and SSB/Australia, following 
disclosure of its affiliation with SSB, and (b) for the receipt of 
compensation by Citibank in connection with such transactions.\16\ For 
each Client Plan, neither Citibank, SSB nor any affiliate will have 
discretionary authority or control or render investment advice over 
Client Plans' decisions concerning the acquisition or disposition of 
securities available for loan. Citibank's discretion will be limited to 
activities such as negotiating the terms of the securities loans with 
SSB and (to the extent granted by the Client Plan fiduciary) investing 
any cash collateral received in respect of the loans. Because Citibank, 
under the proposed arrangement, would have discretion to lend Client 
Plan securities to SSB, and because SSB is an affiliate of Citibank, 
the lending of securities to SSB by Client Plans for which Citibank 
serves as securities lending agent (or sub-agent) may be outside the 
scope of relief provided by PTE 81-6 and PTE 82-63. Further, loans to 
the Foreign Affiliates would be outside of the relief granted in PTE 
81-6. Therefore, several safeguards, described more fully below, are 
incorporated in the application in order to ensure the protection of 
the Client Plan assets involved in the transactions. In addition, the 
applicants represent that the proposed lending program incorporates the 
conditions contained in PTE 81-6 and PTE 82-63 and will be in 
compliance with all applicable securities laws of the United States.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ For the sake of simplicity, future references to Citibank's 
performance of services as securities lending agent should be deemed 
to include its parallel performance as securities lending sub-agent 
and references to Client Plans should be deemed to refer to plans 
for which Citibank is acting as sub-agent with respect to securities 
lending activities, unless otherwise indicated specifically or by 
the context of the reference.
    \16\ As noted above, the proposed exemption will also apply to 
successors in interest to U.S-based affiliates and Foreign 
Affiliates of SSB or Citibank, provided the successors remain 
affiliiates of such entities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    10. Where Citibank is the direct securities lending agent, a 
fiduciary of a Client Plan who is independent of Citibank and SSB will 
sign a securities lending agency agreement with Citibank (the Agency 
Agreement) before the Client Plan participates in a securities lending 
program. The Agency Agreement will, among other things, describe the 
operation of the lending program, prescribe the form of securities Loan 
Agreement to be entered into on behalf of the Client Plan with 
borrowers, specify the securities which are available to be lent, 
required margin and daily marking-to-market, and provide a list of 
permissible borrowers, including SSB. The Agency Agreement will also 
set forth the basis and rate for Citibank's compensation from the 
Client Plan for the performance of securities lending services.
    11. The Agency Agreement will contain provisions to the effect that 
if SSB is designated by the Client Plan as an approved borrower (a) the 
Client

[[Page 11059]]

Plan will acknowledge that SSB is an affiliate of Citibank and (b) 
Citibank will represent to the Client Plan that each and every loan 
made to SSB on behalf of the Client Plan will be at market rates which 
are no less favorable to the Client Plan than a loan of such 
securities, made at the same time and under the same circumstances, to 
an unaffiliated borrower.
    12. When Citibank is lending securities under a sub-agency 
arrangement, the primary lending agent will enter into a securities 
lending agency agreement (the Primary Lending Agreement) with a 
fiduciary of a Client Plan who is independent of such primary lending 
agent, Citibank or SSB, before the Client Plan participates in the 
securities lending program. The primary lending agent will be 
unaffiliated with Citibank or SSB. Citibank will not enter into a sub-
agent arrangement unless the Primary Lending Agreement contains 
substantive provisions akin to those in the Agency Agreement relating 
to the description of the operation of the lending program, use of an 
approved form of Loan Agreement, specification of securities which are 
available to be lent, required margin and daily marking-to-market, and 
provision of a list of approved borrowers (which will include SSB). The 
Primary Lending Agreement will specifically authorize the primary 
lending agent to appoint sub-agents, to facilitate its performance of 
securities lending agency functions. Where Citibank is to act as such a 
sub-agent, the Primary Lending Agreement will expressly disclose that 
Citibank is to so act. The Primary Lending Agreement will also set 
forth the basis and rate for the primary lending agent's compensation 
from the Client Plan for the performance of securities lending services 
and will authorize the primary lending agent to pay a portion of its 
fee, as the primary lending agent determines in its sole discretion, to 
any sub-agent(s) it retains pursuant to the authority granted under 
such agreement.
    Pursuant to its authority to appoint sub-agents, the primary 
lending agent will enter into a securities lending sub-agency agreement 
(the Sub-Agency Agreement) with Citibank under which the primary 
lending agent will retain and authorize Citibank, as sub-agent, to lend 
securities of the primary lending agent's Client Plans, subject to the 
same terms and conditions as are specified in the Primary Lending 
Agreement. Thus, for example, the form of Loan Agreement will be the 
same as that approved by the Client Plan fiduciary in the Primary 
Lending Agreement and the list of permissible borrowers under the Sub-
Agency Agreement (which will include SSB) will be limited to those 
approved borrowers listed as such under the Primary Lending Agreement.
    Citibank states that the Sub-Agency Agreement will contain 
provisions which are in substance comparable to those described in 
Representations 10 and 11 above, which would appear in an Agency 
Agreement in situations where Citibank is the primary lending agent. In 
this regard, Citibank will make the same representation in the Sub-
Agency Agreement as described in Representation 10 above with respect 
to arm's length dealing with SSB. The Sub-Agency Agreement will also 
set forth the basis and rate for Citibank's compensation to be paid by 
the primary lending agent.
    13. In all cases, Citibank will maintain transactional and market 
records sufficient to assure compliance with its representation that 
all loans to SSB are effectively at arm's length terms. Such records 
will be provided to the appropriate Client Plan fiduciary in the manner 
and format agreed to with the lending fiduciary, without charge to the 
Client Plan. A Client Plan may terminate the Agency Agreement (or the 
Primary Lending Agreement) at any time, without penalty to the Plan, on 
five business days notice.
    14. Citibank will negotiate the Loan Agreement with SSB on behalf 
of Client Plans as it does with all other borrowers. An independent 
fiduciary of the Client Plan will approve the terms of the Loan 
Agreement. The Loan Agreement will specify, among other things, the 
right of the Client Plan to terminate a loan at any time and the Plan's 
rights in the event of any default by SSB. The Loan Agreement will 
explain the basis for compensation to the Client Plan for lending 
securities to SSB under each category of collateral. The Loan Agreement 
also will contain a requirement that SSB must pay all transfer fees and 
transfer taxes related to the security loans.
    15. Before entering into the Loan Agreement, SSB will furnish its 
most recently available audited and unaudited financial statements to 
Citibank, and in turn, such statements will be provided to a Client 
Plan before the Client Plan is asked to approve the terms of the Loan 
Agreement. The Loan Agreement will contain a requirement that SSB must 
give prompt notice at the time of a loan of any material adverse 
changes in its financial condition since the date of the most recently 
furnished financial statements. 17 If any such changes have 
taken place, Citibank will not make any further loans to SSB unless an 
independent fiduciary of the Client Plan has approved the loan in view 
of the changed financial condition. Conversely, if SSB fails to provide 
notice of such a change in its financial condition, such failure will 
trigger an event of default under the Loan Agreement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ With respect to capital adequacy rules for brokerage firms 
domiciled in the United States, including SSB, it is represented 
that such firms are subject to the capital adequacy rules of their 
respective regulatory agencies, i.e., the SEC, the New York Stock 
Exchange, the National Association of Securities Dealers and other 
self-regulatory authorities. If these brokerage firms fail to meet 
such requirements, they are subject to fines, penalties and possibly 
more stringent sanctions.
    As for SB/U.K., SSB/Asia, SSB/Canada and SSB/Canada, which are 
subject to the capital adequacy provisions of their respective 
regulatory authorities, it is represented that such rules require 
the Foreign Affiliates to maintain, at all times, financial 
resources in excess of its financial resources requirement (the 
Financial Resources Requirement). For this purpose, financial 
resources include equity capital, approved subordinated debt and 
retained earnings, less deductions for illiquid assets. The 
Financial Resources Requirement includes capital requirements for 
market risk, credit risk, foreign exchange risk and large exposures. 
The rules of each applicable Foreign Broker-Dealer Regulatory 
Entity, require that if a firm's financial resources fall below a 
certain percentage (e.g., 120 percent with respect to the United 
Kingdom's Securities and Futures Authority and 150 percent with 
respect to the Ministry of Finance and the Tokyo Stock Exchange) of 
its Financial Resources Requirement, the such Foreign Broker-Dealer 
Regulatory Entity must be notified so that it can examine the terms 
of the firm's financial position and require an infusion of more 
capital, if needed. In addition, a breach of the requirement to 
maintain financial resources in excess of the Financial Resources 
Requirement may lead to sanctions by the applicable Foreign Broker-
Dealer Regulatory Entity. If the breach is not promptly resolved, 
such Foreign Broker-Dealer Regulatory Entity may restrict the firm's 
activities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    16. As noted above, the agreement by Citibank to provide securities 
lending services, as agent, to a Client Plan will be embodied in the 
Agency Agreement. The Client Plan and Citibank will agree to the 
arrangement under which Citibank will be compensated for its services 
as lending agent, including services as custodian and manager of the 
cash collateral received, prior to the commencement of any lending 
activity. Such agreed upon fee arrangement will be set forth in the 
Agency Agreement and thereby will be subject to the prior written 
approval of a fiduciary of the Client Plan who is independent of SSB 
and Citibank. Similarly, with respect to arrangements under which 
Citibank is acting as securities lending sub-agent, the agreed upon fee 
arrangement of the primary lending agent will be set forth in the 
Primary Lending Agreement, and such agreement will specifically 
authorize the primary lending agent to pay a portion of such fee, as 
the primary lending agent determines in its sole discretion, to any 
sub-agent, including

[[Page 11060]]

Citibank, which is to provide securities lending services to the Client 
Plan. 18 The Client Plan will be provided with any 
reasonably available information which is necessary for the Client Plan 
fiduciary to make a determination whether to enter into or continue to 
participate under the Agency Agreement (or the Primary Lending 
Agreement) and any other reasonably available information which the 
Client Plan fiduciary may reasonably request.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ The foregoing provisions describe arrangements comparable 
to conditions (c) and (d) of PTE 82-63 which require that the 
payment of compensation to a ``lending fiduciary'' is made under a 
written instrument and is subject to prior written authorization of 
an independent ``authorizing fiduciary.'' In the event that a 
commingled investment fund will participate in the securities 
lending program, the special rule applicable to such funds 
concerning the authorization of the compensation arrangement set 
forth in condition (f) of PTE 82-63 will be satisfied.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    17. Each time a Client Plan lends securities to SSB pursuant to the 
Loan Agreement, Citibank will reflect in its records the material terms 
of the loan, including the securities to be loaned, the required level 
of collateral, and the fee or rebate payable. The terms of the fee or 
rebate payable for each loan will be at least as favorable to the 
Client Plan as those of a comparable arm's length transaction between 
unrelated parties.
    18. The Client Plan will be entitled to the equivalent of all 
interest, dividends and distributions on the loaned securities during 
the loan period. The Loan Agreement will provide that the Client Plan 
may terminate any loan at any time. Upon a termination, SSB will be 
contractually obligated to return the loaned securities to the Client 
Plan within five business days of notification or the customary 
settlement period in the respective jurisdiction, whichever is less (or 
such longer period of time permitted pursuant to a class exemption). If 
SSB fails to return the securities within the designated time, the 
Client Plan will have the right under the Loan Agreement to purchase 
securities identical to the borrowed securities and apply the 
collateral to payment of the purchase price and any other expenses of 
the Client Plan associated with the sale and/or purchase.
    19. Citibank will establish each day a written schedule of lending 
fees 19 and rebate rates 20 in order to assure 
uniformity of treatment among borrowing brokers and to limit the 
discretion Citibank would have in negotiating securities loans to SSB. 
Loans to all borrowers of a given security on that day will be made at 
rates or lending fees on the relevant daily schedules or at rates or 
lending fees which may be more advantageous to the Client Plans. It is 
represented that in no case will loans be made to SSB at rates or 
lending fees that are less advantageous to the Client Plans than those 
on the schedule. The daily schedule of rebate rates will be based on 
the current value of the clients' reinvestment vehicles and on market 
conditions, as reflected by demand for securities by borrowers other 
than SSB. As with rebate rates, the daily schedule of lending fees will 
also be based on market conditions, as reflected by demand for 
securities by borrowers other than SSB, and will generally track the 
rebate rates with respect to the same security or class of security.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ Citibank will adopt minimum daily lending fees for non-cash 
collateral payable by SSB to Citibank on behalf of a Client Plan. 
Citibank will submit the method for determining such minimum daily 
lending fees to an independent fiduciary of the Client Plan for 
approval before initially lending any securities to SSB on behalf of 
such Client Plan.
    \20\ Citibank will adopt separate maximum daily rebate rates 
with respect to securities loans collateralized with cash 
collateral. Such rebate rates will be based upon an objective 
methodology which takes into account several factors, including 
potential demand for loaned securities, the applicable benchmark 
cost of fund indices, and anticipated investment return on overnight 
investments permitted by the Client Plan's independent fiduciary. 
Citibank will submit the method for determining such maximum daily 
rebate rates to such fiduciary before initially lending any 
securities to SSB on behalf of the Client Plan.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    20. The rebate rates (in respect of cash-collateralized loans made 
by Client Plans) which are established will also take into account the 
potential demand for loaned securities, the applicable benchmark cost 
of funds indices (typically, Federal Funds, overnight repo rate or the 
like) and anticipated investment return on overnight investments which 
are permitted by the relevant Client Plan fiduciary. Further, the 
lending fees (in respect of loans made by Client Plans collateralized 
by other than cash) which are established will be set daily to reflect 
conditions as influenced by potential market demand.
    21. Citibank will negotiate rebate rates for cash collateral 
payable to each borrower, including SSB, on behalf of a Client Plan. 
Where, for example, cash collateral derived from an overnight loan is 
intended to be invested in a generic repurchase agreement, any rebate 
fee determined with respect to an overnight repurchase agreement 
benchmark will be set below the applicable ``ask'' quotation therefor. 
Where cash collateral is derived from a loan with an expected maturity 
date (term loan) and is intended to be invested in instruments with 
similar maturities, the maximum rebate fee will be less than the 
expected investment return (assuming no investment default). With 
respect to any loan to SSB, Citibank will never negotiate a rebate rate 
with respect to such loan which would be expected to produce a zero or 
negative return to the Client Plan (assuming no default on the 
investments related to the cash collateral from such loan where 
Citibank has investment discretion over the cash collateral). Citibank 
represents that the written rebate rate established daily for cash 
collateral under loans negotiated with SSB will not exceed the rebate 
rate which would be paid to a similarly situated unrelated borrower 
with respect to a comparable securities lending transaction. Citibank 
will disclose the method for determining the maximum daily rebate rate 
as described above to an independent fiduciary of a Client Plan for 
approval before lending any securities to SSB on behalf of the Client 
Plan.
    22. For collateral other than cash, the applicable loan fee in 
respect of any outstanding loan is reviewed daily for competitiveness 
and adjusted, where necessary, to reflect market terms and conditions 
(see Representation 24). With respect to each successive two-week 
period, on average, at least 50 percent or more of the outstanding 
dollar value of securities loans negotiated on behalf of Client Plans 
will be to unrelated borrowers so the competitiveness of the loan fee 
will be tested in the marketplace. Accordingly, loans to SSB should 
result in competitive rate income to the lending Client Plan. At all 
times, Citibank will effect loans in a prudent and diversified manner. 
While Citibank will normally lend securities to requesting borrowers on 
a ``first come, first served'' basis, as a means of assuring uniformity 
of treatment among borrowers, it should be recognized that in some 
cases it may not be possible to adhere to a ``first come, first 
served'' allocation. This can occur, for instance where (a) the credit 
limit established for such borrower by Citibank and/or the Client Plan 
has already been satisfied; (b) the ``first in line'' borrower is not 
approved as a borrower by the particular Client Plan whose securities 
are sought to be borrowed; and (c) the ``first in line'' borrower 
cannot be ascertained, as an operational matter, because several 
borrowers spoke to different Citibank representatives at or about the 
same time with respect to the same security. 21 In 
situations (a) and (b), loans would

[[Page 11061]]

normally be effected with the ``second in line.'' In situation (c), 
securities would be allocated equitably among all eligible borrowers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ It is represented that the ``first come, first served'' 
allocation would not apply where Citibank is not acting as a 
securities lending agent, but rather is acting as, for example, a 
custodian to a Client Plan that has entered into an exclusive 
arrangement with the borrower. See PTE 96-56 (61 FR 37933, July 22, 
1996) issued to Smith Barney, Inc.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    23. The method of determining the daily securities lending rates 
(fees and rebates), the minimum lending fees payable by SSB and the 
maximum rebate payable to SSB will be specified in an exhibit attached 
to the Agency Agreement to be executed between the independent 
fiduciary of the Client Plan and Citibank in cases where Citibank is 
the direct securities lending agent.
    24. If Citibank reduces the lending fee or increases the rebate 
rate on any outstanding loan to an affiliated borrower (except for any 
change resulting from a change in the value of any third party 
independent index with respect to which the fee or rebate is 
calculated), Citibank, by the close of business on the date of such 
adjustment, will provide the independent fiduciary of the Client Plan 
with notice that it has reduced such fee or increased the rebate rate 
to such affiliated borrower and that the Client Plan may terminate such 
loan at any time. In addition, Citibank will provide the independent 
fiduciary of the Client Plan with such information as the fiduciary may 
reasonably request regarding such adjustment.
    25. Under the Loan Agreement, each SSB borrower will agree to 
indemnify and hold harmless the applicable Client Plan (including the 
sponsor and fiduciaries of such Client Plan) from any and all 
reasonably foreseeable damages, losses, liabilities, costs and expenses 
(including attorney's fees) which the Client Plan may incur or suffer 
arising in any way from the use by such borrower of the loaned 
securities or any failure of such borrower to deliver loaned securities 
in accordance with the provisions of the Loan Agreement or to otherwise 
comply with the terms of the Loan Agreement except to the extent that 
such losses or damages are caused by the Client Plan's negligence.
    In the event the Foreign Affiliate defaults on a loan, Citibank 
will liquidate the loan collateral to purchase identical securities for 
the Client Plan. If the collateral is insufficient to accomplish such 
purchase,22 Citibank will indemnify the Client Plan for any 
shortfall in the collateral plus interest on such amount and any 
transaction costs incurred. Alternatively, if such identical securities 
are not available on the market, Citibank will pay the Client Plan cash 
equal to the market value 23 of the borrowed securities as 
of the date they should have been returned to the Client Plan plus all 
interest and accrued financial benefits derived from the beneficial 
ownership of such loaned securities. Under such circumstances, Citibank 
will pay the Client Plan an amount equal to (a) the value of the 
securities as of the date such securities should have been returned to 
the Client Plan plus (b) all of the accrued financial benefits derived 
from the beneficial ownership of such loan securities as of such date, 
plus (c) interest from such date through the date of payment. (The 
amounts paid shall include the cash collateral or other collateral that 
is liquidated and held by Citibank on behalf of the Client Plan.)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \22\ Of course, Citibank will not be responsible for any loss 
with respect to cash collateral caused by the Client Plan's 
investment thereof directed by or pursuant to guidelines set by the 
Client Plan unless it expressly agrees to such liability with the 
Client Plan.
    \23\ For purposes of this proposed exemption, the ``market 
value'' of securities, as of any date, shall be determined on the 
basis of the closing prices therefor as of the trading date (for the 
principal market in which the securities are traded) immediately 
preceding the day of valuation, such determination to be made by the 
independent pricing source identified to SSB by the Client Plan upon 
the request of SSB. Market value shall include accrued interest in 
the case of debt securities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    26. The Client Plan will receive collateral from SSB by physical 
delivery, book entry in a U.S. securities depository, wire transfer or 
similar means by the close of business on or before the day the loaned 
securities are delivered to SSB. The collateral will consist of cash, 
securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies 
or irrevocable U.S. bank letters of credit (issued by a person other 
than Citibank, SSB or their affiliates) or such other types of 
collateral which might be permitted by the Department under a class 
exemption. The market value of the collateral on the close of business 
on the day preceding the day of the loan will be at least 102 percent 
of the market value of the loaned securities. The Loan Agreement will 
give the Client Plan a continuing security interest in and a lien on 
the collateral. Citibank will monitor the level of the collateral 
daily. If the market value of the collateral falls below 100 percent 
(or such greater percentage as agreed to by the parties) of that of the 
loaned securities, Citibank will require SSB to deliver by the close of 
business the next day sufficient additional collateral to bring the 
level back to at least 102 percent.
    27. With respect to loans involving the Foreign Affiliates, the 
following additional conditions will be applicable: (a) all collateral 
will be maintained in United States dollars or dollar-denominated 
securities or letters of credit; (b) all collateral is held in the 
United States and Citibank maintains the situs of the securities loan 
agreements in the United States under an arrangement that complies with 
the indicia of ownership requirements under section 404(b) of the Act 
and the regulations promulgated under 29 CFR 2550.404(b)-1; and (c) the 
Foreign Affiliate provides SSB (i.e., Salomon Smith Barney Inc.) a 
written consent to service of process in the United States for any 
civil action or proceeding brought in respect of the securities lending 
transaction, which consent provides that process may be served on such 
borrower by service on SSB (i.e., Salomon Smith Barney Inc.).
    28. Each Client Plan participating in the lending program will be 
sent a monthly transaction report. The monthly report will provide a 
list of all security loans outstanding and closed for a specified 
period. The report will identify for each open loan position, the 
securities involved, the value of the security for collateralization 
purposes, the current value of the collateral, the rebate or loan 
premium (as the case my be) at which the security is loaned, and the 
number of days the security has been on loan. In addition, if requested 
by the lending customer, Citibank will provide daily confirmations of 
securities lending transactions, and, with respect to monthly reports, 
if requested by the customer, Citibank will compare weekly or daily 
reports, setting forth for each transaction made or outstanding during 
the relevant reporting period, the loaned securities, the related 
collateral, rebates and loan premiums and such other information in 
such format as shall be agreed to by the parties. Further, prior to the 
approval by a new Client Plan of a securities lending program, SSB will 
provide a Client Plan fiduciary with copies of the proposed exemption 
and notice granting the exemption.
    29. In order to provide the means for monitoring lending activity, 
the monthly report will compare rates on loans by the Client Plans to 
SSB and rates on loans to other brokers as well as the level of 
collateral on the loans. In this regard, the monthly report will show, 
on a daily basis, the market value of all outstanding security loans to 
SSB and to other borrowers. In addition, the monthly report will state 
the daily fees where collateral other than cash is utilized and will 
specify the details used to establish the daily rebate payable to all 
brokers where cash is used as collateral. The monthly report also will 
state, on a daily basis, the rates at which securities are loaned to 
SSB and the rates at which securities are loaned to other brokers. This 
statement will give an independent fiduciary information which can be 
compared to

[[Page 11062]]

that contained in the daily rate schedule.
    30. Only Client Plans with total assets having an aggregate market 
value of at least $50 million are permitted to lend securities to SSB. 
In the case of two or more Client Plans which are maintained by the 
same employer, controlled group of corporations or employee 
organization (i.e., the Related Client Plans), whose assets are 
commingled for investment purposes in a single master trust or any 
other entity the assets of which are ``plan assets'' under the Plan 
Asset Regulation), which entity is engaged in securities lending 
arrangements with SSB, the foregoing $50 million requirement will be 
satisfied if such trust or other entity has aggregate assets which are 
in excess of $50 million. However, if the fiduciary responsible for 
making the investment decision on behalf of such master trust or other 
entity is not the employer or an affiliate of the employer, such 
fiduciary must have total assets under its management and control, 
exclusive of the $50 million threshold amount attributable to plan 
investment in the commingled entity, which are in excess of $100 
million.
    In the case of two or more Client Plans which are not maintained by 
the same employer, controlled group of corporations or employee 
organization (i.e., the Unrelated Client Plans), whose assets are 
commingled for investment purposes in a group trust or any other form 
of entity the assets of which are ``plan assets'' under the Plan Asset 
Regulation, which entity is engaged in securities lending arrangements 
with SSB, the foregoing $50 million requirement will be satisfied if 
such trust or other entity has aggregate assets which are in excess of 
$50 million (excluding the assets of any Client Plan with respect to 
which the fiduciary responsible for making the investment decision on 
behalf of such group trust or other entity or any including such 
fiduciary is the employer maintaining such Client Plan or an employee 
organization whose members are covered by such Client Plan). However, 
the fiduciary responsible for making the investment decision on behalf 
of such group trust or other entity (a) must have full investment 
responsibility with respect to plan assets invested therein 
24; and (b) must have total assets under its management and 
control, exclusive of the $50 million threshold amount attributable to 
plan investment in the commingled entity, which are in excess of $100 
million.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \24\ For purposes of this proposed exemption, the term ``full 
investment responsibility'' means that the fiduciary responsible for 
making investment decisions on behalf of the group trust or other 
form of entity, has and exercises discretionary management authority 
over all of the assets of the group trust or other plan assets 
entity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, none of the entities described above must be formed 
for the sole purpose of making loans of securities.
    31. In summary, the applicants represent that the described 
transactions have satisfied or will satisfy the statutory criteria for 
an exemption under section 408(a) of the Act because:
    (a) The form of the Loan Agreement pursuant to which any loan is 
effected has been or will be approved by a fiduciary of the Client Plan 
who is independent of SSB and Citibank before a Client Plan lends any 
securities to SSB.
    (b) The lending arrangements (1) will permit the Client Plans to 
lend to SSB and (2) will enable the Client Plans to diversify the list 
of eligible borrowers and earn additional income from the loaned 
securities on a secured basis, while continuing to receive any 
dividends, interest payments and other distributions due on those 
securities.
    (c) The Client Plans have received or will receive sufficient 
information concerning SSB's financial condition before the Plan lends 
any securities to SSB.
    (d) The collateral on each loan to SSB initially has been and will 
be at least 102 percent of the market value of the loaned securities, 
which is in excess of the 100 percent collateral required under PTE 81-
6, and has been and will be monitored daily by Citibank.
    (e) The Client Plans have received and will receive a monthly 
report which provides an independent fiduciary of the Client Plans with 
information on loan activity, fees, loan return/yield and the rates on 
loans to SSB as compared with loans to other brokers and the level of 
collateral on the loans.
    (f) Citibank, SSB nor any affiliate has or will have discretionary 
authority or control over the Client Plan's acquisition or disposition 
of securities available for loan.
    (g) The terms of the fee or rebate payable for each loan have been 
and will be at least as favorable to the Client Plans as those of a 
comparable arm's length transaction between unrelated parties.
    (h) All of the procedures under the transactions have conformed or 
will conform to the applicable provisions of PTE 81-6 and PTE 82-63 and 
also have been and will be in compliance with the applicable securities 
laws of the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Canada 
and Australia.

Notice to Interested Persons

    Notice of the proposed exemption will be provided to interested 
persons within 5 days of the publication of the notice of proposed 
exemption in the Federal Register. Such notice will be given to Client 
Plans that have outstanding securities loans with SSB. The notice will 
include a copy of the notice of proposed exemption as published in the 
Federal Register and a supplemental statement, as required pursuant to 
29 CFR 2570.43(b)(2). The supplemental statement will inform interested 
persons of their right to comment on and/or to request a hearing with 
respect to the proposed exemption. Written comments and hearing 
requests are due within 35 days of the publication of the proposed 
exemption in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jan D. Broady of the Department, 
telephone (202) 219-8881. (This is not a toll-free number.)

State Bankshares Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan (the Plan), 
Located in Fargo, North Dakota

[Application No. D-10703]

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 to the proposed sale by the Plan of certain 
limited partnership interests (the Interests) to Northern Capital Trust 
Company (Northern), the Plan's trustee and a party in interest with 
respect to the Plan, for $93,552.93 in cash, provided the following 
conditions are satisfied: (a) The sale is a one-time transaction for 
cash; (b) no commissions are charged in connection with the 
transaction; (c) the Plan receives not less than the fair market value 
of the Interests at the time of the transaction; and (d) the fair 
market value of the Interests is determined by a qualified entity 
independent of the Plan and of Northern.

Summary of Facts and Representations

    1. The Plan is a 401(k) profit sharing plan which is sponsored by 
State Bankshares Inc. (the Employer) of Fargo, North Dakota. The Plan 
currently has

[[Page 11063]]

144 participants and had assets of $5,637,308 as of September 30, 1998. 
The trustee of the Plan is Northern, a trust company located at 203 
North 10th Street, Fargo, North Dakota. Northern has investment 
discretion for the Plan's assets.
    2. In August 1993, the Plan purchased the Interests as an 
investment from an unrelated party (as discussed below). The Interests 
consist of a 4.2337% interest in the Courtyard Limited Partnership (the 
Partnership). The Partnership's sole asset is an apartment building 
known as ``Courtyard Apartments'' in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. The 
Plan paid $54,233.70 for the Interests in the Partnership. The 
investment was presented to Northern, as Plan trustee, by Regan Wieland 
Investment Co., whose name was later changed to Goldmark Investment 
Company (Goldmark), on behalf of the Partnership. Goldmark and the 
Partnership are independent of, and unrelated to, the Employer and 
Northern.
    3. The Employer would like to permit employee directed investments 
and the use of a 24-hour telephone service to accommodate daily 
transfers by Plan participants of assets held in their individual 
accounts in the Plan. In order to be able to participate in the new 
daily valuation and transfer system, the Plan needs to divest itself of 
the Interests to ensure proper liquidity for all of the Plan's assets. 
In this regard, the applicant represents that it is necessary to 
transfer the Interests out of the Plan because the Interests cannot be 
valued on a daily basis.
    4. Northern as Plan trustee has contacted Goldmark, the Managing 
Partner of the Partnership, to inform them that the Plan wishes to sell 
its Interests. Mr. Kenneth P. Regan of Goldmark has represented that 
the fair market value of the Plan's Interests would be approximately 
$93,000, if all of the partners were to sell their Partnership 
interests at the present time. However, in the event only one partner, 
such as the Plan, were to dispose its Interests, there would be 
discounts from the $93,000 value to reflect the lack of marketability 
and minority ownership in addition to sales costs. Goldmark estimates 
that these expenses would be in excess of $11,000. Thus, Goldmark 
states that the value of the Plan's Interests, if it were to sell such 
Interests alone, would be approximately $81,795. Goldmark based its 
valuation of the Partnership on a January 12, 1998 appraisal of the 
Courtyard Apartments that was conducted by Robert L. Fransen (Fransen), 
an independent real estate broker in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Fransen 
specializes in the brokerage of apartment properties.
    5. The applicant has requested an exemption that would permit the 
Plan to sell the Interests to Northern for cash. No commissions or 
other fees would be charged in connection with the sale. Northern has 
represented that they are willing to pay the Plan $93,552.93 for the 
Interests, an amount which reflects the book value of the Interests 
(based on the current net value of the Courtyard Apartments as the 
Partnership's only asset). 25 This amount is more than the 
current fair market value of the Interests (i.e., $81,795) as 
determined by Goldmark.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \25\ The current net value of the Courtyard Apartments is 
$2,209,722, based on Fransen's appraisal of the gross value less 
outstanding liabilities and other costs. Thus, since the Interests 
represent a 4.2337% interest in the Partnership, the Interests have 
a book value of approximately $93,553 (i.e., $2,209,722  x  .042337 
= $93,553).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    6. In summary, the applicant represents that the proposed 
transaction satisfies the criteria contained in section 408(a) of the 
Act because: (a) The sale is a one-time transaction for cash; (b) no 
commissions or other fees will be charged in connection with the 
transaction; (c) the sales price for the Interests will be an amount, 
based on the book value of the Interests, which reflects more than the 
fair market value of the Interests as determined by Goldmark, the 
Managing Partner for the Partnership; and (d) Goldmark based its 
valuation of the Partnership on an appraisal of the Courtyard 
Apartments performed by Fransen, an independent real estate expert.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary H. Lefkowitz of the Department, 
telephone (202) 219-8881. (This is not a toll-free number.)

VonRoll Isola Savings Plan (the Plan), Located in Schenectady, New 
York

[Application No. D-10729]

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 to: (1) the making by State Street Bank and Trust 
Company (the Bank) of interest-free advances of cash (the Advances) to 
the Plan during the period from July 8, 1997 through June 22, 1998, in 
the aggregate amount of $824,812.60; and (2) the repayment of the 
Advances by the Plan, without interest, on June 22, 1998, provided the 
following conditions were satisfied:
    (a) No interest or expense was incurred by the Plan in connection 
with the Advances;
    (b) The proceeds of the Advances were used only to facilitate the 
payment of benefits (including participant loans and in-service 
withdrawals) to Plan participants, and to facilitate the making of 
investment transfers elected by Plan participants;
    (c) The Advances were unsecured;
    (d) The Plan participants who remained invested in the Plan's 
stable value fund, which consisted primarily of a Group Flexible 
Annuity Contract (the GIC) from the Travelers Insurance Company 
(Travelers), continued to receive the full contract rate on the full 
amount of the GIC;
    (e) The Plan's sponsor was notified of the Advances;
    (f) The repayment of the Advances was made at the direction of the 
Plan's sponsor and was restricted to amounts received from the proceeds 
of the installment payments made by Travelers under the GIC, and no 
other plan assets were used for that purpose;
    (g) The Bank will maintain or cause to be maintained for a period 
of six years from the date of the granting of the exemption proposed 
herein the records necessary to enable the persons described in 
paragraph (h) to determine whether the conditions of this exemption 
have been met, except that:
    (1) A prohibited transaction will not be considered to have 
occurred, if due to circumstances beyond the control of the Bank, the 
records are lost or destroyed prior to the end of the six year period; 
and
    (2) No party in interest, other than the Bank, shall be subject to 
the civil penalty that may be assessed under section 502(i) of the Act, 
or to the taxes imposed by section 4975(a) and (b) of the Code, if the 
records are not maintained, or are not available for examination as 
required by paragraph (h); and
    (h)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (h)(2) and notwithstanding 
any provisions of subsections (a)(2) and (b) of section 504 of the Act, 
the records referred to in paragraph (g) are unconditionally available 
at their customary location for examination during normal business 
hours by:
    (A) Any duly authorized employee or representative of the 
Department or the Internal Revenue Service;

[[Page 11064]]

    (B) Any fiduciary of the Plan, or any duly authorized employee or 
representative of such fiduciary; and
    (C) any participant or beneficiary of the Plan or duly authorized 
representative of such participant or beneficiary;
    (2) None of the persons described in paragraph (h)(1)(B) and 
(h)(1)(C) shall be authorized to examine trade secrets of the Bank or 
commercial or financial information which is privileged or 
confidential.

EFFECTIVE DATES: If the proposed exemption is granted, the exemption 
will be effective from July 8, 1997 through June 22, 1998.

Summary of Facts and Representations

    1. The Bank is a Massachusetts trust company that provides trustee, 
custodial, investment management, participant recordkeeping and other 
related services to employee benefit plans. vonRoll isola USA, Inc. 
(VRI), f/k/a Insulating Materials Incorporated, is a New York 
corporation that sponsors the Plan. The Plan is a qualified profit 
sharing plan under section 401(a) of the Code which contains a 
qualified cash or deferred arrangement as described in Code section 
401(k). The Plan was most recently amended and restated effective April 
1, 1997. The Plan currently has 182 participants and beneficiaries and 
had assets with a total fair market value of approximately $8,295,000 
as of June 30, 1998.
    In March, 1997, the Plan entered into a Benefit Plan Recordkeeping 
Services Contract and a Defined Contribution Plans Master Trust 
Agreement with the Bank, pursuant to which the Bank was appointed as 
trustee and recordkeeper for the Plan, effective July 1, 1997. As a 
result, the Plan's interests were transferred to the Bank for the Bank 
to hold as the Plan's new trustee, as of July 1, 1997. These agreements 
between the Plan and the Bank remain effective. The applicant 
represents that the Bank's role as Plan trustee and recordkeeper has 
made it a service provider and party in interest with respect to the 
Plan at all times since July 1, 1997.
    2. Prior to July 1, 1997, the Plan offered six investment options 
into which Plan participants could direct their investments. One of 
these investment options was a so-called ``stable value'' fund which 
consisted of the GIC. The Plan had purchased the GIC from Travelers on 
June 22, 1993. On and after January 1, 1997, and in anticipation of the 
transfer of the Plan's assets to the Bank, no new Plan assets were 
allowed to be invested in the GIC. At the time of the transfer of the 
Plan's assets to the Bank on July 1, 1997, all assets of the Plan, 
except for the assets invested in the GIC (which amounted to 
approximately 40% of the total Plan assets at the time), were 
transferred to and invested in five new investment options selected by 
VRI. These options consisted of five different mutual funds. In 
addition, VRI designated, as a sixth investment option, a ``stable 
value'' fund to be managed by the Bank (the Stable Value Fund). Despite 
the lack of benefit responsiveness of the GIC, it was included in the 
Stable Value Fund and, at the outset, represented substantially all of 
the assets of that Fund.\26\ No amounts deposited in the Stable Value 
Fund after July 1, 1997 were invested in the GIC; rather, all such 
amounts were held in a cash buffer to provide liquidity for any 
additional transfers by Plan participants out of that fund.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ Although the GIC was included by the Bank in the Stable 
Value Fund, VRI retained responsibility for managing this asset.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. The GIC was issued by Travelers on June 22, 1993. It was not a 
``benefit responsive contract'' and by its terms severely restricted 
transfers out of the contract for benefit payments to, or investment 
transfers by, participants.\27\ The GIC initially was subject to a 
surrender charge for a period of ten years. In an attempt to address 
the liquidity issues created by the lack of benefit responsiveness and 
given the anticipated transfer of the Plan's assets to the Bank in 
July, 1997, the GIC was renegotiated by VRI and Travelers in February, 
1997. As a result, the parties agreed that the contract would be 
liquidated in a series of annual installment payments by Travelers to 
the Plan beginning in June, 1997 and continuing through June, 2001.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ During the period prior to January 1, 1997, this lack of 
benefit responsiveness was generally offset by the availability of 
new cash flow to this option. The applicant represents that as long 
as the sum of the contributions and investment transfers flowing 
into this investment option exceeded the sum of the benefit 
distributions and investment transfers out of this option, there was 
no need for any benefit responsiveness under the GIC. The Department 
is providing no opinion herein as to whether the acquisition and 
holding of the GIC by the Plan was either consistent with, or in 
violation of, the fiduciary responsibility provisions contained in 
Part 4 of Title I of the Act.
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    4. On July 8, 1997, eight days after the Plan's assets were 
transferred to the Bank, the liquidity available under the Stable Value 
Fund (including the June, 1997 installment payment made by Travelers to 
the Plan pursuant to the liquidation agreement) was depleted. This 
rapid and unanticipated depletion of liquidity resulted from the very 
high level of investment transfers elected by Plan participants in 
conjunction with the transfer of the Plan's assets to the Bank. The 
applicant states that these investment transfers were the result of the 
new investment options available to Plan participants after the Plan's 
assets were transferred to the Bank. To meet the liquidity requirements 
created by the Plan participants' elections to make substantial 
transfers of their assets out of the Stable Value Fund, the Bank made 
the Advances to the Plan on an interest-free and unsecured basis. The 
Bank continued to make the Advances to the Plan as needed for these 
purposes until June 22, 1998. All of the Advances were made in cash. 
The total amount of the Advances was $824,812.60. The existence and 
amount of all such Advances was communicated to, and discussed with, 
VRI periodically during the period they were made.
    5. The Bank did not at any time charge the Plan any interest on the 
Advances it made to the Plan. By contrast, the GIC continued to earn 
interest at the contract rate, which interest earnings were allocated 
to the accounts of those Plan participants who continued to be invested 
in the Stable Value Fund. Thus, the Advances made by the Bank 
facilitated the ability of the Plan's participants who had an 
investment in the Stable Value Fund to receive timely benefit payments 
and make investment transfers without being limited by the illiquidity 
of the GIC. In addition, the Advances provided Plan participants who 
elected to stay in the Stable Value Fund with assurances that the Fund 
would remain a viable investment option during this period and that 
their Plan accounts would continue to receive all interest payments due 
under the GIC.
    6. On June 22, 1998, pursuant to further negotiations between VRI 
and Travelers, Travelers advanced a payment of $1,073,745.44 to the 
Plan. This amount represented 100% of the June 1998 and June 1999 
installment payments due to the Plan under the renegotiated GIC. At the 
direction of VRI, this cash amount was used by the Plan to repay the 
entire amount of the Advances from the Bank, with the remainder 
creating a cash buffer for future benefit payments from the Stable 
Value Fund. The advance payment on the GIC by Travelers was subject to 
an early withdrawal charge equal to $60,398.19. VRI and a Plan service 
provider \28\ in the aggregate paid Travelers $43,266 of this early 
withdrawal charge, with the result that the Plan actually paid only 
$17,132.19

[[Page 11065]]

or approximately 28% of the early withdrawal charge.
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    \28\ The Plan's service provider was GE Investment Retirement 
Services, Inc. (GEIRS). GEIRS is a marketing affiliate of the Plan's 
mutual fund provider, GE Investment Management Incorporated, the 
sponsor of the mutual funds that have been offered to the Plan since 
July 1, 1997.
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    7. In summary, the applicant represents that the subject 
transactions satisfied the criteria contained in section 408(a) of the 
Act for the following reasons: (a) no interest or expense was incurred 
by the Plan in connection with the Advances; (b) the proceeds of the 
Advances were used only to facilitate the payment of benefits 
(including participant loans and in-service withdrawals) to Plan 
participants, and to facilitate the making of investment transfers 
elected by Plan participants; (c) the Advances were unsecured; (d) the 
Plan participants who remained invested in the Stable Value Fund, which 
consisted primarily of the GIC from Travelers, continued to receive the 
full contract interest rate on the GIC; (e) VRI, the Plan's sponsor, 
was notified of the Advances; and (f) the repayment of the Advances by 
the Plan was made at the direction of VRI and was restricted to amounts 
received from the proceeds of the installment payments made by 
Travelers under the GIC, and no other Plan assets were used for that 
purpose.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary H. Lefkowitz 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 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 3rd day of March, 1999.
Ivan Strasfeld,
Director of Exemption Determinations, Pension and Welfare Benefits 
Administration, Department of Labor.
[FR Doc. 99-5570 Filed 3-5-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-29-P